Ugbad Farah

Ugbad Farah’s interests center around sustainability, environmental justice, and community. As a PhD Candidate in Biological Sciences, her research specializes in understanding the ecology and evolution of commercially important algae for biofuel and is dedicated to developing strategies to mitigate climate change impacts.  She is also deeply committed to fostering an inclusive environment in the fields of ecology and evolutionary biology and does so through outreach and mentorship. Farah has been recognized for her outstanding performance as a graduate student as well as her exceptional mentoring efforts through UC San Diego's School of Biological Sciences.

Farah’s research is part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary project supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) that includes collaborators at multiple universities, commercial companies, and the Los Alamos National Lab. As an undergraduate student at Sacramento State, she was awarded scholarships from the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) and received the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) LSAMP Bridge to Doctorate Fellowship to complete her  M.S. in Environmental Science from California State University, Los Angeles.

Farah also serves as co-director of the UCSD Jail Outreach Program (SCIENCE Class), aimed to provide educational services to the incarcerated community within San Diego. She is also part of the UCSD-National City Restorative Education About Plants (REAP) project that rehabilitates gardens at underserved schools in San Diego in collaboration with teachers and students. Farah is deeply committed to democratizing science by advancing scientific engagement and fostering inclusive environments for underserved communities.