PEOPLE
Dra. Heidy L. Contreras
Dra. Heidy L. Contreras is a comparative physiologist and STEM education researcher originally from Guatemala City, Guatemala. She earned her B.S. and M.S. in Biology from CSU San Bernardino and her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from UC Irvine, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Arizona. She previously served as an Associate Professor at the University of La Verne.
As an immigrant and first-generation college student, Dra. Contreras is passionate about expanding access to STEM for underrepresented students. Her education research focuses on leveraging Latinx student conocimientos (cultural and intellectual assets) to support student success in biology. In the lab, she studies the physiology, behavior, and ecology of animals to understand how organisms respond to and interact with their environments.
Current Lab Members - CSUSB
Francisco Diaz
Francisco Diaz
Francisco Diaz
Research Title: Metabolic Responses of Daphnia magna to Microplastic-Induced Environmental Stress
Lucia Medina
Francisco Diaz
Francisco Diaz
Research Title: Effects of Road Proximity and Water Quality on Aquatic Soundscapes
Daniel Ramirez
Francisco Diaz
Daniel Ramirez
Research Title: Potential Aquatic Ecosystem Responses to a Canal-Based Solar PV Project in the Klamath River
Past Lab Members - CSUSB
Kevin Tijerina
Sera Guevara (2023 - 2025)
Mark Adams (2023 - 2025)
Research Title: Post-Fire Impacts of the 2024 Line Fire on Water Quality and Macroinvertebrate Biodiversity in the Santa Ana River Watershed
Mark Adams (2023 - 2025)
Sera Guevara (2023 - 2025)
Mark Adams (2023 - 2025)
Research Title: Effects of Microplastic Exposure on Mosquito Development
Sera Guevara (2023 - 2025)
Sera Guevara (2023 - 2025)
Daniel Mahurin (2023 - 2024)
Research Title: Socioeconomic Disparities in Drinking Water Quality Across Communities in San Bernardino County, California
Daniel Mahurin (2023 - 2024)
Alondra Zaragosa (2023 - 2025)
Daniel Mahurin (2023 - 2024)
Research Title: The Impact of Microplastics on Mosquito Metabolism
Alondra Zaragosa (2023 - 2025)
Alondra Zaragosa (2023 - 2025)
Alondra Zaragosa (2023 - 2025)
Research Title: Effectiveness of Mycofiltration in Improving Water Quality
Serena Salas (2022 - 2023)
Alondra Zaragosa (2023 - 2025)
Alondra Zaragosa (2023 - 2025)
Research Title: The effects of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (CRP) on Student Learning In An Introductory Biology Classroom
Ashley Futch (2022 - 2023)
Kimberly Perez (2022 - 2025)
Kimberly Perez (2022 - 2025)
Research Title: Culturally Relevant Pedagogy in STEM - Self Efficacy, Sense of Belonging, and Science Identity in First year Biology Students
Kimberly Perez (2022 - 2025)
Kimberly Perez (2022 - 2025)
Kimberly Perez (2022 - 2025)
Research Title: Effects of Dietary Protein on Cockroach Metabolic Rate
Past Lab Members - University of La Verne
Erika Arellano
Frankey Sanchez
Erika Arellano
Katarina Arce
Frankey Sanchez
Erika Arellano
Frankey Sanchez
Frankey Sanchez
Frankey Sanchez
Elias Khal
Nicole Temple
Frankey Sanchez
Nicole Temple
Nicole Temple
Nicole Temple
Andrew Vrtar
Nicole Temple
Nicole Temple
Blake Keene
Bryan McGrath
Bryan McGrath
Bryan McGrath
Bryan McGrath
Bryan McGrath
Kyla Alvarez
Bryan McGrath
Anais Reveles
Anais Reveles
Destiny Ventura
Anais Reveles
Destiny Ventura
Destiny Ventura
Destiny Ventura
David Gonzales
Destiny Ventura
Destiny Ventura
Kelly Giordiano
Kelly Giordiano
Kelly Giordiano
Rubie Medina
Kelly Giordiano
Kelly Giordiano
Chelsea Alvarez
Kelly Giordiano
Cynthia Rodriguez
Cynthia Rodriguez
Cynthia Rodriguez
Cynthia Rodriguez
Taylor Baldwin
Cynthia Rodriguez
Taylor Baldwin
Saloni Gupta
Cynthia Rodriguez
Taylor Baldwin
Evelyn Bobbitt
Evelyn Bobbitt
Evelyn Bobbitt
Sam Arcas
Evelyn Bobbitt
Evelyn Bobbitt
Jesus Bolanos
Evelyn Bobbitt
Candace Toogood
Candace Toogood
Candace Toogood
Candace Toogood
Michael Beeman
Candace Toogood
Michael Beeman
Diego Rivera
Candace Toogood
Michael Beeman