Ortiz Lab
Who We Are
Dr. Janel Ortiz
PI
Dr. Janel Ortiz (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor at Cal Poly Pomona in the Center for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching and the Department of Biological Sciences. Dr. Ortiz completed a diversity postdoctoral fellowship at the University of San Diego in the Department of Biology. She earned her Ph.D. in Wildlife Science from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in May 2018. Prior to that, she completed her M.S. in Biology and a certificate in GIS from Cal State LA. She is a graduate of UC Davis with a B.S. in Animal Science. She is most interested in engaging students in nature through formal and informal learning environments. As a first-gen Latina she is passionate about increasing representation in STEM.
Sophie Chen
Master's Student in Biology
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B.S. Biology, Siena College
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Coexistence of mesocarnivores in the eastern San Gabriel Valley​
Destiny Rojas
Master's Student in Biology
A.A. Natural Science, Pasadena City College
B.S. Wildlife (Conservation Biology/ Applied Vertebrate Ecology), Cal Poly Humboldt
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I am working on the parrot project using UAV-mounted thermal cameras
to monitor introduced avian species in anthropogenic habitats.
My career goal is to join Fish and Wildlife as a Wildlife Biologist/
Environmental Scientist or urban wildlife city planning.
Clayton Patterson
Master's Student in Biology
B.S. Conservation Biology & Ecology, Arizona State University,
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I am working on the Urban Wildlife Information Network project to understand how fire and smoke impact urban wildlife dynamics.
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My career goal is to become a wildlife biologist.
Joy Cavazos
Undergraduate Researcher
Environmental Biology Major, Minor in GIS , Cal Poly Pomona
A.A. Natural Sciences, Mt. Sac Community College
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I have helped with data collected for the Urban Parrot Project.
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My goal is to become a wildlife biologist focusing on conservation and restoration.
Belen Flores
Undergraduate Researcher
Environmental Biology Major, Cal Poly Pomona
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Research projects I have worked on include tick identifications, UWIN photo tagging, volunteering for thermal counts on the parrot project, and running camera traps through EcoAssist.
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My career goals are to obtain my bachelors degree in Environmental Biology and pursue my passions of environmentalism, community, and GIS.
Lisset Hernandez
Undergraduate Researcher
Animal Science/Zoology Major, Cal Poly Pomona
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I am a 2nd-year undergraduate student assisting in urban wildlife research of the San Gabriel Valley. I also photo tag and camera trap for Cal Poly Wild and the Urban Wildlife Information Network project.
My career goal is wildlife conservation and education. I hope to one day open a wildlife sanctuary that promotes One Health and community inclusivity.
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Amy Lee
Undergraduate Researcher
Animal Science/ Pre-Veterinary Major, Cal Poly Pomona
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I assist with the collection of ticks in the field and identification of ticks in the lab for the environmental tick sampling project and passive tick surveillance projects.
My career goal is to become a veterinarian
or work in the medical field.
FORMER
LAB MEMBERS
Noemi Villareal, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate
Project: CPP Wild & UWIN, 2022-2025
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Sydney Nguyen, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate
Project: CPP Wild & UWIN, 2022-2025
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Sophia Ramirez, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate
Project: Environmental Health in Recreational Spaces in the Eastern San Gabriel Valley, 2024-2025
Kas Vazquez, Cal Poly Pomona, Graduate (Master’s in Regenerative Studies)
Project: Landscape Connectivity for California Mule Deer in Los Angeles County, 2024-2025
Currently: Wildlife Biologist, AECOM
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Violet Martin, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate
Project: Tick-Plant Community Associations in the San Gabriel Valley, 2023-2024
Cristopher Pineda, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate
Project: Landscape Characteristics of Tree Squirrel Home Ranges, 2022-2025
Currently: DVM/MPH Student, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine- Tufts University
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Caleb Sandoval, Cal Poly Pomona, Graduate (Master's in Biology)
Project: One Health in Southern California: Potential Interactions between Wildlife, People, and Ticks in Eastern Los Angeles County, CA, 2022-2024
Currently: PhD Student, University of Iowa
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Gabriella Ferraro, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate
Project: Determining Suitable Habitat for Mule Deer within the Urban Matrix, 2022-2025
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Adrianna Elihu, Cal Poly Pomona, Graduate (Master's in Biology)
Project: Where the Wild(life) are: Wildlife, Access, and Greenspace in San Gabriel Valley, 2024
Currently: Stewardship Associate Biologist, Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy
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Juan Diaz, Rio Hondo College, Undergraduate
Project: Tick Activity in the Eastern San Gabriel Valley, 2023
Zoe Nelson, Rio Hondo College, Undergraduate
Project: Accessibility of Recreational Green Spaces by Humans and Wildlife Presence: A Look into the Luxury Effect, 2023
Jennifer Flores, Cal Poly Pomona, Graduate (Master’s in Biology)
Project: Cal Poly Wild: An Undergraduate Research Experience, 2021-2023
Lauren Hamlett, Cal Poly Pomona, Graduate (Master’s in Regenerative Studies)
Project: Public Perceptions of the Pasadena Humane Society Wildlife Helpline, 2022-2023
Currently: Wildlife Director, Pasadena Humane Society
Isabella Garcia, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate
Project: Urban Parrot Distributions, Diet, and Community Engagement, 2022-2023
Bryanna Ramos, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate
Project: Urban Wildlife of the San Gabriel Valley, Fall 2022
Karen Salazar, Cypress College, Undergraduate
Project: Presence of Pest Rodent Species in Urbanized Areas: Who is Impacted?, Summer 2022
Gabriela Gonzalez, Cypress College, Undergraduate
Project: Human and Wildlife Coexistence in the San Gabriel Valley, Summer 2022
Kassie Craft, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate
Project: Urban Wildlife of the San Gabriel Valley, Spring 2022-Fall 2022
Giselle Sandoval, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate
Project: Urban Wildlife of the San Gabriel Valley, Spring 2022-Fall 2022
Jocelyn Urias, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate
Project: Urban Wildlife of the San Gabriel Valley, Spring 2022
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Judy Ly, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate
Project: Mapping Urban Parrot Distributions, Fall 2021-Fall 2022
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Isabel Castillo, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate
Project: Cal Poly Wild: An On-Campus Wildlife Learning Experience, 2021-2022
Stephanie Zuniga, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate (SPIRES Scholar)
Project: Social Behavior of Waterfowl in an Urban Park, 2021-2022
Celina Rong, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate
Project: Diet of Urban Parrots in Southern California, Spring 2021
Anam Qayyum, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate
Project: Landscape Characteristics of Urban Parrot Roost Sites in Southern California, Spring 2021
Currently: Master’s Student, University of California, Riverside
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Beatriz Martinez-Martin, University of San Diego, Undergraduate
Project: Avian Insectivores and Diet Availability in South Texas, 2019-2021
Angelica Ocaña, University of San Diego, Undergraduate
Project: Sex Aggregations in White-tailed Deer on South Texas Rangelands, 2019-2020
Currently: Laboratory Technician, Pharmatech
Maxwell Johnson, University of San Diego, Undergraduate
Project: Establishing a Monitoring Program for Population Estimates of Urban Parrots, 2019
Maisy Feeley, University of San Diego, Undergraduate
Project: Establishing a Monitoring Program for Population Estimates of Urban Parrots, 2019
Charlie Daria, University of San Diego, Post-Baccalaureate
Project: Diet of Introduced Parrots in San Diego, CA, 2018-2019
Alexandra Sigg, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Undergraduate
Project: Impact of Human Disturbance on the Relative Abundance and Diversity of Native and Exotic Avian Species, 2016
Oscar Mariscal, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Undergraduate
Project: Impact of Human Disturbance on the Relative Abundance and Diversity of Native and Exotic Avian Species, 2016
Prospective Graduate Students: If you are interested in working with Dr. Ortiz, download and complete the following application. Completion of the application does not guarantee a spot in the lab. Once completed, email it to Dr. Ortiz at jortiz@cpp.edu along with a recent resume/CV.