I’m Gema Gomez, a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Agricultural Plant and Soil Science at California State University, Monterey Bay. I am proud to be both a McNair Scholar and a member of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC), with a strong passion for soil science and environmental sustainability.
My current research focuses on evaluating eucalyptus biochar as a soil carbon amendment to enhance water conservation and soil health in California’s Central Coast region. Under the mentorship of Dr. Arun Jani, I am conducting field and laboratory experiments to assess key soil health indicators, including bulk density, plant-available nitrogen, and available water capacity.
In the lab, I’m gaining hands-on experience with a variety of soil analysis techniques, such as potassium chloride extractions, microplate spectrophotometer for inorganic nitrogen, and soil incubation experiments to measure respiration and potentially mineralizable nitrogen. My fieldwork involves the use of professional tools like soil moisture sensors, augers, and probes to better understand how soils respond to environmental changes and management practices.
I'm particularly interested in how soil science can drive progress in sustainable agriculture, ecosystem restoration, and climate resilience. This upcoming summer, I will be conducting research at UC Santa Cruz as part of the SUPERDAR program. Under the mentorship of Jocelyn Rojas in Dr. Stacy Philpott’s lab, I will be researching soil health in urban agroecosystems while collaborating with a diverse and inspiring research community. I look forward to contributing to more sustainable urban food systems and expanding my understanding of agroecology.
Thanks for visiting my site! Please feel free to explore my upcoming projects or contact me—I'm always open to connecting with others who are passionate about soils, sustainability, and science.
Scaling Up Climate Smart Nutrient Management in Cool-season Specialty Crop Production.
Helping farmers regulate Agricultural Order 4.0 by developing strategies and tools to enable specialty crop farmers to adapt to climate change; improving soil health by identifying specific specialty crop management practices that build soil organic matter content.
Collecting soil samples on Taylor Farms.
Conducting KCL extractions following microplate readings measuring nitrate in the relevant soil.
Conducted research in field and laboratory settings, including soil sampling, high tunnel maintenance, and evaluating how legume cover crops improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation by rhizobia.
Utilized Excel and PowerPoint to showcase analysis to the team.
Conducting field and lab research exploring the impact of biochar and compost on soil health and crop performance; translating soil health field day documents from English to Spanish to expand project outreach.
Assisted harvesting vegetables on small diversified family farm.
Assisted setting up plant and soil learning activities for children’s projects.