Integrative Biology

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Your Berkeley Connect in Integrative Biology Experience

  • Small‑group discussions — Recent topics have included: a) Evolution and biodiversity, and b) Skill‑building: how to make the most of your time at Berkeley.
  • Academic exploration — Creates space to talk about how Integrative Biology connects medicine, ecology, environmental science, and whole‑organism biology, and how students can explore questions about evolution, biodiversity, and the diversity of life on Earth.
  • Career pathways — Features conversations about the wide range of professions IB students pursue in health sciences, conservation, research, biotechnology, environmental policy, and related fields.
  • Faculty conversations — Offers sessions where professors discuss their research areas—from evolutionary biology to human health—and how interdisciplinary approaches shape the study of organisms, ecosystems, and biological processes.
  • Field trips & special events — Includes programs such as Get to Know Biology Professors and visits that highlight campus resources and behind‑the‑scenes perspectives on biological research and natural history.

Graduate Mentor Role 

At the heart of Berkeley Connect is the relationship between you and your mentor. They:

  • Build community by leading small, discussion‑based sessions

  • Provide one‑on‑one support with personalized guidance and resources

  • Demystify the major by sharing skills, strategies, and tips on research and grad school

About Your Graduate Mentors:

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Hannah Hilden-Reid (Fall only)

My name is Hannah Hilden-Reid, currently a third year PhD candidate in the IB department. I belong to the Razafindratsima lab and my research investigates how climate-driven changes in fire regimes are reshaping Malagasy rainforest ecosystems and impacting faunal species residing within them, focusing specifically on the red-bellied lemur (Eulemur rubriventer) and the red-fronted brown lemur (Eulemur rufifrons). I’ve had the privilege of teaching BIO1b four times previously and have enjoyed working with my 120 + undergraduate students immensely over the past two years. Seeing concepts click for students, especially those without a strong biological background, is one of the most inspiring elements of my work. Developing study strategies and connecting students with resources/networking opportunities is always a source of passion for me. Outside of UC Berkeley, I love to play ice hockey, soccer, and lacrosse. I am an avid rock hounder and big into collecting biological specimens for my own personal museum (feathers, insects, bones).

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Lourenço Martins (Fall only)

My name is Lourenço Martins, and I am a fifth-year PhD candidate in Integrative Biology. I am in the Williams lab and my research explores how environmental conditions shape development, physiology, and evolution, using wing-polymorphic crickets as a model system to understand how organisms respond to changing environments. As a first-generation college student and immigrant, mentorship has played a huge role in my own journey through academia. Some of my favorite conversations with students are about finding research opportunities, navigating uncertainty, building confidence as a scientist, and figuring out what comes next after graduation. I love helping students discover what excites them and realize that there is no single path to success in science. Outside of research and teaching, I enjoy traveling, baking, spending time outdoors, and convincing people that crickets are far more interesting than they think.