Group Camping 2026

In August, the group visited Four Jeffrey campground near Bishop, CA for our inaugural camping trip. On the second day, we hiked towards Bishop Pass from South Lake with hope in our hearts and water in our packs. Water would soon be on our heads, as a thunderstorm would move in during the seventh hour of our trek. Nevertheless, everyone powered through and a crackling fire was later made, and the late afternoon sun was warm enough to dry off everyone's camp chairs.

Pictured, from left to right, rear to front: Alex Wheeler, Angel Farias Hidalgo, Will Gardner, Mike He, Jay Won, Maddie Esposito, Rex Handford.

This photo was taken near the beginning of the same hike:

Pictured from left to right: Alex Wheeler, Jayne Suh, April Miramontes, Maddie Esposito, Jay Won, Will Gardner, Angel Farias Hidalgo, awkward gap, Mike He.

Dramatic light and shadow from the hill next to our campsite:

The late afternoon sun that dried everyone back out:

GRFP news!

A little bit late to the blog, but better than never: we're incredibly proud of our grad students, Brooke (left) and Jay (right), who received a GRFP fellowship and GRFP honorable mention, respectively! The excitement of the PI allowed the cake to make slight contact with the sides of the box...

Out of the freezer; into the boiling pot

12/11/2025: The title is not intended to serve as a metaphor for grad school. The Handford Lab's first outing as a group, in which we made our way to Haidilao in Tustin and enjoyed some hot pot! Pictured: Back row (left to right): Rex, Mike, Jay, Brooke. Front row (left to right): Jayne, Sanya, April. Not pictured: Katherine.