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Interns 2019

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Hi! My name is Alex-Adame and I am a 2nd year master’s student in the Evolutionary Biology program here at SDSU. I have a broad range of interest including phylogenetics, hybridization, population genetics and evolutionary ecology however my favorite topic regards incorporating ecological approaches in understanding how abiotic and biotic interactions shapes the evolution of the tree genus Arbutus (madrones). During the school year, I am TA for Bio 100L and 204L, however, my love for teaching is what brought me to this program as a graduate intern. My job has been to help with teaching the students morphological and molecular techniques as well as enhance their understanding in their projects! Additionally, I help out with coordinating activities with the students as well as guide them through their individual projects.

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Sarai Alvarez Zepeda is a fifth-year Biology major with an emphasis on Cell and Molecular Biology at San Diego State University. She is currently working on a project about the binational distribution of Xylococcus bicolor with Kyle Gunther, a master’s student in Dr. Flores-Renteria lab. Sarai is studying population genetics in Xylococcus bicolor. X. bicolor is a shrub that can be found in southern California and northern Baja California. It has urceolate flowers, small red drupes, and revolute leaves. She chose this project because she is curious about the leaf morphology, the shape of the flowers, and the genetic differences between populations from both sides of the border. After she completes her bachelor’s degree, she plans to apply to graduate school to continue with her education.

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My name is Elizabeth Barajas, and I am a third-year biology undergraduate student. I’m interested in molecular techniques and plants. My project entails studying the conservation concern and population variation of Salvia pachyphylla subspecies. All three subspecies within Salvia pachyphylla are found in different locations on both sides of the border, two of which of narrowly endemic, and have evident morphological differences. These differences and variation between the subspecies are significant and worth examining further. Currently, I am on the DNA extraction step of my project that will be utilized for genetic analysis. I’m excited to see what the results will tell me about my specimen!

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Martha Cortez is a fourth year undergraduate student. This summer she is studying the species Mammillaria dioica and its genetic variation across islands and the USA-Mexican border. Martha traveled to Baja California in order to learn more about the species binational growth and collect samples of Mammillaria dioica in the islands of Bahia de Los Angeles. She will use the collections from California and Baja California in order to understand binational distribution and genetic variation.

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Mario Galvan: Over the course of my internship I have learned a lot about plants, but specifically about pines.  At first, I was not too thrilled with my project, but after studying pines and working in the field I have grown to really enjoy studying and learning about pinyon pines.  The photo above is of myself in the mountains of San Pedro Martir which is located in Baja California, Mexico. In this specific photo I spent the day looking for two different kinds of Pine Trees (Pinus monophyla & Pinus quadrifolia).  In particular, Pinus monophylla was a much harder tree to find this day, so it was a big success when I came across one.  My overall objective for the course is to retrieve samples of these pinyon pines from both the United States and from Mexico.  The reason I am doing this is so I can see the genetic differences/variation from pinyon pines across the border.  I am currently in the process of doing DNA extractions of the pines, so this will also show the main differences in genome sequences. So far, I have collected samples of pinyon pines from Jacumba which is the only sight in the United States so far.  In Mexico I have collected samples from: Ojos Negros, Sierra San Perdo Martir, and San Pedro Martir.  I have really enjoyed learning and working on my project.  I especially enjoy helping one of the graduate students who is specializing in pines; because I in return absorb as much knowledge as possible.

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Julia Gomez is a third year undergraduate student pursuing a bachelors of science in Biology with an emphasis in Cell and Molecular Biology. She is interested in learning about molecular techniques and helping organisms with a conservation concern. She is studying the genetics of Ferocactus gatesii and Ferocactus cylindraceus as well as their distribution in Mexico and the United States. She researches genetic variations of Ferocactus gatesii in the islands of Bahia de los Angeles. 

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Dariana Nieves is a Kinesiology major and will be starting her third year at SDSU in the fall. She is interested in a career in sports medicine, but was also very excited to learn more about another possible field of study. She is researching the plant, Penstemon californicus and is studying its binational conservation concern and its genetic variation. Dariana is doing this by first learning about her plant and where it grows. Afterwards, she went out to the field with her colleagues and collected it in the only three areas it grows, San Jacinto Mountains, Sierra Juarez, and Sierra San Pedro Martir. After that, she went back to the lab and began doing DNA extractions to learn more about the Penstemon californicus’ genetic variation.

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