Hello, I am an research ecologist in the Luong Lab at UC Berkeley. I am particularly interested in functional ecology and understanding drivers of plant community assembly. Much of my current work sits at the intersection of plant ecology, data science, and translational ecology. Through GRASS-NET, I work on projects to better serve and understand the needs of natural resource managers and decision-makers. My goal is to leverage research data to build practical, accessible frameworks and tools for application. I received my M.S. in Natural Resources from Cal Poly Humboldt and my B.A. in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz. My previous experience includes working as a restoration practitioner and educator in Point Blue’s Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed program as well as working as a field botanist in the North Coast for the California Native Plant Society. In my spare time, I enjoy numerous outdoor activities including naturalizing and looking for rare plants and I also enjoy tinkering on my homelab. My favorite forbs are any and all heterotrophic plants, Lillies, and Leptosyne gigantea; my favorite grasses are Danthonia californica and Poa douglasii.

Hello! My name is Angelina and I am a Natural Resources graduate student planning to research secondary invasions under the guidance of Dr. Luong. Before pursuing my master’s degree, I attended Chico State and received a B.S. in Plant Biology. There, I was able to develop skills in both restoration and lab research. While working as a land steward at Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve, I found a passion for rehabilitating native plant communities and was later able to connect that knowledge to my lab assistant position for the GRASS-Net project. My research interests include restoration ecology, soil health, invasive species physiology, and I hope to explore more ethnobotanical topics in the future! In my free time, I enjoy longboarding, cooking, practicing my plant identification, and bug hunting with friends. Some of my favorite plants include Aquilegia formosa, Trifolium depauperatum, and Adiantum jordanii.

Growing up in the wilds of southern Appalachia on the VA/Tenn border I developed a love and respect for nature at a young age and have always sought to be an advocate for wild places and the species that depend on them. Heading to college right out of high school and not knowing completely what field to go into, I earned a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from Virginia Tech in 2003. I quickly fell in love with field biology and research, working a series of seasonal jobs, knowing my true passion was for plants, plant communities, and ecosystems. In 2005 I found myself in Humboldt County working with the Northern Spotted Owl and earned a BS in Botany from Humboldt State University in 2008. I have been working for the Wiyot Tribe as their botanist and Natural Resources Director since 2014, and seek to apply the knowledge I’ve learned toward the protection of ethnobotanical sites and Tribal cultural resources, lobbying for the reinstitution of indigenous land management and the application of traditional ecological knowledge in natural resources management. I enjoy spending time out in nature with my wonderful daughters Iris and Azalea, backpacking, botanizing, and playing the banjo.

Hello! My name is Lee. I’m a first-year natural resources grad student here. I grew up in New Jersey and have spent nearly all of my academic and professional career there, graduating from Rutgers University with a degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources in 2017. I have a wide variety of interests in ecology and I’m fortunate to have been able to work in roles that allowed me to explore all of those interests from songbird point counts and banding to assessing forest plant communities, rare plant surveys, fire ecology, and the applications of terrestrial LiDAR. In my spare time I love hiking, mountain biking, and looking for cool plants and birds along the way. I’m still getting to know the California flora, so my favorite plants are from back home in the east, but my favorite forb is Anemonoides quinquefolia and my favorite grass is Elymus hystrix.

Hi, my name’s Tonia and I use they/them pronouns and I am the Luong Lab Manager and GRASS-Net Coordinator. I grew up not far from Humboldt in the Trinity Alps where I learned to love ecology. I then graduated from UC Santa Cruz earning a BA in Environmental Studies and Community Studies. I wrote my senior thesis on the importance of anti racism in environmental non-profits. I love being the Luong Lab Manager because I get to support our students and projects daily! I’ve also really loved working on our greenhouse drought experiment and on the development of GRASS-Net. I wear many hats like I use our LICOR to measure leaf gas exchange in the greenhouse, I conduct research interviews, and I plan our field work trips. I’ve learned so much about experimental design and management of long term projects. My scientific and technical communication with diverse audiences has improved a lot through my work in Luong Lab! I’d love to answer questions you have about any of our projects.

Hi, my name is Gabriel Abundis. I am a third-year majoring in rangeland resources with a minor in botany and soils. I am from southern California and although I grew up with nature, I never truly appreciated it for what it is. I fell in love with rangelands and their role in supporting ecosystems. Currently my research focuses intently on exploring the intricate dynamics between photovoltaic cells and the delicate coastal California grasslands. I am particularly interested in the forage value of species, and holistic approaches for rangeland management. When I am not in lab, I enjoy taking my dogs on adventures and eating/cooking.

Hello! My name is Claudia Alfaro Hernandez (She/Her/Hers pronouns) and I’m a student assistant in the Luong lab. I’m an Environmental Science & Management major with a concentration in Ecological Restoration and a double minor in Geospatial Analysis and Wildland Soil Science. Before coming to Humboldt County in 2020, I was originally from Southern California, specifically Jurupa Valley (Inland Empire region). Before working with Dr. Justin Luong in his lab, I was a Soil Science Trainee with the NRCS Soil Survey assisting soil scientists with plant identification and soil analysis. I am very excited to have the opportunity to work within the Luong lab this semester, as it allows me to practice my strengths within soil science, correlating its impacts on plant communities regarding sustainable land use applications. When I’m not in the Luong lab, you can find me on the nearby beaches paddleboarding, tide pooling, birding, and beachcombing.

Hi! I’m Soren and my pronouns are he/him. I’m a fourth year botany student and a student assistant in the Luong lab and the Dennis K. Walker Greenhouse. I have always had an appreciation for plants but was only interested in gardening and horticulture until coming to Cal Poly Humboldt. It was here that I discovered my passion for plant taxonomy, conservation, and lichenology. Outside of botany I enjoy reading, lapidary arts, and puzzle games!

Hi, my name is Sage (she/her) and I’m a third-year Rangeland Resource Science major. I’m from Southern California originally where I grew up hiking, camping, and working outdoors. I’ll always have a soft spot for coastal grass and shrublands. I’m interested in range conservation particularly with wildlife, invasives, and urban sprawl. In my free time I like to collage, garden, sketch, create fiber art, I am Vice President of the Range & Soils Club, and I’m on the logging sports team. Unsurprisingly, I’m a big fan of North American sages!

Hey! My name is Sean (he/they), and I’m a student assistant in the Luong Lab. I’m a Wildland Soil Science major with a Botany minor, and I came to Humboldt county in 2024 from Los Angeles County. I grew up near the San Gabriel Mountains, hiking and camping with my family, and I have a lot of curiosity about the chaparral and sagebrush ecosystems in that area. In my free time, I love cooking, drawing, painting, and sewing. Working in the lab has been awesome, and I really appreciate being exposed to all the research! My favorite plants from back home are California Buckwheat, Eriogonum fasciculatum, and California Sagebrush, Artemisia californica, and since working in the lab, my favorite grass species has become Danthonia californica.

Trinity Edwards is a Senior at Cal Poly Humboldt majoring in Rangeland Resource Science with a concentration in soil science. During her academic journey Trinity has gained an interest in Geospatial Sciences and as a result, is also pursuing a Geospatial Science minor. With strong interests in land stewardship, sustainability, and agroecology, Trinity is passionate about giving back and taking care of the land. Trinity’s academic journey has been shaped by her deep love for nature and the world around her. Through the connections made at Cal Poly Humboldt Trinity has been able to evolve these passions into research in the realms of restoration and soil conservation. In the future, Trinity aims to further her understanding of native plant species and their potential use in various agricultural practices. Outside of academics, Trinity enjoys camping, playing ultimate frisbee, and volunteering at Special Olympic event.

Logan Fogle is currently working towards a Rangeland Resource Science B.S. at Cal Poly Humboldt. He hails from the scrubland of Southern California, originally coming to Humboldt County to study Forestry. However, after a few months working as a Timber Cruiser and a few Forestry classes, he soon realized his passion lied with Rangeland. He has loved the outdoors all his life, but has cultivated a more mature admiration for the vastness and complexity of the wilderness in his recent years. He lived and worked on a horse ranch in Riverside County before going to college. He is specifically interested in sustainable livestock operations. Logan’s favorite range plant is Encelia farinosa!

Hi! I’m Bailey Glashan and I am a student lab assistant in the Luong lab. I am pursuing my undergraduate degree in Rangeland Resource Science here at Cal Poly Humboldt with an emphasis in entomology and minors in botany and indigenous peoples, natural resource use, and the environment. I am a transfer student from Santa Rosa Junior College and though I miss the chaparral and vernal pools we have down south, I have quickly fallen in love with the redwood forest and coastal prairie. I spent lots of time in community college conducting native bee surveys at Pepperwood Preserve and in manicured native gardens in urban areas. Currently I am working on an exciting undergraduate research project looking into how insect populations are affected by fixed solar panels. I grew up as an active 4-H member and raised livestock most of my life which gave me a passion for community and sustainable agriculture. When I’m not working or doing school work, I enjoy hiking, fishing, gardening, and listening to music.

Hello! My name is Brandon Gutierrez and I am a Rangeland Resource Science undergraduate student. I’m interested in pasturelands, ecology, grassland restoration, and cattle. I grew up in a small town in Jalisco Mexico in a family farm. This is where my interest in natural resources, and range began. I spent a lot of time in pasturelands with the cattle moving them in and out of corrals. In my free time you can catch me in the gym, playing soccer or playing FC26. My favorite grass will definitely be Bouteloua gracillis.

I am a full time student studying the management of rangelands at California Polytechnic University Humboldt. I focus on the development of sustainable rangeland management practices with an emphasis on soil health and native plant communities. I strive to restore rangeland ecosystems through native plant and soil restoration and the implementation of practices that allow the symbiotic relationship between humans and the land to return.

Hello! My name is J.J. I am a senior undergraduate studying Rangeland Resource Science with a minor in Sustainable Food Systems. My interests include food sovereignty, gardening, and ethnobotany. Cooking with family was a very important aspect of my growing up and inspired my passion for sustainable food systems. One of my favorite plants recently has been one my grandma introduced me to outside her house in Michoacan, Mexico. She called it cinco llagas: Tagetes lunulata. I enjoy spending time in the sun and making fiber arts and other crafts.

I am a senior majoring in Environmental Science and Management with a concentration in Ecological Restoration. I’m originally from the Washington, D.C. area, but some of my fondest memories come from weekends spent at my uncle’s ranch in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. That’s really where my fascination with livestock care, wildlife, and habitat conservation took root. After relocating to Humboldt County, I started studying redwood ecology and, after taking a rangeland management class, I rekindled my love of ecological restoration. My research interests now focus on ecological restoration in coastal prairies and the application of climate adaptation strategies in coastal environments. Working as a Student Research Assistant in the Luong Lab, I’ve loved learning about Northern California’s unique ecosystems and being part of projects that foster conservation and restoration. In my free time, I enjoy swimming, biking, and saying hi to my favorite redwoods.

Hi, I am Eli! I am the editor of this website and like many wonderful people around me I am finishing up my Range Resource Science degree. I have a passion for anything analytical and enjoy a healthy mix of plants on the range and electronics. I enjoy things like tissue culture, watch movement repair and audio engineering and am intrested broadly in using parallel computing, design + fabrication, and opensource concepts in areas that still rely on aging infrastructure. If you want to see more of my work you can learn more at eliengine.com - While grasses are cool carnivorous pitcher plants are my favorite especially Nepenthesis Edwardsiana

Hi! My name is Max (they/them). I’m from central Florida, and have since moved around California and Oregon for school and work. I’m now a fourth year botany student. My interest in rangeland ecology started during my first field season, where I worked for the Agricultural Research Service in the Oregon high desert. I’m broadly interested in plant ecology in the contexts of conservation, restoration, bioremediation, and plant responses to climate change. Outside of biology, I like reading, crossword puzzles and sudoku, and botanical illustration.

Hello, my name is Danielle Virnoche, and I am a student assistant in the Luong Lab. I’m currently in my third year at Cal Poly Humboldt studying Forestry with a concentration in Forest Soils. I originally went to college to pursue a degree in psychology, but I realized a more active and outdoors career is what was going to make me happy. I appreciate what my field work and the people I’ve worked with taught me; the most important being that I found the right career path. I hope I can work for the Forest Service as a soil scientist in the future. In my free time, I like playing rugby, practicing logging sports, and riding my motorcycle.

Hello! My name is Kai Zerbo and I am a junior at the Rangeland Resource Department with a concentration in soils and botany. I came to Humboldt in 2024 from San Francisco. I have always had a deep appreciation for California’s ecosystems, specifically vernal pools, chaparral, and coastal grasslands. I am interested in studying post fire management, conservation, and soils. In my free time, I enjoy fiber arts, hiking, music, painting, and hanging out with my dog! My favorite range plant is Phacelia californica.