Meet The Team

I am an El Paso, TX native and proud to be serving as an assistant professor at NMSU! I worked with hellbenders for my PhD research and they still hold a special place in my heart. I have been lucky to also work with Pacific coast salamanders, turtles, and now New Mexican wildlife. My research interests are in population genetics, microbial ecology, and herpetology. I teach Wildlife Disease Ecology and Herpetology in the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology. 

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, I’m currently studying turtle populations across the Pacific Northwest. My research utilizes geospatial analysis tools to determine how environmental variation in habitat can affect disease presence, pathogen load, and movement behavior in northwestern pond turtles (Actinemys marmorata). Upon graduation, I will be looking for new opportunities in conservation biology that encourage interdisciplinary discovery.

I'm from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico where I graduated as Veterinary Zootechnic from the Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez. My thesis projects will be focused on populations ecology and Bd disease resistance in Chiricahua leopard frogs along New Mexico and Arizona. After graduation, I'll look for wildlife conservation opportunities through government agencies hoping to focus on fieldwork.

I was born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico. I have recently graduated from NMSU with my BS in Wildlife Management and Ecology. As an undergrad, my research was focused on the nest occupancy and diet habits of the American Kestrel in the Mesilla Valley. I am now beginning a Master’s Program in the OHG Lab focusing on population genetics and immunogenetics of Western Pond Turtles on the West Coast. I will look to continue pursuing higher education and become the first in my family to receive a PhD!

I am a senior undergraduate student at New Mexico State University (NMSU) currently majoring in Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology and due to graduate in May of 2025. My research of interest is in ecological impacts of non-native species, disease dynamics, and animal behavior. I am currently working at the Veterinary Entomology Research Laboratory (VERL) as a research assistant, managing day to day operations, and evaluating various insecticidal products aimed at controlling parasitic insects of agricultural importance. Joining the OHG lab in the fall of 2025 for my Master's, our goal is to evaluate parasites and microbiomes in native and non-native ungulates in southern New Mexico.

I am a freshman at NMSU majoring in Animal Science. In the future, I hope to become either a Small Animal or Exotic Veterinarian. Im excited to join Dr. OHG’s lab to gain more experience & knowledge when it comes to wildlife and research!

I’m from El Paso, TX and currently a senior at NMSU. I am pursuing a degree in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Ecology. I have a passion for wildlife research, which is reflected in my current project, where I am evaluating the gut bacteria of bats receiving treatment against White-Nose Syndrome in the State of Washington. I am eager to broaden my experiences with wildlife post-graduation and build my passion for conservation.

I am from Tularosa, New Mexico and an undergraduate student at New Mexico State University studying Fish Wildlife and Conservation Ecology. I have had the opportunity to work in Costa Rica with Great Green Macaws and with American Kestrels around the Mesilla Valley. My goal is to gain a well rounded view of conservation ecology as I continue my path towards a career in wildlife biology and conservation

I’m a double major in Biology and Microbiology at NMSU with a focused interest in pathogenic microorganisms — particularly how they survive, adapt, and interact with the host.  I currently work with Listeria and am excited to expand my knowledge in Dr. OHG’s lab to learn more about Bd disease resistance, deepening my understanding of how different pathogens affect their hosts. Born in El Paso and raised in Ciudad Juárez, I proudly serve as the captain of NMSU’s mariachi, celebrating my culture while navigating life as a first-generation college student.