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Thawing Permafrost Spring 2021

	Sreeda Vemuri -Team Member Sreeda Vemuri is a third-year Computer Science and Engineering student pursuing a career in marketing and design. As a member of the Permafrost Engineering Service Learning team, Vemuriplans on understanding the needs and effortsof collaborative projects in the real-world. Vemuri is experienced in visualization, as she is a Visual Artist for Game Development at UC Merced. She is also a Public Relations Chairman in Theta Tau -a professional engineering fraternity, where she has learned several leadership skills. Currently, Vemuri is working to move forward in pursuing an MBA, where she will be learning more in the field of her interest.
	Mark Twomey –Team Member Mark Twomey is a second-year student pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Systems Science and a team member of the Permafrost Engineering Service Learning team. Twomey joined this service team out of interest to model environmental systems and to develop a stronger engineering mindset. As the Treasurer of CALPRIG at UC Merced,Twomey helps lead students in the effort to lobby for Environmental change. In his career,Twomey intends to carry such passions forward to become an expert in the field of ecology and make application of models to research the environmental systems of the past, present, and future.
	Lucas Tran -Communications Officer Lucas Tran is a third-year student pursing a B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering. Tran plans on using his experience with the wilderness as an Eagle Scout to use computer software to help wildlife and protect the natural environment. Academically, Tran is interested in using this experience to get an idea of how team-based projects function in a real working environment. Tran hopes one day he can use this opportunity to help connect the world of programming to the world of the wilderness.
	Pedro Torres Pedro Torres is a fourth-year Computer Science and Engineering major focusing on software engineering technology and practices. Torres joined the Permafrost Project because of its use of environmental data, the research on the global climate, and its partnership with the Fresno Discovery Center. Through this project, Torres plans to better understand how to interact with clients and understand the problem from the perspective of an end-user, so the project can better serve its community and client. After graduation, Toress will be working in the software engineering branch of General Motors.
	Peter Sou–Team Member Peter Sou is a third-year Computer Science and Engineering student pursuing a career in Software Engineering. Sou has previously contributed to creating an autonomous R/C car at SF Hacks. As a member on the Unmanned Aerial Systems Engineering Service Learning team, Sou hopes to make a meaningful contribution to Project Permafrost, as well as, experiencing growth in the form of working towards a solution for the needs of the consumer(s). Currently, Sou is actively seeking an internship that will further his personal and professional growth, preparing him for a future as a software engineer.
	Sean Saki –Security Officer Sean Saki is a second-year student pursuing a B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering and the security officer for the Permafrost Engineering Service Learning project. Being part of the project provides Saki the opportunity to engage with his local community and educate the public. Additionally,Saki is interested in systems and network security and is currently studying to become CompTIA Security+ and Network+ Certified. Saki hopes to one day become a systems or network security architect for a private company that values people’s right to privacy. Saki plans to learn as much as possible and use that knowledge to help people regain their privacy online.
	Christopher Rodriguez –Tabletop Sub team Christopher Rodriguez is a fourth-year student pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering anda member of the Permafrost Engineering Service Learning team. Being part of this project provides Rodrigueza meaningful opportunity to create something that will educate younger children in Fresno on environmental issues. After graduation, Rodriguez hopes to continue giving back to the community in the STEM field.
	Bryan Powell–Project Manager Bryan Powell is a third-year student pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and is the Project Manager of the Permafrost Engineering Service Learning project. Powell views this project and an opportunity to earn more work experience before graduation, as well as an opportunity to serve his community by educating the future about the consequences of climate change.Beyond his major, Powell is seeking a career in aerospace, and has been a part of an internship at the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, CA. Powell will use the skills learned from the Permafrost project to better his teamwork and planning abilities.
	Ivan Palacios –Team Member Ivan Palacios is a third-year Computer Science student pursuing a career in data science and machine learning.Palaciosis a member of Unmanned Aerial Systems Engineering Service Learning team, where he is designing and building an educational display to show the effects of climate change and permafrost. Professionally, Palacios works for the University of California Merced as a Student Technical Consultant assistant professors in their classroom with their technological needs. One of Palacios’aspirations is to create an organization that gives underprivileged children in the communities around him the opportunity to explore the world of Computer Science and Engineering.
	Sarah Padilla Sarah Padilla is a third-year Computer Science and Engineering student in progress to pursue a career in software development or cyber security management. Padilla has developed a strong interest in different aspects of computer science through her experiences over the years. It started through a program, Girls who code at Pixar, where Padilla gained knowledge in several languages and collaborated on the project “Mind(over)/Matter” that provided resources for mental health with accessibility in tech. With Padilla’s technical skills and experience with group collaborations, she anticipates to maximize her professional development that can serve as a great support to the Engineering Service Learning project.
	Alexandra Lopez Alexandra Lopez is a first-year student pursuing a B.A. in Political Science and a member of the Unmanned Aerial Systems Engineering Service Learning team. Lopez joined this team to educate students on the environmental issues of rising temperatures and the effect they have on issues like permafrost. A big take away Lopez will be taking from this project is communication and teamwork. These skills are something Lopez hopes to reflect onto her future professional career in Law, specifically Immigration Law. One day, Lopez hopes to use her degree to represent immigrants in her own community and give them a fair opportunity to be represented in a court of law.
	Ambrose Liu -Team Member Ambrose Liu is a third-year Mechanical Engineer student pursuing a career in product development. Liu has a respectable background related to auto mechanics where he worked as a technician assistance in an auto shop for two years. Liu joined the Engineering Service Learning team because he desires the chance to gain a hands-on experience through engineering projects that are in the real-world. The professional goals Liu wishes to pursue include helping companies design and create new products through CAD or Solidworks that provide efficiency to the field of auto mechanics with the main focus on aerospace.
	Jacob Gilmartin –Team Member Jacob Gilmartin is a fourth-year student pursing a B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering. As a member of this project, Gilmartin is hoping to gain valuable collaborative skills through contributions to the team. Additionally, Gilmartin is a member of the Google student developer club where he collaborates with peers to create software thatcan greatly improve the workflow of various local businesses. Gilmartin hopes to apply himself in professional opportunities that will prepare him to work with people outside of his major and in the professional workplace.
	Nayeli Basulto –Team Member Nayeli Basulto is a fifth-year Environmental Engineering student who wants to pursue a career in water resources and spatial analysis. Basulto was previously part of the CTHINK Engineering Service Learning team and enjoyed collaborating with students from different majors. As a team member on the Unmanned Aerial Systems project, she hopes to contribute by sharing her technical skills learned from previous environmental and engineering courses. Basulto is passionate about helping others understand the importance of climate change and believes this project is a great way to get children and parents aware of climate change consequences.