Sydney Grinstead

Member (Term 2024 - Present)
California State University Sacramento

Sydney Grinstead is a master’s student of chemistry at California State University Sacramento (CSUS). She is currently working with Justin Miller-Schulze on an untargeted metabolomics study of floral nectar using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. She is working in a chemical stockroom at CSUS as an instructional support technician while she finish my degree, however, prior to this role she worked as a scientific aid for the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) in the integrated pest management branch. At CDPR, she worked at identifying pesticide application patterns using various data analysis techniques to reduce pesticide use at school sites and childcare centers throughout California. Additionally, she facilitated the creation of an outreach project to reduce calendar applications of pesticides for which she presented our successes at the pesticide use reporting workshop hosted by the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) and was awarded the Director’s Achievement Award of Innovation and Ingenuity for my contribution prior to my departure. Her work with CDPR was incredibly rewarding. That experience coupled with my love of nature and chemistry is what motivates me to become an analytical environmental scientist. My communication and outreach skills acquired in my time at CDPR are valuable to being on the NorCal SETAC board as its mission is to create networking opportunities for students. Additionally, she believes that becoming a board member of NorCal SETAC will allow me to grow my passion and understanding of environmental preservation through scientific research while allowing me to grow my own networking community.