Corisa is a senior majoring in Environmental Science with a minor in Environmental Engineering. This summer she was selected as one of only six UCLA students to participate in the JIFRESSE program. As part of the program, Corisa is currently working with researchers at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and UCLA to study carbon stocks in forests throughout North America, using biomass modeling, data fusion, and remote sensing.

Corisa has been a participant in UCLA’s Undergraduate Research Fellows Program and the Sustainable-LA Grand Challenges undergraduate research scholars program.

 

How did you first get involved in your research project?

I became involved in my current research project through the summer internship program at JIFRESSE (Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering) which is a partnership between UCLA and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Through this research I was able to expand my interests and research skills in remote sensing for environmental monitoring.

 

How would you describe your research experience at UCLA?

My research experience at UCLA has been eye-opening and fulfilling. I first started research through the Sustainable LA Grand Challenges Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (SLA-GC URSP) in Dr. Suzanne Paulson’s atmospheric chemistry lab. I was lucky to have really great mentors in the lab who encouraged and pushed me to grow as a researcher. Also, being involved in research programs such as SLA-GC URSP and URFP, opened up opportunities for me to share and present my research.

 

What is one piece of advice you have for other students thinking about getting involved in research?

Definitely take initiative and talk to professors whose research you find interesting. Once you have found a lab that interests you, demonstrate that you are willing to work hard, since research does take a lot of time and commitment. One great thing about undergrad is that you get the freedom to explore any field that interests you, while also getting to know what is expected of you as a researcher.

 

What are your future career goals?

My future goals are to work in the field of environmental engineering, ecosystem monitoring, and remediation. Broadly, my goal is to gain the interdisciplinary skills and knowledge needed to tackle just some of the many pressing issues facing our world today.