Curriculum vitae

ROXANNE M. CRUZ-DE HOYOS, PH.D.

Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management University of California, Berkeley CA 94720 USA

EDUCATION

2014–2020 | University of California (UC), Berkeley

  • Ph.D., Department of Integrative Biology, Plant Ecophysiology

  • Dissertation: Plant Water Relations in a Cloudy World: Plant Hydraulics, Water Sources, and Niche Relations

  • Mentor: Dr. Todd E. Dawson

2005–2009 | Pitzer College, The Claremont Colleges, California

  • B.A. Environmental Science, with Honors

  • B.A. Environmental Political Studies

  • Senior Thesis: The Role of Seed Limitation in Restoration of Native Annual Forbs to an Invaded California Grassland

  • Mentor: Dr. Diane Thomson

FELLOWSHIPS & RESEARCH APPOINTMENTS

2020–Current | National Science Foundation (NSF) Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Biology (PRFB) Broadening Participation of Groups Underrepresented in Biology

2024–Current | USDA NIFA Postdoctoral Research Fellow

2022–Current | Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellow

  • Affiliation: Dept. of Environmental Science, Policy & Management, University of California, Berkeley

  • Project: Investigating the genetic basis of ecophysiological drought response in Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.).

  • Fieldwork: Conducted field collections of root samples from Canada to Mexico and propagated over 5,000 aspen clones.

  • Experimentation: Designed and executed a large-scale ecophysiological greenhouse drought experiment with over 300 genotypes, including major student participation and mentorship.

  • Infrastructure: Established two "Living Genetic Libraries" (common gardens) in California and Colorado (USA) with 1,700+ quaking aspen propagates to disentangle genotype x environment effects.

  • Sponsor/Advisor: Dr. Benjamin W. Blonder

2014–2020 | National Science Foundation Graduate Research & UC Dissertation-Year Fellow Ph.D. Researcher

  • Affiliation: Dept. of Integrative Biology, UC Berkeley; Andes Biodiversity Ecosystem Research Group, Costa Rica

  • Project: Assessed drought response and hydraulic strategies of tropical trees through investigations of plant water relations along elevational gradients in Peru and Costa Rica.

  • Advisor: Dr. Todd Dawson

2013 | Research Assistant University of Maryland and El Verde Field Station, Puerto Rico

  • Researched tropical tree community ecology and identified/photographed over 70 plant species for a field guide for the Field Museum of Natural History.

2009–2010 | Fulbright Research Scholar U.S. Department of State and United States Educational Foundation, Nepal

  • Researched climate-change impacts on forest stewardship and agrobiodiversity in rural Himalaya, Nepal.

AWARDS & FELLOWSHIPS

Fellowships

  • 2024: USDA National Institute of Food & Agriculture - AFRI Postdoctoral Fellowship ($150,000)

  • 2022: Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship ($50,000)

  • 2020: National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology ($207,000)

  • 2019: UC Dissertation-Year Fellowship ($22,000)

  • 2015: National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship ($138,000)

  • 2014: UC Berkeley Chancellor’s Graduate Fellowship ($114,000)

  • 2009: U.S. Fulbright Student Research Fellowship to Nepal ($22,000)

Selected Research & Other Awards

  • 2019: UC Berkeley Dept. of Integrative Biology Summer Research Award ($2,550)

  • 2017: NSF Participant Award for Stable Isotopes in Ecology Course ($1,686)

  • 2016: UC Berkeley Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award ($200)

  • 2015: Sigma Xi Research Grant ($1,000)

  • 2008: Schiff Scholarship ($10,000)

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4996-6354 (* Asterisk indicates co-first authorship. Underline indicates mentee)

Manuscripts Published

  • Blonder, B.W., Brodrick, P.G., Chadwick, K.D., Carroll, E., Cruz-de Hoyos, R.M., et al., 2023. Climate lags and genetics determine phenology in quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides). New Phytologist, 238(6).

  • Burt, E.I., Goldsmith, G.R., Cruz-de Hoyos, R.M., et al., 2023. The seasonal origins and ages of water provisioning streams and trees in a tropical montane cloud forest. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions, pp.1-27.

  • Gotsch, S.G., Williams, C.B., Bicaba, R., Cruz-de Hoyos, R., et al., (2022). Trade-offs between succulent and non-succulent epiphytes underlie variation in drought tolerance and avoidance. Oecologia, 198(3), pp.645-661.

  • Thomson, D. M., Cruz-de Hoyos, R., Cummings, K., & Schultz, E. L. (2016). Why are native annual abundances low in invaded grasslands? Testing the effects of competition and seed limitation. Plant Ecology, 1–12.

Manuscripts in Review

  • *Cruz-de Hoyos, R.M., *Navarro, Jocelyn, Powers, J., Blonder, B.W., Enquist, B. 2024. Minimum leaf conductance differs by ploidy level in quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx. IN REVIEW. American Journal of Botany.

Selected Manuscripts in Preparation

  • Cruz-de Hoyos, RM, Klingman-Smith, N, Navarro, J, Trujillo, GR, Blonder, BW. Hydraulic vulnerability to drought-induced embolism differs by ploidy level in Populus tremuloides Michx. in the Rocky Mountains. Intended journal submission: New Phytologist.

  • Cruz-de Hoyos, RM, Williams, C, Gotsch, S, Dawson, T. Environmental filtering determines hydraulic strategies of Costa Rican Tropical Montane Cloud Forest tree species.

TEACHING & MENTORING EXPERIENCE

Mentoring Summary

  • Mentored 34 students across academic stages: 6 High school, 21 Undergraduates, 3 Master Students, and 4 Ph.D. Students.

  • 2023: HBCU-Berkeley Environmental Scholars for Change Program Mentor (Mentored undergraduate from Tuskegee University).

  • 2020–2024: Native Jumpstart Writing Coach (Mentored Indigenous and Native American high school students through UC college application process).

Instructor Roles (University of California, Berkeley)

  • 2019 | Graduate Student Instructor (GSI): Senior Research Seminar in Environmental Sciences (ESPM 175). Instructed and mentored Honors undergraduate senior thesis research.

  • 2018 | Graduate Student Instructor (GSI): Plant Physiological Ecology (IB 151 and 151L). Developed and instructed lab and discussion sections.

  • 22015 | Graduate Student Instructor (GSI): Evolution (IB 160). Awarded the 2015-2016 Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award.

Teaching Assistant Roles

  • 2019: Teaching Assistant, Cross Cultural Skills in Bioscience (MCB 198). Developed cross-cultural curriculum.

  • 2010: Academic Coordinator & Teaching Assistant, Nepal Core Studies, Pitzer College in Nepal Study Abroad Program.

SELECTED CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

  • Cruz-de Hoyos, R.M. August 2024. Building Bridges between Quaking aspen ecophysiology, genetics, and remote sensing research with Tribal Nations and Community Stakeholders. Climate-smart and Culturally Sustaining Co-Stewardship of Quaking Aspen.

  • Cruz-de Hoyos, R.M. December 2019. Cloud-water, plant hydraulic strategies, and species distribution along a tropical montane gradient. American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA.

  • Cruz-de Hoyos, R.M. July 2018. Quantifying vulnerability to xylem embolism in California Buckeye in a hotter, drier California. 42nd New Phytologist Symposium, Lake Tahoe, CA.

  • Cruz-de Hoyos, R.M. August 2018. Diverse plant-water sourcing strategies in a Peruvian Tropical Montane Forest. Ecological Society of America, New Orleans LA.

SERVICE, OUTREACH, & LEADERSHIP

Workshop Organization & Leadership

  • 2024 | Workshop Organizer & Presenter: Co-organized USDA NIFA-funded interdisciplinary workshop: “Climate Smart and Culturally Sustaining Co-Stewardship of Quaking Aspen”.

  • 2023 | Workshop Creator & Lead: Hosted and led a workshop for community members: “Bringing Traditional Ecological Knowledge to a Native Community Garden”.

  • 2014–22016 | Conference Co-organizer: Empowering Women of Color Conference (EWOCC). Part of the core organizing committee.

Science Communication & Public Engagement

  • 2020–2021 | Lecturer: UC California Naturalist Course Program. Lectured on California Forest Ecosystems, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and Management practices.

  • 2018 | Radio Producer: The Graduates Radio Program (KALX 90.7). Created science content via interviews of UC Berkeley researchers.

  • 2017 | Guest Lecturer & Mentor: Cal Academy Careers in Science Intern (CiS) Program.

Community & Institutional Service

  • 2014–2020 | American Indian Graduate Program Member: Organized and carried out Native student community events, including the "Crossing Pathways" research presentation forum.

  • 2019 | SACNAS Berkeley Chapter External Affairs Board Member: Organized campus/community outreach and recruitment events.

  • 2016–2019 | Integrative Biology Women in Science Organizer, UC Berkeley: Board member and co-organizer of campus events.

  • Peer Review: Oecologia, Tree Physiology, Trees Plant, Cell & Environment.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2014–2024 | Project Team Lead & Researcher & Arborist Ancient Forest Society, Lake Tahoe, California

  • Research collaborator and arborist in service of climate change impacts on Giant Sequoia (S. giganteum).

2012–2013 | Project Coordinator The dZi Foundation (INGO), Kathmandu, Nepal

  • Created agricultural training programs and instructional films for rural farmers in remote villages, supporting agricultural livelihood development projects.

2011 | Canopy and Red Tree Vole Surveyor Northwest Ecosystem Survey Team, Oregon

  • Surveyed and recorded active RTV nests in old growth Douglas Firs by climbing into the canopy.

LANGUAGES

  • Fluent: English, Spanish, Nepali

  • Beginner: Nahuatl

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS (Selected)

  • Native Food, Energy & Water Systems Alliance (FEWS) 

  • Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)

  • Ecological Society of America (ESA) 

  • American Geophysical Union (AGU)

  • Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC)