Cassandra Greene FDFP Highlight

Cassandra Greene was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. She completed her bachelor's degree in Biology in Spring 2018 at California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB). She returned to CSUB to complete her master's degree in traditional Biology in the Fall of 2019 and graduated in the Spring of 2021.

Although a non-thesis student, Cassandra assisted in the Chemical Ecology Lab all four semesters at CSUB under Dr. Amber Stokes. The research team quantified levels of tetrodotoxin (TTX) found in rough-skinned newts (Taricha granulosa) when subjected to different stimuli. The goals of the research were to understand anti-predator behaviors displayed by newts and the constraints to producing TTX physiologically.

During her program, she was a teaching assistant for two sections of the Perspectives in Biology lab course and three sections of the Principles of Ecology lab course at CSUB. She is now aspiring to teach biology at the community college level and relay her passion for biology to others. She hopes to help underserved areas and provide opportunities and possibilities to the community in which she grew up. Cassandra believes with effort and encouragement, anyone can accomplish their career goals, no matter their background.