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Jeanette Westbrook
A California Native, Jeanette Westbrook joined UCR in 2017 to provide support to The EDGE Institute’s Director. Jeanette holds a B.A. in Healthcare Administration from the University of Phoenix, and served in the United States Navy for five years before being honorably discharged. Previously Jeanette worked for The Riverside County Fire Department – Office of Emergency Services and provided administrative functions for the department and the constituents of Riverside County. Jeanette also worked at Bio-Rad Laboratories as an Administrative Assistant for the Human Resources department.
Andrew Bishop
Research Interests:
I recently left a career in the oil industry and I am now embarking on a new role at UCR in environmental biogeochemistry. The focus of my research is now on the variation of geochemical signatures through the Quaternary in response to rapid climate change, with particular emphasis on the southern California desert. The physical proximity of lacustrine, desert and alpine habitats around the Coachella Valley affords a unique opportunity to compare and contrast the response of such biotopes to recent climate change.
Current Projects and Research Opportunities:
When it comes to specific big environmental issues in the southern California desert, the one subject of greatest public interest is the fate of the Salton Sea. An improved understanding of how the climate in this region has evolved over the recent geological past may offer clues to the types of change which will be encountered in the centuries to come, for both the Salton Sea and the neighboring urban communities.
Ying Ling
Ying Lin joined UCR in 2017 to provide support to The EDGE Institute’s Director. Ying holds a Ph.D. in Geochemistry from the University of Chicago, and had work experience at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Nanjing University (China), University of Science and Technology of China, Texas Tech University, and the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Her expertise lies in triple oxygen isotope geochemistry, multiple sulfur isotope geochemistry, and she has experience with both the dual-inlet and conflo systems associated with a gas source isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Ying's CV
Katherine Avila
I graduated with honors from Summit high school in Fontana, California of the year 2016, and am currently pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science at the University of California, Riverside. In addition to my studies, I am employed as a waitress at the Luxe Buffet in Ontario, California. As a second year student and an intern in The EDGE Institute at UCR, I intend to place my knowledge of environmental issues and experience working with the recycling staff on campus, to improve the efficiency of recycling done within the science buildings. My goals as an intern in The EDGE Institute are to further learn about the impacts of recycling, promote better recycling habits in UCR’s science buildings, inspire others to place their grain of sand in conserving the planet, gain lab skills, and engage in Dr. Fogel’s scientific research.
Stephanie Cleese
Stephanie has shown exceptional leadership and proactive thinking in the world of Sustainability at UC Riverside. She has done justice to the Sustainability Studies major by acting as a representative of the wider student body in their concerns regarding sustainability practices on campus since the reorganization of UCR's Sustainability Office. Throughout her employment as the Sustainability Intern for the Environmental Dynamics and GeoEcology (EDGE) Institute she has been able to bring attention and focus to changing the way we process our food waste at UCR through public outreach and project management. More recently she has collaborated with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Engineers Without Borders (EWB), and the Center for Environmental Engineering and Research Technology (CE-CERT) on a biogas feasibility project taking place at UCR's R'Garden. Thus far, Stephanie has entered herself in the space of important decision maker’s by hosting the California Air Resources Board 50th Anniversary and Technology Showcase alongside fellow Sustainability Ambassadors, has presented at Earth Week's Graduate Research Symposia at UCR, and has worked to promote the EDGE Institute’s latest focus in Saving the Salton Sea. She currently serves as the undergraduate representative on a search committee to hire a new Sustainability Officer at UC Riverside. She is also under consideration to serve as the UCR representative to the Global Climate Action Climate Summit taking place in San Francisco this upcoming September.
Besides her focus on Sustainability, Stephanie is actively involved in UCR's Guardian Scholar's program which helps to support, bring awareness, and overcome the challenges facing foster youth pursuing higher education.