
Samantha Peña
MS Student
BS, Environmental Science, University of Texas-El Paso
Samantha is originally from El Paso, Texas, and earned her BS in Environmental Science from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2019. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree, where she focuses on cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in freshwater ecosystems.
Before starting her graduate studies, Samantha worked as a seasonal park ranger with the National Park Service, where she developed a strong interest in harmful algal blooms (HABs) and their environmental and public health impacts. Her research investigates both planktonic and benthic cyanobacteria and the toxins they produce. She is particularly interested in understanding how factors such as nutrient availability, temperature, and climate change influence the formation of these blooms. Samantha’s ultimate goal is to enhance monitoring strategies and contribute to better management of these harmful events in aquatic ecosystems. When she’s not out in the field collecting samples or stomping around in benthic mats, Samantha can be found hiking or climbing in the great outdoors.
MS Student
BS, Environmental Science, University of Texas-El Paso
Samantha is originally from El Paso, Texas, and earned her BS in Environmental Science from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2019. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree, where she focuses on cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in freshwater ecosystems.
Before starting her graduate studies, Samantha worked as a seasonal park ranger with the National Park Service, where she developed a strong interest in harmful algal blooms (HABs) and their environmental and public health impacts. Her research investigates both planktonic and benthic cyanobacteria and the toxins they produce. She is particularly interested in understanding how factors such as nutrient availability, temperature, and climate change influence the formation of these blooms. Samantha’s ultimate goal is to enhance monitoring strategies and contribute to better management of these harmful events in aquatic ecosystems. When she’s not out in the field collecting samples or stomping around in benthic mats, Samantha can be found hiking or climbing in the great outdoors.