Maura Palacios Mejia, Ph.D.

Experience

• 

  California State University, Los Angeles

  Mar 2015 - May 2018

  Lecturer

  • Taught and developed content for hybrid and in person courses for 200+ students• Courses include Professional Writing for the Life Sciences (BIOL 3200), Principles in Biology I (BIOL 1100), Principles in Biology II (BIOL 1200), Marine Invertebrate Zoology (BIOL 4570), General Ecology (BIOL 360)• Engaged students into local community based (also known as citizen science) projects (http://earthwatch.urbanresiliency.org/news-blog/educator-corner-citizen-science-classroom/)

• 

  UC California Naturalist Program

  Jan 2018 - Apr 2018

  Instructor

  Los Angeles Coastal Sea Grant and SEA Lab California Naturalist Course

• 

  California State University-Dominguez Hills

  Jan 2018 - May 2018

  Lecturer

  • Taught and developed content for non-majors Environmental Biology (BIO 336) at California State University, Dominguez Hills

• 

  UCLA

  May 2018 - now

  • Collaborative environmental DNA research projects with federal (BLM), state and local (City of LA) government agencies and non-profits (The Nature Conservancy) on conservation (Mojave Desert Springs), restoration (Jalama Creek), and revitalization (Bowties Brownfield site) of fragile ecosystems and urban environments • Successful track record of obtaining grants (>$28,000) to advance three independent research projects • Develop curriculum and teach two new courses geared towards first year students at UCLA to improve diversity, retention and graduation rates in STEM• Develop, improve, and analyze survey instruments to measure scientific, ecological and professional identity in first year students at UCLA to design interventions and improve Biology teaching practices • Oversee CALeDNA Summer Research Institute 45 trainees and 12 UCLA interns carrying out eDNA research Show less

  • Research Affiliate

    Aug 2021 - now

  • HHMI Post-Doctoral Scholar in Environmental DNA Research, Education, and Outreach

    May 2018 - Aug 2021
• 

  City of Los Angeles

  Jan 2020 - Jan 2021

  WiSTEM (Women in STEM) L.A., Advisory Board Member

  Los Angeles is home to one of the world’s fastest-growing and most dynamic tech and engineering sectors, and L.A.’s WiSTEM program was created to ensure that women are equitably included in these promising industries. Launched September 2018, WiSTEM aims to build a network of support for women and girls at every stage of their STEM studies and careers through mentorship matching, educational programming and site visits, and professional networking events. We are empowering the next generation of women to lead L.A.’s STEM economy. Show less

• 

  Mt. San Antonio College

  Aug 2021 - now

  Professor of Biology