RiSE Lab - Resilience in Stressful Environments Lab
Principal Investigator (PI):
Dr. Nia Walker
Email: nwalker@cmc.edu
Nia is an Assistant Professor of Integrated Sciences: Biology in Claremont McKenna College's Kravis Department of Integrated Sciences. She is a molecular ecologist trained in various genomics, genetics, ecological, and physiological techniques. She is broadly interested in stress resilience, fitness capacity, and how organisms at various levels (individual, population, species, and ecosystem) are impacted by variable environments in current and future climate change scenarios. Reef-building corals hold a special place in her heart. When she isn't doing research she is probably hula dancing, spending time with her pets, or enjoying a good jigsaw puzzle, book, hiking/camping trail, or fun restaurant.
Education and Experience:
Postdoc - University of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, 2022-2024
Ph.D. in Biology - Stanford University, Hopkins Marine Station, 2017-2022
B.A. in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology - Harvard University, 2012-2016
Undergraduate Researchers
Danah Plair
Claremont McKenna College '28
-
Integrated Sciences & Government Dual Major
-
Fun Fact: I never learned how to ride a bike!
Denise Jie Yi Chen
Claremont McKenna College '28
-
Integrated Sciences Major
-
Fun Fact: I love running, being outdoors, and going on short walks with my cats.
Rylie Crow
Scripps College '27
-
Biology Major
-
Fun Fact: I am tide-poolings biggest fan!
Haley Duncan
Harvey Mudd '28
-
Biology Major
-
Fun Fact: I have a pet leopard gecko named Nugget!
%20-%20Ava%20Tratt_JPG.jpg)
Ava Tratt
Pitzer College '27
-
Biology Major
-
Fun Fact: I'm really good at untangling knots!
Eridaly Basave
Claremont McKenna College '28
-
Integrated Sciences and Economics Dual Major
-
Fun Fact: I am a dancer! I practice jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary.
Past Walker-RiSE Lab Members
Clarence Lin (CMC '28), 2025-2026
Evelyn Chavez-Gonzalez (CMC '28), 2025
~Latest Updates Regarding Open Positions~
Undergraduates from the Claremont Colleges (Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, Pomona, and Scripps) are encouraged to contact Dr. Nia Walker (nwalker@cmc.edu) if interested in joining the lab. The lab is currently full but will resume taking students in future semesters!
Prospective postdoctoral researchers and collaborators are also encouraged to contact Dr. Walker. The RiSE lab is happy to discuss synergies and pursue collaborative research endeavors.
Note: The RiSE Lab is not taking graduate students, but feel free to contact Dr. Walker with any inquiries regarding dissertation committees, research collaborations, etc. The lab is also not currently taking grade school interns.