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.
Adrianna Elihu
Master's Student
B.S. Zoology, Cal Poly Pomona
GIS Certificate, Rio Hondo College
I am a 3rd year master's student in the lab studying the relationship between greenspace metrics, urban wildlife diversity, and socioeconomic factors in San Gabriel Valley, CA. I've conducted fieldwork using camera traps to measure wildlife diversity in 26 greenspaces across the region and train undergrads in the process of photo tagging.
My career goal is to work with private, county, or city organizations to develop sustainable greenspace in urban areas that promote wildlife habitat and greenspace access for people.
Destiny Rojas
Master's Student
A.A. Natural Science, Pasadena City College
B.S. Wildlife (Conservation Biology/ Applied Vertebrate Ecology), Cal Poly Humboldt
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.
Caleb Sandoval
Master's Student
B.S. Wildlife (Conservation Biology and Applied Vertebrate Ecology), Cal Poly Humboldt
My project focuses on describing the ecology of urban wildlife and
presence of ticks in recreational spaces across the San Gabriel Valley.
My career goal is to become a Professor at an academic institution.
Gabriella Ferraro
Undergraduate Researcher
AS Biology, Fullerton College
Biology Major, Cal Poly Pomona
I am currently doing research on a habitat suitability model for the native mule deer species in Los Angeles County. In addition, I help with photo tagging and camera trapping for Cal Poly Wild and UWIN.
I want to do research that will help create a better environment.
Sydney Nguyen
Undergraduate Researcher
Biology Major, Cal Poly Pomona
I help with photo tagging on the
Urban Wildlife Information Network project.
My career goal is to graduate from CPP with my Bachelor's and work toward becoming a certified medical technologist.
Cristopher Pineda
Undergraduate Researcher
Animal Science/ Pre-Veterinary Major, Cal Poly Pomona
I am helping with the UWIN (Urban Wildlife Information Network) with photo tagging and camera trapping.
My goal is to graduate from Cal Poly Pomona and go into a Veterinary School where I would focus on Wildlife Medicine and Public Health.
Noemi Villarreal
Undergraduate Researcher
A.A. Merchandise Product Development, The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM)
Animal Science Major, Zoology Minor, Cal Poly Pomona
I help with photo Identification with the
Urban Wildlife Information Network project.
My career goal is to become a High School Biology teacher
& future Wildlife Biologist Project Manager.
Lisset Hernandez
Undergraduate Researcher
Animal Science/Zoology Major, Cal Poly Pomona
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.
FORMER
LAB MEMBERS
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
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
Judy Ly, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate
Project: Mapping Urban Parrot Distributions, Fall 2021-Fall 2022
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
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
Currently: Master's Student, Florida Atlantic University
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.