Fellowships

The Los Angeles Center for Urban Natural Resources Sustainability hosts an annual Science Fellowship Program to provide research and science-delivery opportunities for graduate students from a diversity of academic disciplines. Selected fellows conduct research that contributes to the core mission and vision of the LA Center, advancing urban natural resources sustainability in the region. Fellows receive a stipend of $5,000, receive mentorship from LA Urban Center researchers, and present their findings at the LA Urban Center’s Spring Partners Meeting or Fellowship Seminar.

2021 – 2022 Science Fellowship Cohort

Research Theme: Understanding the Social & Ecological Impacts of Wildfire

Final presentations debuted at the 2022 Spring Partners Meeting

Onja Davidson

University of California, Los Angeles

Research Topic Area:
Effect of wildfire residues on biological functions of stormwater biofilters

Noam Rosenthal

Uninversity of California, Los Angeles

Research Topic Area:
Mapping Compound Health Risks from Wildfire in Los Angeles County

Renan Valenca

University of California, Los Angeles

Research Topic Area:
Fungal role in reducing the negative impacts of wildfire on water and soil quality

Angelo De Guzman

California State University, Dominguez Hills

Research Topic Area:
Using LiDAR and SIF to Assess Vegetation Composition and Structure after the Angeles National Forest Wildfires

2021 – 2022 Science Fellowship Cohort

Utilizing Los Angeles’ LiDAR and Canopy Assessment Data

Final presentations debuted at the 2021 Spring Partners Meeting

Stephanie Piper

University of California, Riverside

Research Topic Area:
Nitrogen Pollution Within a City: Traffic vs. Tree Canopy

Christian Benitez

California State University, Los Angeles

Research Topic Area:
Using Remote Sensing Data to Characterize Bird Habitat in the Urban Ecosystem

Corey Bassett

University of British Columbia

Research Topic Area:
Urban Forest Management & Ecosystem Services

2018 – 2019 Science Fellowship Cohort

Research Theme: Assessing the Threats & Impacts of Invasive Shot Hole Borers

Joseph Corollo

University of California, Riverside

Research Topic Area:
A Method to Identify Invasive Shot Hole Borers by Targeting Fungal DNA in Woody Tissue

Shelley Bennet

University of California, Santa Barbara

Research Topic Area:
Ecology and Control of Invasive Shot Hole Borers in Southern California

2016 – 2017 Science Fellowship Cohort

Research Theme: Resilience in Ecological & Social Systems

Dion Kucera

University of California, Riverside

Research Topic Area:
Resilience of Los Angeles’ urban vegetation in response to drought and temperature stress

Jamie Burkhard

Loyola Marymount University

Research Topic Area:
Water Infiltration & Pollutant Removal Efficiencies in the Ballona Creek Rain Garden

Jonathan Lightfoot

University of California, Irvine

Research Topic Area:
Ratings Systems for Sustainable Green Infrastructure

Shannon Lynch

University of California, Santa Cruz

Research Topic Area:
Ecology and Control of Invasive Shot Hole Borers in Southern California

2015 – 2016 Science Fellowship Cohort

Research Theme: Green Infrastructure, Forest Health, and Environmental Justice

Final presentations debuted at the 2016 Spring Partners Meeting

Peter Ibsen

University of California, Riverside

Research Topic Area:
Spatial and Inter-specific Relationships in Stress Response and Cooling Benefits in Urban Trees

Grace John

Uninversity of California, Los Angeles

Research Topic Area:
Conserving resources by quantifying plant water use and drought tolerance for the Los Angeles urban ecosystem

Gongde Chen

University of California, Riverside

Research Topic Area:
Nanoparticles in different water chemical conditions

Colleen Fisher

Cal Poly Pomona

Research Topic Area:
Interception of Particulate Matter by Street Tree Leaves in the Inland Valleys of Southern California

2014 – 2015 Science Fellowship Cohort

Research Theme: Community Science, Community Engagement, & Access to Nature

Final presentations debuted at the 2015 Spring Partners Meeting

Cynthia Chavez

California State University, Fullerton

Research Topic Area:
Does Participation in Citizen Scientist Projects Change Environmental Attitudes in Middle School Aged Students? Pollination Research at Ladera Vista Middle School

Jonathan Navarette

California State University, San Marcos

Research Topic Area:
Statistical Spatial Analysis of San Gabriel River Recreation Users in Southern California