Alondra De La Torre Ramirez

Academic Interests

Environmental Science & Policy

Fun Fact

My favorite animal is monkeys and my absolute least favorite is opossums.

Hello! I'm Alondra De La Torre Ramirez, born and raised in San Diego, California, and am a first-generation college student. I'm passionate about protecting our planet through science and educating communities that are most affected by the environment on how they can be a part of the solution. 

By majoring in Environmental Science and Policy, I hope to research new adaptations we can add to reverse the ongoing environmental damages as well as am interested to research how less fortunate communities are affected by the environment. Coming from a polluted community, I firsthand saw how this intricate issue impacts low income communities and am driven to combine my passion for STEM and advocacy to strengthen the adaptations and literacy about our ecosystem in regard to being affected by climate change. I've assisted plant biology researchers at the Salk Institute where I watched as researcher Laura Mccullough genetically modified crop plants to absorb more CO2. There I tended to the crops in the greenhouse and collected samples of seeds from various experiments while practicing lab safety protocol. 

Besides the environment I am passionate about uplifting low-income communities and helping first generation students achieve their dreams of higher education. I mentor high schoolers in my hometown as they complete their college applications, and I support them through any and all challenges. I love to participate in different volunteering events such as food drives or campus clean ups, any uplifting of diverse communities is how I like to spend my free time. In the future I hope to pursue a career in Environmental research or policy, I want to promote access to healthy environmental resources for all communities regardless of income or background.

What do you like about being a SPIRE Fellow?

I love being surrounded by students who are equally as passionate about different topics and come from different backgrounds just like me! I really enjoying having a space to nerd out and learn about new niches from students that I know I will grow a strong connection with as I go through college.