Whether she’s caring for sea turtles on the North Carolina coast or monitoring water quality, Uliana Gutierrez is turning her passion for conservation into a career dedicated to protecting wildlife and aquatic ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gutierrez, a fourth-year student majoring in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology and a member of the Goodnight Scholars’ Class of 2028, has gained hands-on experience in aquatic conservation through research, internships and volunteer work<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the summer of 2025, Gutierrez interned at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Surf City, North Carolina, where she cared for sick and injured sea turtles and assisted with medical procedures and other rehabilitation efforts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In her spare time, Gutierrez volunteers at the Yates Mill Aquatic Conservation Center, where she supports recirculating aquaculture operations by feeding fish and mussels and monitoring water chemistry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gutierrez also volunteers with the City of Raleigh\u2019s stream monitoring program, where she helps test local creeks for nutrients, bacteria, dissolved oxygen and temperature, contributing to statewide data on stream health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond her work at Yates Mill and with the City of Raleigh, Gutierrez also currently works as an undergraduate research assistant in the lab of Greg Cope, the William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Applied Ecology and Toxicology in the College of Sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the following Q&A, Gutierrez discusses her decision to study fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology, the experiences that have shaped her academic journey at North Carolina State University, her career aspirations and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Uliana Gutierrez<\/strong>: I chose this major because of my passion for the natural world around us. We are living in a time when ecosystems are under pressure, biodiversity is declining and natural resources require careful management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The world needs people who are willing to protect and preserve these resources for future generations and advocate for wildlife that cannot speak for itself. Choosing this major is my step toward making a meaningful impact on the conservation of our natural world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gutierrez<\/strong>: Back in 2017, before I was a student here, I was visiting a friend on campus and was sitting near the David Clark Labs building, watching students rushing between classes and chatting about their lives. I remember thinking how amazing and interesting their experiences must be at NC State. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fast forward to today, and I am one of those students, walking from building to building and stopping to say “hi” to friends along the way. My favorite NC State memory is receiving my acceptance letter and realizing I would no longer just observe campus life but finally be part of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gutierrez<\/strong>: I hope to continue my education in graduate school to deepen my knowledge from the undergraduate degree and gain hands-on experience in research. Beyond that, I hope to work in a role where I can actively contribute to the protection of aquatic ecosystems and the species that depend on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gutierrez<\/strong>: The college\u2019s curriculum is preparing me for my future by combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills. For example, I will be forever grateful for my dendrology class. Although it was challenging at times, I now find so much joy in being able to identify tree species in the field. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, the geographic information system (GIS) course is helping me navigate and understand the maps we use for a water monitoring project in one of my labs. And in the wetland science course, I get to meet professionals working in the field and hear their stories, which is both inspiring and motivating for me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gutierrez<\/strong>: I would advise students to intern and volunteer as much as possible, even if it is not directly related to your dream job. Every experience builds skills, connections and opportunities. You never know where the next step might lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gutierrez<\/strong>: Outside of classrooms and lectures, my passion for nature turns into environmental education. I love talking to people and helping them understand the wildlife around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, my neighbor is terrified of snakes. I wish I could say that after our conversation, she now loves them, but alas, she is still scared. However, she now knocks on my door whenever a \u201cslithery friend\u201d appears in her yard so I can help relocate it. I may not have completely changed her perspective on snakes, but it still feels like a big win.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n Whether she's caring for sea turtles on the North Carolina coast or monitoring water quality, Uliana Gutierrez is turning her passion for conservation into a career dedicated to protecting wildlife and aquatic ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gutierrez, a fourth-year student majoring in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology and a member of the Goodnight Scholars' Class of 2028, has gained hands-on experience in aquatic conservation through research, internships and volunteer work<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the summer of 2025, Gutierrez interned at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Surf City, North Carolina, where she cared for sick and injured sea turtles and assisted with medical procedures and other rehabilitation efforts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In her spare time, Gutierrez volunteers at the Yates Mill Aquatic Conservation Center, where she supports recirculating aquaculture operations by feeding fish and mussels and monitoring water chemistry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gutierrez also volunteers with the City of Raleigh\u2019s stream monitoring program, where she helps test local creeks for nutrients, bacteria, dissolved oxygen and temperature, contributing to statewide data on stream health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond her work at Yates Mill and with the City of Raleigh, Gutierrez also currently works as an undergraduate research assistant in the lab of Greg Cope, the William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Applied Ecology and Toxicology in the College of Sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the following Q&A, Gutierrez discusses her decision to study fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology, the experiences that have shaped her academic journey at North Carolina State University, her career aspirations and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Uliana Gutierrez<\/strong>: I chose this major because of my passion for the natural world around us. We are living in a time when ecosystems are under pressure, biodiversity is declining and natural resources require careful management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The world needs people who are willing to protect and preserve these resources for future generations and advocate for wildlife that cannot speak for itself. Choosing this major is my step toward making a meaningful impact on the conservation of our natural world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gutierrez<\/strong>: Back in 2017, before I was a student here, I was visiting a friend on campus and was sitting near the David Clark Labs building, watching students rushing between classes and chatting about their lives. I remember thinking how amazing and interesting their experiences must be at NC State. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fast forward to today, and I am one of those students, walking from building to building and stopping to say \"hi\" to friends along the way. My favorite NC State memory is receiving my acceptance letter and realizing I would no longer just observe campus life but finally be part of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gutierrez<\/strong>: I hope to continue my education in graduate school to deepen my knowledge from the undergraduate degree and gain hands-on experience in research. Beyond that, I hope to work in a role where I can actively contribute to the protection of aquatic ecosystems and the species that depend on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gutierrez<\/strong>: The college\u2019s curriculum is preparing me for my future by combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills. For example, I will be forever grateful for my dendrology class. Although it was challenging at times, I now find so much joy in being able to identify tree species in the field. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, the geographic information system (GIS) course is helping me navigate and understand the maps we use for a water monitoring project in one of my labs. And in the wetland science course, I get to meet professionals working in the field and hear their stories, which is both inspiring and motivating for me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gutierrez<\/strong>: I would advise students to intern and volunteer as much as possible, even if it is not directly related to your dream job. Every experience builds skills, connections and opportunities. You never know where the next step might lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gutierrez<\/strong>: Outside of classrooms and lectures, my passion for nature turns into environmental education. I love talking to people and helping them understand the wildlife around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, my neighbor is terrified of snakes. I wish I could say that after our conversation, she now loves them, but alas, she is still scared. However, she now knocks on my door whenever a \u201cslithery friend\u201d appears in her yard so I can help relocate it. I may not have completely changed her perspective on snakes, but it still feels like a big win.<\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Gutierrez, a fourth-year student, reflects on her journey and the classes and experiences that shaped her and her aspirations for a career in aquatic conservation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":183,"featured_media":42337,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"caption\":\"Uliana Gutierrez sits beside a forest creek, smiling as she works on a tablet. Photo provided\",\"displayCategoryID\":189,\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false,\"subtitle\":\"Gutierrez, a fourth-year student, reflects on her journey and the classes and experiences that shaped her and her aspirations for a career in aquatic conservation.\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1,102,189],"tags":[362,367,83,58,84],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[],"class_list":["post-42336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hidden-news","category-hidden-newswire","category-student-success","tag-forestry-and-environmental-resources","tag-fwcb-profile","tag-hands-on-learning","tag-internships","tag-student-profile"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":189,"name":"Student Success","slug":"student-success","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":189,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Connect with the students who call the College of Natural Resources their home away from home. From forestry to sports management, our graduates strive to take their learning beyond the classroom and apply it in ways that will enhance local communities and their environment.","parent":0,"count":228,"filter":"raw"},"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42336","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/183"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42336"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42336\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42741,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42336\/revisions\/42741"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42336"},{"taxonomy":"_ncst_magazine_issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_ncst_magazine_issue?post=42336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}What is your favorite memory or class from your time at NC State?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What are your career goals?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How has the College of Natural Resources prepared you for your future?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What advice would you give to students entering your major?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tell us about something you are passionate about outside of your studies.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why did you choose to study fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What is your favorite memory or class from your time at NC State?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What are your career goals?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How has the College of Natural Resources prepared you for your future?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What advice would you give to students entering your major?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tell us about something you are passionate about outside of your studies.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n