I am a first year PhD student at the Integrative Conservation and Anthropology program. Originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, I hold a bachelor’s degree in biology, and a master’s degree in chemical-biological Sciences with an emphasis on Natural Resource Management from the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez. I have participated in a wide variety of research related to the ecology of the Chihuahuan Desert, distribution and richness of fungi in the Sierra Tarahumara, and biotechnology of edible fungi. However, my passion lies in the conservation of seahorses and their relatives. My most recent research focused on the local ecological knowledge, use, and commercialization of the Pacific seahorse (Hippocampus ingens), collaborating with various local communities in Sinaloa, Mexico. Through interdisciplinary work with anthropology sciences, I aim to continue investigating how sustainable practices within communities can contribute not only to the conservation of seahorses and their relatives but also to the socioeconomic improvement of coastal communities and artisanal fishers in Mexico. I am also a current recipient of the Fulbright-García Robles scholarship and aim to foster mutual understanding between Mexico and the United States through education, as well as advances in knowledge across local communities and academia. Research Research Interests: Syngathid conservation Human dimensions of conservation Ethnozoology Human-environmental interactions Artisanal fisheries Social justice Local ecological knowledge Labs: Human and Environmental Change Lab Education Education: B.A. in Biology at Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez M. in Chemical-Biological Sciences at Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez.
