People

Dr. Luong is an Assistant Professor of Rangeland Resource Science in the Forestry, Fire, and Rangeland Department at Cal Poly Humboldt, where he works with rangeland ecosystems, particularly in conservation and ecological restoration of California habitats, focused but not limited to grasslands with direct land manager engagement. His research interests center around climate-ready and invasion resistant restoration practices and incorporating management perspectives to understand restoration outcomes. Dr. Luong is particularly dedicated to promoting multi-use landscapes that balance range productivity and conserve native plant biodiversity. Dr. Luong completed his Bachelor’s at the University of California (UC) Santa Barbara, and worked as an undergraduate researcher in the D’Antonio lab. He earned his PhD at UC Santa Cruz working with Dr. Michael Loik and Dr. Karen Holl in the Environmental Studies Department and worked as a USDA postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis with Dr. Jennifer Funk. Prior, Dr. Luong worked as a restoration coordinator at The Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration. Dr. Luong actively currently contributes to the broader conservation community through various leadership positions in various professional societies and advisory committees and serves as a board member and the Science and Education Committee Chair of the California Native Grassland Association. Dr. Luong is deeply invested in mentorship and actively fosters the growth of aspiring ecologists and works to train undergraduate and masters students. My favorite grasses are Festuca californica and Danthonia californica.

Hello! I’m Ernesto. I’m a natural resources graduate student. I’m broadly interested in restoration, grasslands, plant ecology, botany, and ecosystem management. I grew up near the coast in Santa Barbara county where I developed an appreciation for spending time outside but I fell in love with grasslands, restoration, and fieldwork as an undergrad at UC Santa Cruz. When I’m not working, you can catch me hunting for wildflowers on iNat in the spring or cheffing it up at home. I’m also constantly trying out new hobbies! 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.

Hello, my name is Tonia. I use they/them pronouns and I am the lab/field tech for the Luong Lab. I’m passionate about education, dancing and my favorite holiday is Halloween. I grew up not far from Humboldt in the Trinity Alps which is where I learned to love plants. Before moving to Arcata in August 2023, I graduated in 2022 from UC Santa Cruz with my BA in Environmental Studies and Community Studies. During my time there I worked with the Sustainability Office and I wrote my senior thesis on the importance of anti-racism in envrionmental non-profits. I love working with others and meeting new people so if you see me around, feel free to say hi!

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, 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!

Hi! My name is Hazel Goode. I am a Botany Student minoring in Wildland Soils in my final year at Humboldt. I grew up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas and have always loved being outside. I became interested in rangelands working alongside a Rangeland Specialist/ Botanist for the Tahoe National Forest and have come to deeply appreciate their beauty and diversity. In my free time I love to kayak, create art, and spend time in the woods. My favorite gramminoid is Carex utriculata!

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.

Wendy Kornberg runs her microfarm with her family is Southern Humboldt County, raising fruits and vegetables as well as rabbits and poultry. Kornberg is currently a student at Cal Poly Humboldt majoring in Rangeland Resource Science and is employed by the Luong Lab as a lab assistant and researcher, as well as being employed grading papers for CPH Biostatistics classes. She attended the University of California at Santa Barbara where she studied environmental science and chemistry before moving to the Hawaiian island of Maui to pursue advancement in the scuba diving industry while working in hospitality. Kornberg has a deep passion for the environment and sustainability; a passion that shows through at every level of her work. She ardently supports regenerative farms and cares intensely about people’s health and wellness and the connection to our food supply and ecosystem management. Kornberg sits on the CDFA’s Small Scale Producer Advisory Committee as well as being a board member on the Humboldt Area People’s Archive.

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.

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, I’m Derek! I’m a junior at CPH, majoring in Forestry and Soils. I grew up on a raspberry farm in Bellingham, WA and managed the family business for a decade before moving to Humboldt County to pursue an education in natural resources. I have a particular interest in forest-grassland transition zones, conifer encroachment throughout the PNW, and subalpine plant communities. I’m really grateful to be part of such an ecologically minded community in one of the most beautiful and biodiverse places on the planet. Outside of school I enjoy hiking, photography, and writing music. My favorite grass is Hesperostipa comata and favorite tree is Tsuga mertensiana.

Hello my name is Tyvone Wilkey-Burrell but my friends call me Ty. I am currently a sophomore at Cal Poly Humboldt and my major is Forestry (Wildland and Fire Management). I also currently have two jobs on campus so if you ever happen to be in Nelson Hall come stop by The Umoja center located on the second floor and say hi. Finally in my free time I like to explore places I haven’t been, go to the beach, and hangout with friends.