Connor Quiroz

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Academic Background

I am a recent graduate from California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB). I majored in Environmental Science, Technology, and Policy with a double minor in Data Science and Statistics.

While personal knowledge is important, I only know so much, and have learned more with the help of my professors, mentors, friends, and peers. I always try to have a positive mindset to influence others to pursue sciences.

I was a CSU-Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, Society for Freshwater Science Emerge, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and McNair Scholar, and I love the idea of self improvement and becoming a better person than I was yesterday.

I will not stop until I have achieved my goals, and I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at the University of Washington where I will develop quantitative models to address issues including food inequities. I conducting my research in the Seafood Globalization Lab under the direction of Dr. Jessica Gephart. I want to use my expertise gained from this program to partner with local organizations to protect both marine and freshwater ecosystems from the effects of climate change and anthropogenic stressors.

Watershed Environments & Ecology Lab

Having joined in January 2022, I helped study the human effects on local watersheds through monthly monitoring of discharge rates, water chemistry and other dry stream methods such as moss identification.

I completed an honors capstone where I modeled present and future species distribution of the threatened species, the California Red Legged Frog, Rana draytonii, along the California Central Coast. I presented this at multiple conferences, placing 2nd best undergraduate presentation at the Society for Freshwater Science California Chapter Meeting and at UROC Fall Research Competition.

I presented my research at the 2023 Society for Freshwater Science (SFS) Meeting, CSUMB Fall Research Competition, and national meetings, winning distinguished recognition for my research, and working on a manuscript for publication in the Southwestern Naturalist.

Macalester College Geology Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)

During the 2023 summer, I studied marine and freshwater paleoenvironments of the Ellsworth prodelta during the Late Devonian the Michigan Basin. Using a drill core, I discovered the slow formation of the prodelta slope through detecting increasing laminations between clay and silt in younger geologic ages and a coarsening upward sequence through statistical and geochemical analyses. These analyses included generalized linear models and portable X-Ray fluorescence.

I plan on presenting my research at the national Geological Society of America Conference in 2024, and publishing my manuscript in the Keck Geology Consortium Journal.

Great Lakes REU

During the 2022 summer, I studied Northern Pitcher plants, Sarracenia Purpurea L. and how the microbes in them react to pulse and press disturbances. This was done through filed collection of pitcher fluids, lab work involving DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with gel electrophoresis, and Next-Generation sequencing.

I presented this research at the Cal-SFS, CSUMB Fall Research Competition, and the international SFS meeting, winning first place prizes for my partner's and my research.

Volunteering

As a past volunteer at the Habitat Stewardship Project, a non-profit focused on teaching others about preserving coastal ecosystems through native and invasive species work, I worked with middle schoolers and collected over 2,000 pieces of confetti in 2 hours. I kept telling them we were going to finish and to focus on one piece at a time; we had fun, cleaned a park, and accomplished our goal. Their positivity and receptiveness towards conservation made me realize that leading with a strong, but gentle heart increases civil engagement.

I learned how our work relates to statewide policy and how multiple people working together can make a much larger impact than one. With an abundance of knowledge available, not only is self-learning important, but civilly engaging individuals’ collective strengths in teams can maximize our potential.

Personal Achievements

Set the school record in the 400m dash as part of CSUMB's track and field team
Completed Ironman Santa Cruz 70.3 and Ironman Oceanside 70.3 (September, 2023; October, 2021)
Placed first in age group ages 17 & under in Napa Valley Marathon (March, 2020)