JP Flores is a Filipino first-generation graduate student from Los Angeles, CA. As a 4th-year PhD candidate in Bioinformatics & Computational Biology at UNC Chapel Hill, he studies how 3D chromatin structure influences cellular responses to environmental stress using multi-omics approaches.

A passionate science communicator and advocate, JP is the co-founder of Science For Good, a nonprofit born from organizing Stand Up for Science 2025. He also hosts the podcast From Where Does It STEM?, where he explores stories at the intersection of science, identity, and society. His creative outreach includes building “Atlases of Scientists” and developing new ways to make science more inclusive and accessible.

JP began his research journey at Occidental College, studying venomous, fish-hunting cone snails—an experience that revealed to him how nature’s mysteries can unlock life-changing medical therapies.

He believes “talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not,” and he aims to run his own lab focused on rare disease genomics while integrating innovative science communication and effective science policy advocacy.

Outside the lab, JP enjoys running, bartending, playing in a band, and spending time with his miniature dachshund, Vienna.

Rekha’s educational journey began in 2008, when she embarked on her academic path to become a medical anatomist. She soon stepped into Cancer research at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. She contributed to papers in cancer immunotherapy in the journals Scientific Reports and Blood while earning her Master of Science degree in USC’s stem cell biology and regenerative medicine program in its inaugural year. Soon, she started to serve as a biotechnology teacher in LAUSD from 2016 and has always been a passionate educator and a student advocate for providing equitable STEM opportunities to our communities. Her passion for educational leadership and social justice led her to earn her third master’s in educational leadership with an administrative credential from the UCLA Center X Principal Leadership Institute (PLI).

As a proud Bruin from UCLA Center X, she continues her unwavering passion for educational advocacy towards her K-12 and adult education students and their communities. Currently, she serves as an advisor in LAUSD Adult and Career Education by providing equitable workforce and career opportunities. She believes that this community fellowship would help her build more community partnerships and also provide educational STEM opportunities for the students she serves. As an educator, Rekha strongly believes and always focuses on bridging the educational and career gaps that exist within our communities, which stems mainly from a lack of mentorships and lack of access to sustainable resources.

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Gabriel-Philip Santos is a paleontologist, educator, and storyteller. He is currently the Director of Visitor Engagement and Education at the Alf Museum of Paleontology. He received his B.Sc. in biology at University of California-Irvine, and his M.Sc. in geology at California State University-Fullerton. His previous research interests focused on the Eocene vertebrate fauna of Southern California and the paleobiology of marine mammals, particularly in the extinct hippo-like desmostylians. He now focuses his work on science education and engaging audiences through projects like the Cosplay for Science Initiative. He was named a 2021 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow with National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions for his work in science education and has recently joined as a host for the popular PBS Digital Series, Eons, where he gets to share stories about the ancient world.

Shea McManigal is a finance and sustainability professional whose career bridges international audit, developmental innovation, and regenerative agriculture. He began his professional journey with over a decade at KPMG, leading teams across the US, UK, and Hong Kong. His work with multinational clients and complex regulatory environments built the foundation for his later transition into global development and sustainability.

In 2019, Shea co-founded Karakoram, a developmental innovation consultancy that builds pragmatic, technical solutions to humanitarian and environmental challenges. At Karakoram, he led projects in partnership with international organizations – including the United Nations – that addressed systemic issues such as smallholder resilience, environmental monitoring, and equitable data access. Karakoram’s work prioritized cross-sector collaboration and locally grounded design to ensure scalable impact.

Building on that work, in 2020 Shea co-founded Pastoral, a United Nations-endorsed regenerative agriculture technology company that developed an IoT and software-based platform to support sustainable livestock producers. The platform helped ranchers measure, verify, and improve soil health, water systems, and biodiversity while accessing new markets for regenerative and climate-friendly products. Pastoral was designed in partnership with ranching communities, focusing on underserved producers, and has since supported data sovereignty, carbon market access, and regenerative land stewardship across Latin America and the U.S. 

Shea’s work reflects a commitment to data-driven approaches that empower local communities and promote environmental resilience. As a Community Fellow with CDLS he has spoken to CDLS members about regenerative agriculture and the importance of empowering land stewards with usable, actionable data. He also facilitated a partnership between CDLS and a nonprofit conservation organization to enhance collaboration on land health data and sustainable livestock research.

Today, Shea is focused on roles that allow him to integrate his background in finance and governance with his passion for building resilient land-based systems. He believes true sustainability is both a scientific and cultural endeavor – one that requires centering the voices and knowledge of those who are often left out of traditional decision-making spaces. Through his work, he strives to co-create a future where environmental accountability, economic viability, and social equity are inseparable.

Sacha Medjo-Akono is a Master’s student in Ecology and Evolution at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Their research focuses on native plant responses to anthropogenic nitrogen depositions on soils. By studying these local species, Sacha hopes that findings will have practical applications for conservation initiatives aimed at mitigating human-caused climate disturbances, such as pollution, drought, and wildfires.

Before moving to California for graduate school, Sacha obtained their B.A in Biology with a concentration in Gender and Sexuality Studies at Bard College in 2021. After this, they worked as a Conservation educator for the New York Aquarium leading educational outreach programs for K-12 NYC public school students. At CSUN, Sacha is a Bridges to PhD fellow, a trip leader with the associated students Outdoor Adventures group and a CDLS Early-Career fellow. When Sacha isn’t working on their thesis, they enjoy hiking, sewing and spending time with their black cat name Cat!

Nicole Francis is a recent graduate from the University of Tampa, where they earned a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and Biology, with a special interest in paleoclimate and geology. Nicole’s passion lies in using geochemistry to analyze paleoclimate proxies, uncovering the story of Earth’s climate history through sediment, fossil, and ice records.

Currently taking a gap year, Nicole is focused on gaining hands-on laboratory experience to strengthen their research skills before pursuing graduate studies. Ultimately, they aspire to collect and study ice cores from the polar regions, unlocking the secrets of ancient climates and helping to inform our understanding of future environmental change. Nicole will attend Boston College this fall to start their master’s degree in Geology and will research oxygen isotopes from speleothems.

Nicole’s love for the ocean and natural world started at a young age and has fueled their drive to be part of a field that fosters discovery and innovation. They are a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM, believing that collaborative and welcoming environments thrive when they reflect the rich variety of perspectives and identities found in the world.

Nicole is excited to continue exploring the intersections of climate, geology, and community.

Daniel Sepulveda is a Fulbright fellow and international student from Chile, and a fifth-year graduate student at UCLA, pursuing a degree in Geology with a research focus on paleoclimate reconstruction in the Southern Hemisphere. His work explores the Miocene epoch in Patagonia and the Cretaceous–Paleogene transition in Antarctica, using stable isotope geochemistry, particularly clumped isotopes, to analyze paleosols and fossil records. Through this research, Daniel seeks to understand ancient climate patterns and their implications for today’s rapidly changing climate.

Daniel’s passion for geology was sparked early on, inspired by his experiences growing up in a geologically dynamic country. His travels and time spent near the Andes Cordillera fueled his curiosity about Earth’s processes and landscapes. Today, that curiosity drives his goal of one day leading an interdisciplinary, international research lab dedicated to tackling global environmental challenges and mentoring the next generation of scientists.

Daniel is committed to expanding scientific knowledge while also championing diversity and inclusion in STEM. He is actively involved in science outreach and education, mentoring undergraduates, participating in UCLA’s Family Mentorship Program, and collaborating with organizations like Esperanza Community Housing to make Earth sciences more accessible to underserved communities.

Outside of academia, Daniel enjoys traveling, volunteering, fitness, music, and exploring new cuisines.