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.
The 2024 Science Fellowship Program is now accepting applications!
View the announcement and important details here:
LA Urban Center 2024 Science Fellowship Program Announcement
Submit an application by Friday, July 26th, 2024 at 5:00 PM PT here:
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
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Research Topic Area:
Effect of wildfire residues on biological functions of stormwater biofilters
Noam Rosenthal
Uninversity of California, Los Angeles
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Research Topic Area:
Mapping Compound Health Risks from Wildfire in Los Angeles County
Renan Valenca
University of California, Los Angeles
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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
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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
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Research Topic Area:
Nitrogen Pollution Within a City: Traffic vs. Tree Canopy
Christian Benitez
California State University, Los Angeles
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Research Topic Area:
Using Remote Sensing Data to Characterize Bird Habitat in the Urban Ecosystem
Corey Bassett
University of British Columbia
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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
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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
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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
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Research Topic Area:
Resilience of Los Angeles’ urban vegetation in response to drought and temperature stress
Jamie Burkhard
Loyola Marymount University
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Research Topic Area:
Water Infiltration & Pollutant Removal Efficiencies in the Ballona Creek Rain Garden
Jonathan Lightfoot
University of California, Irvine
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Research Topic Area:
Ratings Systems for Sustainable Green Infrastructure
Shannon Lynch
University of California, Santa Cruz
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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
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Research Topic Area:
Spatial and Inter-specific Relationships in Stress Response and Cooling Benefits in Urban Trees
Grace John
Uninversity of California, Los Angeles
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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
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Research Topic Area:
Nanoparticles in different water chemical conditions
Colleen Fisher
Cal Poly Pomona
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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
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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
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Research Topic Area:
Statistical Spatial Analysis of San Gabriel River Recreation Users in Southern California