I’m Natalie Aranda!

I learned a lot about the Antarctic Dry Valleys before I went there, but it became all the more personal for me when I finally laid eyes on the continent. It was a very special and emotional moment for me.

I grew up in the Inland Empire which is in Southern California. My hometown and my high school was predominantly made up of people of color, and I believe this has shaped the lens by which I view the world. I myself am Mexican-American, and I came to understand that this was an integral part of my identity when I went to college and saw that there was a lack of representation of people like me. Over the years, I have made increasing efforts to stay connected to my background and my roots.

I am an Environmental Engineering Master's student doing research on the microbial mats in the freshwater streams of the McMurdo Dry Valleys. I am fascinated by the idea of combining environmental engineering principles to ecological systems for the purpose of better understanding and improving the natural environment. Currently, I am studying the top-down trophic interactions tardigrades exert on the microbial mat ecosystem with specific emphasis on how they interact with diatom populations.

I hope that my work can provide a better understanding of how the trophic levels of stream ecosystems interact with each other.

I myself am Mexican-American, and I came to understand that this was an integral part of my identity.

My parents have always encouraged me to do the things I love, be it delving into school or engaging with my hobbies. I have always had a love for art. I never gave up my childhood passion for drawing and today I paint landscape sceneries of the places I travel to. I use this as a way to connect with my past as art has always been a motif throughout my life.

I am very fortunate to have a supportive group of family and friends. They encouraged me to pursue my Master's degree working in Antarctica even when I was unsure about moving so far away from home. Their support allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and has motivated me during hard times.

I learned a lot about the Antarctic Dry Valleys before I went there, but it became all the more personal for me when I finally laid eyes on the continent. It was a very special and emotional moment for me. It became clear to me then that I had come a long way in my academic career. It was something to be proud of.

I hope that my work can provide a better understanding of how the trophic levels of stream ecosystems interact with each other. Eventually, I would like to work on projects that restore degraded streams.

I am inspired by many of the people I work with.

To anyone who wants to take the same career path as me, I want to say that you may not always have a lot in common with your peers, but it does not mean you don't belong there. You absolutely belong.