Vernal Pool Reserves Biographies for Spring 2018

Yumi Wolf - Project Manager

Yumi Wolf is the Project Manager for the Vernal Pool Reserve Engineering Service Learning team. She is currently in her third year as an undergraduate majoring in Earth Systems Science. Wolf was previously the Assistant Project Manager for this team, and wants to use her experience with the team to better learn about environmental regulations and improve her management skills. She is currently self-employed. Wolf hopes to someday work in a government agency, become a professional photographer, and start a sustainable clothing company or restaurant.

Eduardo Fonseca – Assistant Project Manager

Eduardo Fonseca, a proud South Los Angeles native, is a second-year Mechanical Engineering student and the assistant project manager of the Vernal Pool Reserve Engineering Service Learning Team. Being part of this team gives him the opportunity to truly understand how a problem is identified, solutions are proposed, and how those solutions are implemented. He believes understanding this process is integral in his journey of becoming an engineer. Fonseca enjoys deconstructing complex subjects into their essence and uses this skill to explain those subjects to his peers. He plans to attend graduate school and earn a Master’s degree in Material Science and Engineering as soon as his goals at UC Merced are fulfilled.

Eric Vang – Communications Officer

Eric Vang is a first year Computer Science and Engineering student and the communication officer of the Vernal Pool Reserve Engineering Service Learning Team. Being part of this team has helped him to provide an insight of what he can do for the local and school community. He chooses to be part of the Vernal Pool Reserve team because he wanted to learn more about the fairy shrimps near the Vernal Pool Reserve. Eric plans on to use what he learns from the Vernal Pool Reserve team to help improve with endanger species and animals in the future.

PHILLIP LE - Procurement and Finance Officer

Phillip Le is a freshman majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He is the Procurement and Finance Officer for the vernal pool reserve team. Phillip plans on continuing his learning at UC Merced for the next 4 to 6 years. He chose to take Engr service learning because he wanted to experience being an engineer. He chose the vernal pools reserve because of an experience where Phillip engaged in an interaction with the vernal pools near the UC campus which spiked his curiosity on the vernal pools. His professional goal is to gain the knowledge necessary to get a career relating to mechanical engineering in the future.

ADAM WHITEHURST - Software Management Team Leader

Adam Whitehurst is a fourth year Computer Science Engineering student and leads the software development of the VPGR App. This most aligned with his areas of expertise. Adam enjoys hobby programming and video game modding, which involves collaborating on projects with others. Adam hopes to continue these activities in his professional life: game development or software engineering for business. He has written a Google Play Store app called Shooty Plane, as well as a Pomodoro Timer app that implements Apache Cordova and Angular using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. 

Cyrus Dahm – Team Leader

Cyrus Dahm is a fourth year Earth Systems Science student focusing on sustainable water and energy systems. As team leader of the design and construction sub team in the Vernal Pools Reserve project, he is working to create a prototype design for a trail connecting the UC Merced campus to Lake Yosemite. Dahm plans to use his academic experience with soil science, hydrology, and the local Vernal Pools ecosystem to design the trail in an environmentally sustainable manner. After graduating Dahm aims to work in mater management to address the growing need for a clean, sustainable water supply.

Reinard Jeffrey T. Nambayan – Team Leader

Reinard Jeffrey T. Nambayan is a fourth year Bioengineering student and the team leader for the Accessibility and Safety team of the Vernal Pools Reserve Engineering Service Learning (VPR ESL) Team. Currently, Nambayan works with Dr. de Alba, conducting research on inflammatory response proteins. He hopes to continue this line of work in his future. With the VPR ESL team, Nambayan strives to connect the students and the community with the diverse ecosystem that surrounds them in a way that is educational, fun, and safe for both the ecosystem and the community. He hopes that his work can help others appreciate what is around them.

Marianne Gonzalez – Team Leader

Marianne Gonzalez is a fourth year Earth Systems Science student minoring in Economics and the team leader for the Environmental Impact sub-team of the Vernal Pools Reserve Engineering Service Learning Team. As a certified naturalist of the UC Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve, this project provides her an opportunity to showcase the uniqueness of the Reserve to the students, faculty, public that have yet to experience the beautiful ecosystem. Through this project, she plans to grasp a better understanding in environmental legislation and policies that concern the management and sustainability of protected land.

DUNCAN KLUG – Team Member

Duncan Klug is a third year Computer Science and Engineering student pursuing a career in software development. Klug created a modular framework for Discord chat-bots open-sourced on GitHub. He also released an Android app for bill-splitting and chore-sharing SplitShare Alpha on the Google Play Store. Klug joined the VPGR (Vernal Pools Grasslands Reserve) App Engineering Service Learning team to diversify his knowledge of backend app development. He plans to use the skills he reinforces in coding and communication to bolster his career in software.

Annaliza Torres – Team Member

Annaliza Torres is a third-year Materials Science and Engineering major with a Nanotechnology emphasis and a Physics minor. Torres is a member of the Vernal Pools Reserve Engineering Service Learning team, where she is working to evaluate and select suitable materials for the design and construction of the upcoming UC Merced Lake Yosemite trail. By performing materials selection and evaluation, she hopes to gain valuable skills that will serve as a foundation for her career in engineering. Torres' strong passion for studying Materials Science and Engineering has led her to pursue research in polymers, sustainability, and photovoltaic systems with various faculty on campus. In addition, she is currently a Carbon Neutrality Initiative fellow, who works with the Department of Sustainability and University of California Office of the President, researching carbon sequestration methods the UC Merced campus could pursue.

Jonathan Sam – Team Member

Jonathan Sam is a fifth year Earth Systems Science major and a member of the Vernal Pool Reserve (Trail) team. Sam is a team member in the environmental sub-division of the group, where he uses his prior experience and knowledge to aid in the Environmental specifications about the project. Currently, Sam is working as an Undergraduate Research Assistant to Dr. Westerling at UC Merced, studying Fire and Climatic changes in the Western United States. After graduating, Sam hopes to obtain his Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and become a contributing scientist in Fire and Climate Sciences.