Our Leadership Team

Guided by passion and expertise, our leaders provide the support that powers Nuestra Ciencia’s mission.

Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Alejandra Yep
(Biological Sciences)

Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Jasmine Nation
(Liberal Studies)

Post Doc:
Dr. Perla Ramos Carranza
(Liberal Studies and Biological Sciences)

TA:
Isaiah Rivera
(Liberal Studies)

Dr. Alejandra Yep is a microbiology professor at Cal Poly.  She was born in Argentina and completed a BS in Molecular Biology and a PhD in Biological Chemistry at the University of Buenos Aires.  Her lab focuses on bacteria that cause urinary tract infections (UTIs), and she cares passionately about science communication and making STEM welcoming for all.

Dr. Jasmine Nation is a professor of science education who is passionate about university-community partnerships that benefit undergraduates and elementary learners. She focuses on science education for multilingual students of color, place-based environmental education for teachers, and creative maker and engineering design projects.

Dr. Perla Ramos Carranza currently works as Frost Postdoctoral Fellow for the Liberal Studies and Biological Sciences departments at Cal Poly. She received her PhD and M.A. in Education from UC Irvine and her B.A. in Psychology and B.S. in Human Development from UC Davis. She is committed to advancing the learning opportunities of students from marginalized communities in culturally meaningful ways.

Isaiah Rivera is a Liberal Studies major with a concentration in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. As an aspiring educator, he believes that every student deserves the opportunity to reach their greatest potential in a supportive and inclusive learning environment. He is passionate about helping students embrace their identities, express their ideas, and grow both academically and personally.

Our Team

From different majors to different journeys, our team is a tapestry of experiences working toward a common mission: equitable science for all.

Nuestra Ciencia logo
2025 Learn By Doing Lab

Back Row: Emily Hernandez^, Carolina Altbaum*, Yesenia Ceja*, Xavier Aguilar^
Middle Row: Isaiah Rivera^ , Dr. Yasmine Nation^, Dr. Alejandra Yep*, Dr. Perla Ramos Carranza*^, Kathryn Hutchinson* , Ximena Santos^, Evelyn Soto (Kinesiology and Public Health), Ariela Rugendorf (Food Science and Nutrition), Aylin Fernandez*
Bottom Row: Alexi Ringler (Computer Science), Kali Rye (Spanish), Deisi Luna^, Sarah Lazaro*, Mia Muzquiz*, Carlos Leonel Ferreyra (Spanish), Bili Chavez (English)
Not Pictured: Madison Hershorin^, Mirca Gomez ^, Carolina Gutierrez*, Cristal Gomez^, Bianca Cruz^, Victoria Lancaster (Spanish and French), Sema Lew*, Stephanie Mendez*
* = Biological Sciences ^ = Liberal Studies

2024 Learn By Doing Lab - Group 1 2024 Learn By Doing Lab

Back Row: Alexis Espinoza (Industrial Technology and Packaging), Bianca Cruz^, Dr. Alejandra Yep*, Daya Rameirez^, Carolina Altbaum*, Kali Rye (Spanish), Yesenia Ceja*, Emily Hernandez^
Bottom Row: Natali Ceja (Biomedical Engineering), Sarah Lazaro*, April Valdez-Garcia^, Tatum Schneider*, Ana Banuelos^, Dr. Yasmine Nation^, Fatima
* = Biological Sciences ^ = Liberal Studies

2024 Learn By Doing Lab - Group 2


Back Row: Isaiah Rivera^, April Valdez-Garcia^, Daya Rameirez^, Ana Banuelos^, Ariela Rugendorf (Food Science and Nutrition), Alexis Espinoza (Industrial Technology and Packaging)
Bottom Row: Alexi Ringler (Computer Science), Natali Ceja (Biomedical Engineering), Tatum Schneider*