MEET THE
RESEARCHERS
LAB
MEMBERS
Our research projects are continuously evolving as new researchers bring their own ideas into the SEACR Lab.
Former Lab Members
Community college summer researchers:
Madison Beltran (Irvine Valley College)
Samira Rezaeian (Saddleback College)
Dr. Richelle Tanner
(she/her)
Principal Investigator
Richelle is an interdisciplinary scientist interested in how climate change impacts our social and ecological communities. For more information, visit www.richelletanner.com.
Susie Landa
(she/her)
Lab Technician
Susie graduated from UC Davis in 2021, where she worked with Dr. Tanner on wetland restoration projects. She is interested in geological oceanography and climate change reform.
Dr. Gaby Keeler-May
(she/her)
Postdoctoral Researcher
Gaby is an interdisciplinary scientist interested in coastal conservation and resource management. She is leading our project in the CA Delta on motivating collective action in diverse landowners in Phragmites regional coordinated management.
Megan Barajas
(she/her)
Undergraduate Researcher
Megan is a senior Environmental Science & Policy major studying bird occupation of restored tidal marshes. She is interested in marine ecology.
Riya Belani
(she/her)
Undergraduate Researcher
Riya is a junior Health Sciences major with a minor in Sociology at Chapman University. She is currently working on understanding DNA methylation under thermal stress using reduced representation bisulfate sequencing data from mussels. After college, Riya is interested in pursuing her PhD and continuing to work on scientific research!
Max Burrous
(he/him)
Undergraduate Researcher
Max is a senior Environmental Science & Policy major studying the community ecology of tidal marshes under invasion stress.
Athenna Gonzalez
(she/her)
Undergraduate Researcher
Athenna is a senior Biology major at Chapman University interested in marine ecology.
Kate Hartshorn
(she/her)
Undergraduate Researcher
Kate is a senior Environmental Science & Policy major studying climate concern in Orange County residents. She is interested in the environmental humanities.
Berkana McDowell
(she/her)
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Undergraduate Researcher
Wilkinson Research Fellow Spring 2022
Berkana is a 4th year student studying Environmental Science and Policy, Peace Studies, and Studio Art. She is passionate about intersectional environmentalism, environmental activism, and would love to find a career in bettering environmental communications to varying public settings!
Alison McKenery
(she/her)
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Undergraduate Researcher
Alison is a 4th year Environmental Science & Policy major at Chapman University with a Sociology minor. She is interested in corporate sustainability and social influences involving climate change.
Lorena Munoz
(she/her)
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Undergraduate Researcher
Schmidtern Summer 2022
Lorena is a 3rd year at Chapman University majoring in Environmental Science and Policy with a minor in Integrated Educational Studies. She leads our nudibranch ecology projects. She is interested in ecological conservation and environmental justice.
Taylor Price
(she/her)
Undergraduate Researcher
Social Media Manager
Taylor is a junior at Chapman University double majoring in Environmental Science & Policy with an emphasis in Earth Systems and Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance. Taylor loves all things ocean related and is interested in how climate change is affecting coral reef communities.
Maisey Runkel
(she/her)
Undergraduate Researcher
Maisey is a sophomore Environmental Science & Policy major interested in marine ecology.
Sam Shlafstein
(he/him)
Undergraduate Researcher
Sam is a sophomore sociology major interested in how communication plays a role in sociopolitical decision-making.
Nuria Schettino Gonzalez (she/her)
Undergraduate Researcher
Nuria is a junior Film Production major with a minor in Environmental Science. She is interested in marine ecology.
Ishan Sharma
(he/him)
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Undergraduate Researcher
Ishan is a junior double Environmental Science & Policy and Biology major at Chapman University. He is interested in climate and ocean science diplomacy.
Veronica Warner
(she/her)
Undergraduate Researcher
Veronica is a senior Environmental Science & Policy major at Chapman University. She is leading our project investigating college student perceptions of environmental science and studies.
Koa Tanner
Lab(oratory) lab(radoodle)
Koa is the dogtor in residence who presides over Dr. Tanner's office. He is preparing his dissertation on correspondence between attention-seeking behavior and belly rubs. He likes long walks on the beach and hugs from neighborhood cats.
Lorna Haworth
(she/her)
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Lab Technician (2021)
Lorna graduated with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Management in June 2021 from UC Davis. She is excited to work in wildlife conservation and wetland ecology. She is currently a biologist with Dudek.
Cameron Gilbert
(he/him)
Undergraduate Researcher
Cameron is a Wildlife and Fish Conservation Biology Major at UC Davis. His goal is to develop an understanding of how he can serve, protect, and conserve the natural environment and its inhabitants.
Ava Pacheco
(she/her)
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Undergraduate Researcher
Ava graduated from UC Davis with a degree in marine & Coastal Sciences. She is interested in aquatic animal conservation and science education in underserved communities. She is currently a junior specialist at UC Davis with the Todgham Lab.
Shuqi Ren
(she/her)
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Undergraduate Researcher
Shuqi graduated with an Animal Science degree from UC Davis specializing in Avian Science. Her goal is to contribute to avian conservation efforts.
Charlie Woidat
(he/him)
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Undergraduate Researcher
Charlie is a Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology major at UC Davis from Moraga, CA who's interested in all things birds!
Kelly Ly
(she/her)
Undergraduate Researcher
Kelly graduated with a Biological Sciences degree from Chapman University. She is interested in the physiology and mechanics of marine organisms.
Benji Persons
(he/him)
Undergraduate Researcher
Ben is a former student of the lab. He plans on attending Medical School after college but wants to further his understanding of topics in environmental science and more deeply understand how they can related to issues within human health.