Hi! My name is Abrihet Ayala, and I joined the Kemp lab in Fall 2026. I was born and raised in McAllen, Texas, where I was able to be exposed to various nature parks throughout the RGV. I had entered multiple nature photography contests when I was in elementary, and even won one! These experiences help to shape my interests today, especially in my decision to double-major in Environmental science and Youth & Community Studies. As an undergraduate student, my goal is to be able to gain more experience in research, field work, and teaching so that in the future I can be prepared to pursue a PhD. What caught my eye about the Kemp lab was the opportunity it had to explore conservation, education, paleontology, biology, and more, which are all areas I am interested in. My other interests are in photography, film, and writing, which I hope to contribute in my future work, especially to spread awareness on climate change and how we impact organisms and their environment.