Kimberly Evans, Environmental Science and Management, Junior, 2022

Undergraduate Faculty Mentor:  Dr. Rachel Johnson
Three words to describe me: Amicable, eclectic, and nature-loving!

What are your future plans and/or goals?

My future plans are to go to graduate school for my M.S. in Environmental Science or Ecology. I want to be able to continue research in a similar field as I currently am, focusing on components of health in aquatic systems.

In what ways has engaging in undergraduate research impacted your future goals and plans?

Undergraduate research has allowed for me to see what a lab setting and community is like, along with narrowing in on the things that I find interesting. Originally, I imagined that labs were extremely intimidating and rigid places. However, from being a part of research, I have learned that being in a lab isn't as scary as I had anticipated, and it feels great to be supported by a body of passionate researchers. It reaffirmed my love for ecology and aquatic systems to do work directly in the field, and I'm excited by the analyses of the work I'm able to help with.

What contribution(s) will your research make to your field of study?

Salmon are an anadromous fish, meaning that they are born in freshwater and later migrate out into the ocean. My research focuses on how young Chinook salmon are impacted by different areas they inhabit before they make the difficult journey out to sea. The habitation zone I am researching is the Sutter Bypass, an area in the Sacramento Valley that becomes flooded during wet years. Work such as this could potentially inform the field of a critical habitat for Chinook Salmon.

What preparation and research experience did you have before applying to your research program?

In high school, I was able to be involved in a program called Biosustainability that built an aquaponics system contained by a greenhouse. An aquaponics system is a way of growing produce through raising fish (thus combining aquaculture and hydroponics). This experience definitely helped me to understand my interests, though very different than my current research in a lab setting.

What advice do you have for other undergraduate students seeking research experiences?

The advice I would give to other undergrads looking for research is that TA's are an amazing resource! I learned about the lab opening I currently have through one of my TA's, and it is really enjoyable to talk to them about their experiences in order to understand what lab settings are like.

Kimberly has this to say about the CAMP program:

"The CAMP program has been instrumental in my development as a scholar and a researcher. Being a first-gen college student, I had no clue what graduate school would look like-- all I knew is that I hoped to go to one. The program continues to teach me more every meeting in a community of supportive undergrads, graduates, and program directors. Having this community to aid me during undergrad and support my research aspirations truly encourages me to do my best and feel as though I have the resources to succeed."

What else would you like us to know about you?

I'm also a part of Climate Reality Project on Campus!