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Ortiz Lab

Who We Are

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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.

Email

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Sophie Chen

Master's Student in Biology

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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

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.

Kassandra Vazquez

Master's Student in Regenerative Studies

B.S. Animal Science, UC Davis

I am working on identifying ideal locations for connectivity corridors for

California Mule Deer using circuitscape theory.

My career goal is to become a conservation ecologist!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Amy Lee

Undergraduate Researcher

Animal Science/ Pre-Veterinary Major, Cal Poly Pomona

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.

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FORMER
LAB MEMBERS

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, 2024

    Currently: PhD Student, University of Iowa

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 Land Conservancy

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

 

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 Undergraduate Students: If you are interested in working with Dr. Ortiz, reach out by email. Include in your email: information about you, why you are interested in conducting research, your research interests, and a recent resume/CV.

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.

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