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Meet the team

I am a proud member of the Gordon and Lopez-Sepulcre labs. We are a team that values diversity and collaboration across different disciplines.

Undergraduate Researchers

Hi, my name is Retna! I am a sophomore from Central Massachusetts majoring in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Genetics, Genomics, and Development at Cornell University. Over the summer, I helped study the effects of artificial light at night on Monarchs by rearing butterflies and milkweed and collecting data in the lab and field. I am excited to engage in outreach initiatives, care for Monarch colonies and milkweed, and photograph and analyze wing samples this semester. I plan to pursue a career in research or teaching.

Retna Arun

My name is Savanah Chiodi, and I am a Junior studying Biological Sciences with a concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. This semester I am working with Hannah Gurholt as a research assistant to provide help retrieving data to answer the question of how Artificial Light at Night may be impacting Monarch Butterflies' well-being and development. I will apply to Veterinary School in the Fall to pursue a career in wildlife veterinary medicine with a concentration in conservation. I love the outdoors and animals and I would love to create a career out of both of my passions.

Savanah Chiodi

Hello, my name is Luz. I am a junior studying Environment and Sustainability, with a concentration on Environmental Biology and Applied Ecology. This semester I will be working on taking morphometric measurements of monarchs in the Cornell Insect Collection and will continue work around feeding behavior of Monarchs under artificial light at night. While I am not certain on how I would like to use my degree in the future, I would love to work at the intersection of environmental health and environmental justice.

Luz Montano

From bottom left: Myself, Amina Mohamed, Caleb Axelrod, Udita Bansal, Elly Grant, Jeferson Amaral, Ellen Urquhart, Andres Lopez Sepulcre, and Yusan Yang

Some members of the Gordon and Lopez-Sepulcre Lab enjoying apple picking during the Fall 2021 lab outing

After one of many boba runs with former lab technician, Paloma Mate-Kodjo

From left: Myself, Udita Bansal, Jeferson Amaral, Amina Mohamed, Caleb Axelrod

We made sure to try the infamous black and white cookie while visiting Cornell University in Ithaca, NY

Join the team

I aim to mentor undergraduate students from underrepresented areas in STEM, including racial minorities, LGBTQ+ identifying individuals, and students of indigenous descent.

We are now coming to an age where we as scientists must acknowledge our privilege and start the difficult conversations about how we can become a more inclusive community of researchers. This change will spark from supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds.

If you are interested in joining my research efforts, please fill out the form below.

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