Laura Heller

During my undergraduate career at Soka University of America I specialized in non-native invasions; particularly looking at the impacts of invasive Guppies and Guramis on species richness in the Peruvian Amazon.  My research focus shifted post-Covid during my master’s degree at University of the Pacific where I dipped my toes into population genetics- exploring the imprint of humans on genetic differentiation among Speyeria callippe populations in the California Coast Range. Now, you can find me back in the water and dressed to the nines in waders (most of the time) as a part of the Johnson Lab.  In the summer I am the acting Pond Crew Field Team Lead, assessing Northern California ponds and the parasite and amphibian communities they support.  Outside of the summer season I am still out in the California ponds where I work as a technician; supporting a grant collaboration between the Johnson Lab and Briggs lab out of UC Santa Barbara implementing technology (Hobo Loggers, Trail Cameras, Audio Moths, ect;) to intensively sample 30 ponds over the next two years.

Outside of work I’m usually in the Santa Cruz mountains painting, hiking, or spending time at home with my partner(Jacob), 2 cats(Patty and Buddy), and 4 whites tree frogs(Burp, Jelly Bean, Dill, Dewey).