The best way to understand what ESS offers is to hear from students who've been through it—and see where they are now.
Current Students
Thalia Lizarraga | Class of 2026
Thalia discovered her passion for earth science in a geology course her first year. By sophomore year, she had joined the Lukens Surface Processes Lab, where she now studies how rocks and soils record climate and environmental change. In April 2026, she'll present her research at a conference in Baja California Sur, Mexico. After graduation, she's staying at UC Merced for a Master's degree.
"I love that ESS provides so many pathways and research opportunities. You can really immerse yourself in the areas that excite you. Everything connects—the concepts, the research, the people."
Leonardo Aleman Medina | Class of 2027
"I love understanding the foundations of our environment. I want incoming ESS majors to understand, that it's not only about the bigger picture but also the smaller micropicture. Being comfortable in seeing the broad and the focused lens of environmental science will help shape your future path.."
Recent Graduates
Antonio Gonzalez | Class of 2025
Antonio worked in two research labs as an undergraduate—the Stable Isotope Ecosystem Lab and the Agroecology Lab—while also gaining field experience through the Natural Reserve System. Today, he's a researcher at UC's Lindcove Research and Extension Center, working on citrus agriculture.
"These experiences continue to yield lasting returns. I'm grateful for the people and opportunities that defined my time at UC Merced."
Jocelyn Rojas | Class of 2023 
Jocelyn worked in three labs during her time at UC Merced: the Sexton Lab studying plant ecology in the Sierra Nevada, the Moran Plant Lab researching climate adaptation, and the Ryals Agroecology Lab exploring community composting and soil health. She's now a PhD student at UC Santa Cruz, studying urban community gardens as both social and ecological spaces.
Where ESS Graduates Go
Graduate Programs
- UC Santa Cruz
- UC Santa Barbara
- UC Berkeley
- Oregon State University
- University of Nevada, Reno
- And many more
Employers
- UC Research and Extension Centers
- National Park Service
- US Forest Service
- State and county agencies
- Environmental consulting firms
- Nonprofits and conservation organizations
Career Paths
- Research scientists
- Conservation biologists
- Water resource specialists
- Environmental consultants
- Policy analysts
- Graduate students and researchers
Your Story Could Be Here
Interested in being featured? Current students and alumni can contact the ESS Chair Rebecca Ryals (rryals@ucmerced.edu) to share their experience.
