2024-2025 Student Research Scholars

The Grimm Family Center for Agricultural Business at California State University, Bakersfield is excited to host our annual Student Research Symposium in the Dezember Reading Room of the Walter W. Stiern Library. The Student Research Symposium will provide five students the opportunity to present their current research relating to the topic of agriculture. The Grimm Family Center for Agricultural Business selected the five students based on applications and recommendations from CSUB faculty. This year’s cohort included the following students: Hannah Betty De Moica, Noah Hinson, Steven Contreras, Jocelyn Landon, Brittany Oceguera, and Elda Felix Miranda. Please join us on April 4, 2025 to cheer on our Student Researcher Scholars!

Hannah-Betty De Moica

Hannah-Betty DeMoica is an undergraduate student at California State University, Bakersfield, pursuing a degree in biology. As a first-generation college student, Hannah-Betty is passionate about understanding microbes and their profound impact on society and health. Her career goal is to pursue a doctorate in microbiology and eventually become a microbiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With a commitment to making a difference, Hannah-Betty aspires to help individuals and communities by uncovering the complexities of microbial life.

Noah Hinson

Noah Hinson is a nontraditional student who started on his secondary education at the age of 39. He was formerly a heavy equipment mechanic and field supervisor for a custom harvesting business. An injury to his back made him rethink his career. He started at BC in 2018, graduating with an Associate’s degree and transferred to CSUB in the spring of 2023. He has been involved in research since the spring of 2024 and developed the analytical procedures for isolation of the plant natural product, Marrubiin from the white Horehound plant. This substance is being used as a miticide against the Varroa mite, an obligatory parasite on honeybees. Noah is passionate about the marrubiin research and is proud to be a person that is playing a role in solving colony collapse disorder in honeybees. He has lived in Bakersfield for all his life and plans to attend graduate school pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemical Biology.

Steven Contreras

My name is Steven Contreras, and I am a senior majoring in Political Science with a focus on pre-law. I grew up in Earlimart and attended Delano High School where I also coached football and wrestling before joining the Army where I served for almost five years.

After the Army, I enrolled in Bakersfield College where I graduated magna cum laude, then transferred to CSU Bakersfield where I currently study. I’m currently working on a research project which focuses on the agricultural industry’s impact on surrounding communities regarding their use of pesticides and the effects that it has on human health.

Jocelynn Landon

Jocelynn Landon is a senior studying communication, with an emphasis in journalism, at Cal State Bakersfield. Jocelynn is a creative storyteller and is currently the Editor-in-Chief of The Runner, CSUB’s student led news organization. She oftentimes writes stories on a diverse range of areas, from the LGBTQ+ community, communities of color as well as underrepresented populations around Kern County. Jocelynn consistently uses her platform to amplify the voices and stories that need to be heard. She is determined to shine a light on the needs, challenges and joy on of communities that are often overlooked.

Brittany Oceguera

Brittany Oceguera is a first-generation college student and a junior double majoring in Spanish and Communications with an emphasis in journalism at Cal State University Bakersfield (CSUB). Brittany is an innovator within the communications department by being the first ever Editor-in-Chief of El Veloz, the Spanish section of the student led newspaper at CSUB. Brittany takes the initiative of not only uplifting voices but combats the language barriers on campus and beyond as she comes from a Spanish speaking household herself. She is also the treasurer of the Spanish club at CSUB furthering the cultural awareness of the Latinx community. Brittany is an activist for change, constantly unveiling the issues that are oftentimes left behind the scenes.

Elda Felix Miranda

My name is Elda Felix Miranda. I grew up in Lamont and am a second-year history graduate student. I am a 2024 Student Research Scholar and recipient of the 2024 Graduate Equity Fellowship. I currently work as a substitute teacher in preparation for my future career. My plan is to become a social science high school or college educator in the Arvin-Lamont area. I am interested in teaching in these towns because I want to give back to the community that helped me prosper and motivated me to follow my passion. I am interested in Latin American history, and my research interests are the Bracero program, immigration, Mexico-U.S. relations, and agricultural labor. I became interested in these areas due to my family’s history. I come from a family of farm workers, and their labor in this country has driven me to investigate the lives of those who labored before them. I hope my research inspires others to be more empathetic toward farm workers, as their labor is critical to our community's prosperity.