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People
Principal Investigator
Aidee Guzman, Ph.D.
she/hers
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
Stanford University
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Postdoctoral Researchers
Ceyda Kural-Rendon, Ph.D.
she/her
Postdoctoral researcher
Department of Biology
Research interests
My research focuses on plant-microbe interactions and how these change with environmental stressors, specifically drought. I am interested in crop wild relatives, crop landraces, plant-plant-interactions, and how microbes vary in their association amongst all of these.
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Graduate Students
Tenzin Norzin
they/them
Ph.D. Candidate
Department of Biology
Research interests
བཀྲ་ཤིས་བདེ་ལེགས། Tashi delek. I am enamored by the dynamic interconnections among plants, animals, microorganisms, environmental cycles (of water, heat & chemical elements), and ancestral paradigms encoded with sacred / playful relationalities (རྟེན་འབྲེལ་) with the land. Within my current research, I explore such interconnections, particularly in the plants of the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas, using molecular ecology (DNA metabarcoding), community ecology, plant ecophysiology, and critical studies of “biological collections.”
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Crystal Ramirez
she/her
Ph.D. Candidate
Department of Biology
Research interests
My research interests involve the intersection between agriculture and community ecology. My goal is to have my research address ways that can help farmers grow food sustainably by studying the mechanisms that underly polyculture systems. Prior to starting my PhD, I studied the Three Sisters growing system for my master’s thesis at California State University, Los Angeles. Specifically, I studied the growth advantages and the microclimate of the Three Sisters in an urban garden located in Los Angeles.
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Gisel DeLaCerda
she/they
Ph.D. Student
Department of Biology
Research interests
Investigating the impacts of different agricultural management practices on plant-soil interactions within farming systems.
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David Wilkerson-Lindsey
he/they/any
Ph.D. Student
Department of Biology
Research interests
I aim to be a better steward of the land by applying my knowledge of agroecology in practice. I work with, and learn from, farmers to promote the use of agroecological production strategies. My current research interests include transitions from conventional to agroecological systems, as well as the effects of diversified agriculture on farm ecology and the people who tend them.
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June Winters
she/ her
Ph.D. Student
Department of Biology
Research interests
My research focuses on how diverse agricultural management practices on small farms in California’s San Joaquin Valley influence soil microbial communities and soil health. I am interested in understanding how chemical inputs and crop diversification shape soil biodiversity and microbial interactions to support sustainable crop production.
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Arantza Caudillo Alvarez
she/ her
Master's Student
Department of Latin American Studies
Research interests
My research explores the intersections of Indigenous rights, gender-based violence, and sustainable livelihoods in rural Mexico. Currently, I'm investigating the factors contributing to the decline of subsistence agriculture in central Mexico and examining community-led agricultural management practices that can enhance local food security.
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Undergraduate Students
Cooper Kaligis
he/him
Undergraduate Student
Major: Cellular, Molecular, and Organismal Biology
Department of Biology, Stanford University
I want to work at the interface between institutional research and community collaborations. Through this work, I hope to contribute a biological background to projects that are designed with and for community partners, utilizing the natural sciences as a practical and accessible tool.
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Tamba Kamachi Mbawa
he/him
Undergraduate Student
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University
I am interested in renewable energy and infrastructure development that supports rural agrarian communities, particularly in West Africa. I hope to eventually work on designing energy infrastructure projects that serve rural and coastal communities with limited access to reliable power.
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Meylin Law
she/her
Undergraduate Student
Major: Biology
College of San Mateo
My research interests focus on sustainable alternative food systems, restoring soil organic matter, and exploring strategies that support long-term food security.
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Kale Suarez
he/him
Undergraduate Student
Major: Electrical Engineering
Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University
After graduating with a B.S in electrical engineering, I hope to work either in industry or social-good non-profits in hardware integration or embedded systems.
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Bell Lee
he/him
Undergraduate Student
Major: Energy Science and Engineering
Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford University
I hope to deepen my understanding of our relationship with solar panels in relationship to our food and greenery. I also hope to work in a pathway that involves community and sustainability.
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Daniel Comparan
he/him
Undergraduate Student
Major: Biology
Department of Biology, Stanford University
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Jonathan Rodriguez
he/him
Undergraduate Student
Major: Electrical Engineering
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University
I hope to break into the field of energy systems and find new and sustainable energy sources. For my major, I will specialize in lasers and optics in the field of electrical engineering to achieve this goal.
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Staff
Melanie Rodriguez Fuentes
they/she
Life Science Research Professional
Department of Biology
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Valeria Galindo-Eguiarte
she/her
Life Science Research Professional
Department of Biology
I am interested in evaluating excess nutrients from agricultural and urban sources that move through the environment and impact soil health, groundwater systems, and coastal ecosystems. My work tracks these nutrient pathways and evaluates their ecological consequences in agricultural systems across California’s Central Coast.
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Former Lab Members
Katherine Lai
she/her
Undergraduate Student
Major: Biology
Department of Biology, Stanford University
My honor thesis research examines how shade affects plant-mycorrhizal relationships, specifically focusing on endemic Hawaiian plants grown in agroforestry systems! I hope to provide more information about the soil microbiome to farmers and ecologists cultivating agroforestry systems!
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Megan Chen
she/her
Master's Student
Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University
I am interested in the intersection of urban agroecology, sustainable food systems, and community-based ecology. My current research focuses on using geospatial tools to understand the scaling of country-wide agroforestry programs.
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Lizbeth Zambrano-Sanchez
she/her
Undergraduate Student
Major: Earth System Science
Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University
I aim to support an equitable energy transition by advancing solutions that center frontline communities. I strive to work in early-stage energy ventures and applied policy settings, and I'm supporting research that focuses on agrivoltaics and on partnering with farmers to develop market pathways. My long-term goal is to invest in community-benefiting energy projects.
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Ash Galeana Dominguez
he/they
Undergraduate Student
Major: Earth Systems
Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford University
I am interested in sustainability through community-engaged research at the moment. My concentration is Sustainable Food and Agriculture, although I am also exploring Urban Studies. A meaningful career for me would be community-driven and contribute to large sustainability goals.
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Ashley He
she/her
Undergraduate Student
Major: Bioengineering, Pre-Medicine
Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University
I'm very interested in sustainability as it pertains to community ecology and environmental health. I hope to utilize my research to work with communities to make science-informed decisions to optimize sustainable practices for both agricultural and human health.
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Suzanne Cardenas
she/hers
BioRETs Inspire Teacher Fellow
Abraham Lincoln High School
As a high school biology teacher, I’m passionate about growing my own research skills to bring more authentic, inquiry-based science experiences into my classroom. I’m excited to explore Agroecology and guide students in hands-on investigations that build their confidence, help them see science as relevant to everyday environmental issues within communities and see themselves as capable contributors to their scientific community.
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Casey Nolan
she/they
BioRETs Inspire Teacher Fellow
Hillsdale High School
I am a high school biology teacher interested in expanding my research experience to integrate more authentic science experiences in the classroom. I am excited to have the opportunity to explore the field of agroecology, with a focus on soil microbes and their interaction with one another and plants.
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Yuqin (Victoria) Ma
she/her
High School Student
The Harker School
I am interested in biomolecular recognition approaches to trace arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and utilize nanoscience techniques to study plant-microbe interactions. In building biosensing systems for soil microbiology contexts, I aim to emphasize in-field practicality because I am passionate about translating science into solutions for real-world communities to contribute to healthier crop fields and more sustainable food systems.
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