Bionerds was born in September 2015 in Orange County, California. It was founded with a mission to nurture curiosity, share lifetime passion and give opportunities for the younger generation to learn about biology through self-discovery. We believe each individual is a bionerd. Living things are too amazing not to be wondered about. When the right environment is provided at a young age, a child will learn and appreciate how amazing living things are, no matter how small or not-so-good-looking they are.
Bionerds will be there for the kids to do hands-on experience that are fun, memorable and educational at the same time. Our curriculum is currently designed for Kindergarten to 8th-grade children.
We are proud and passionate Bionerds!
The people behind Bionerds are fun, energetic and of course, bionerds. We are a family business with some of the co-founders were kids themselves when started. Our goal is to awaken your kid’s inner bionerd once and for all. All Bionerds’ teachers are college graduates with Biology or other Science degrees/experiences and have been cleared from the background check, TB, and drug tests. They are also CPR certified.
Co-Founders and Consultant
Diana Dizon
Diana Dizon is the co-founder and president of Bionerds. Biology has been her passion ever since she can remember. She thinks the human body is a very fascinating machinery. She earned her bachelor degree in Medical Microbiology with a minor in Chemistry from California State University, Long Beach. Then, she continued her academic journey to earn a Master of Science degree in Biotechnology from the University of California, Irvine. She co-authored several publications related to her field. She is also a mother of two young adults who are curious about everything. Spending decades combined in pharmaceuticals, academic research and manufacturing department has only deepened her love for biology. Now she is excited to be sharing her passion, expertise, and experience with the younger generation.
Ryan Dizon
Ryan Dizon is the co-founder of Bionerds. Ryan is attending University of California, Riverside, with Psychology major. He enjoys helping Bionerds to grow by giving feedbacks from student’s perspective, to assist teachers in class, and to create/edit films and videos captured or used for education throughout the program at home. He is excited to share his talent and effort to bring Bionerds to the next level. During his spare time, he loves playing guitar, reading anime comic books, and eating ramen.
Nicole Dizon
Nicole Dizon is the co-founder at Bionerds. Nicole is attending California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Mathematics major) and has been extensively helping Bionerds since the beginning. She contributed many ideas to the company from the start. She enjoys working with teachers and students in class. When not working, she is busy running, listening to music, and watching her favorite sitcoms.
Sopheap Phin
Sopheap Phin, Ph.D., is the curriculum consultant at Bionerds. She helps develop our curriculum, which is guided by the California Department of Education standard and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) Program. She earned her bachelor degree in Medical Microbiology and Molecular Biology from California State University, Long Beach and her doctorate degree in Developmental Biology from the University of California, Irvine. She authored numerous publications in her field and has experience teaching students from the elementary to the college level. She is very passionate about science as well as sharing her enthusiasm for biology. Bionerds is very grateful to have her on board.
Our Wonderful Manager/Team Leads (Bionerds is so fortunate to have them on our team!)
Anika Kenion
Anika Kenion is our Program Operations Manager who received a BA in Integrative Biology from University of California, Berkeley, with an emphasis on Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology. She taught for several summers in the Ocean Sciences Program with the Prevent Drowning Foundation of San Diego and spent the last year as an educator at SeaWorld San Diego. She also spent a year in Puerto Rico mentoring college students and engaging in relief work. In addition to teaching at Bionerds, she develops curriculum and teaches ocean science with Sally Ride Science @ UCSD Extension. In her free time, she loves singing, writing and reading poetry and spending time with loved ones. She is passionate about exploring the world of biology with students and creating learning spaces to inspire growth, compassion and challenge.
Eric Fan
Eric Fan is our Curriculum Team Lead Educator Associate who graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a Masters (MS) degree in Biology and a Bachelors (BS) degree in Biological Science at the University of California, Davis. He has years of experience in marine biology and cancer research. He enjoys science because it is a field of study where he can always learn something new about the world around him. He enjoys playing music and maintaining his planted aquarium during his free time. While pursuing his Master’s degree he discovered a passion for teaching. He enjoys seeing the excitement in his students’ eyes when they learn something new, and he hopes that he can inspire the next generation of young biologists!
Elizabeth Mesic
Elizabeth Mesic is our Marketing Team Lead/Educator Associate who graduated from University of Minnesota with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biological Sciences and Public Health. She has years of experience working with kids. She went on to work with a laboratory technology company where she worked with laboratories all over the United States on their purification processes. After observing the after-school programs at her child’s school, she jumped at the chance to share science with kids in a fun, hands on way. She enjoys the excitement kids bring to science and loves to see that interest grow.
Our Dedicated Teachers and Assistants (Bionerds is so fortunate to have them on our team!)
Ariana Sanchez
Ariana is our Educator Associate who graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from California State University, Fullerton. She has a range of experience as a research biologist working with oyster restoration, algal blooms, water quality, desert plants, and wild birds, which took her from Newport Bay to the Mojave Desert and the Great Lakes of Michigan. She believes anyone can be a Bionerd, and loves to encourage kids to ask questions about our world and look closer at their surroundings. In her free time, she reads and writes poetry, goes hiking, birding, and helps rehabilitate raptors at the Orange County Bird of Prey Center.
Cassidy Luchansky
Cassidy Luchansky is our Educator Associate who graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Fullerton, and her Master of Science degree from Texas A&M University, Commerce, both in Biology with a concentration in Cell and Developmental. On her own time, Cassidy enjoys riding her horse and actively competes throughout California. Previously, she tutored science at a collegiate level and was a social media manager. Cassidy hopes to instill a love of science and curiosity in the next generation through Bionerds.
Evie Andrade
Evie is our Educator Associate. She received a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Analysis (Science track) at Scripps College and a Master’s degree in Conservation and Restoration Science at the University of California, Irvine. She enjoys studying ecology and likes to apply it to education and community outreach. She worked on science communication during her internship at the Grassland Environmental Education Center in Los Banos and by spending time at the tidepools, as an educator for the Laguna Ocean Foundation. Additionally, she is passionate about digital art. She likes to draw recreationally and had the opportunity to use her skills professionally for Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. and Bionerds.
Janiel Staana
Janiel is our Educator Associate who graduated from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa with a Bachelor’s (BA) degree in Public Health and a minor in Biology. He is pursuing a Master of Education in Teaching and a CA teaching credential. Janiel has years of experience in both healthcare and working with children. He served in the U.S. Navy for six years as a Hospital Corpsman working in Pediatrics and with the U.S. Marines. While pursuing his degree, he worked as a Teaching Assistant in a preschool and as a Peer Mentor with college freshmen. He had planned to pursue a career in medicine but realized his true calling was in education. Most recently, he worked as an Elementary Teacher teaching Math, Science, and Social Science. He hopes to inspire students to learn and help them find their meaning of success. In his free time, he enjoys rooting for the Lakers or the Rams, watching movies/TV shows, and looking for places to add to his “To-eat List”.
Kirsten Haltman
Kirsten is our Educator Associate that graduated with a Bachelor of the Arts in Environmental and Ocean Sciences with an emphasis in Marine Ecology from the University of San Diego, and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Informal Science Education from California State University, Long Beach. She began undergrad with the goal of becoming what kindergarten her called a “Shamu trainer,” but pivoted to education after working with select faculty at USD. Since then, she has worked the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, the LA Galaxy’s developmental academy, and the Bolsa Chica Conservancy, all with the goal of fostering the next generation of environmental stewards and instilling a general love for our planet and everything that calls it home. In her free time, she enjoys reading (primarily fantasy), spending time with her cats and friends, art, and playing video games when she can.
Michael Hermoso
Michael Hermoso is our Educator Associate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution from the University of California, San Diego. During his undergraduate studies, Michael assisted in ongoing research as an undergraduate academic researcher at the Nieh Lab, focusing on the impacts of pesticides and monocultures on honeybee (A. meliffera) health and behavior. Post-graduation, Michael served both as marine science instructor and aquarist at the Ocean Institute. His passion for the ocean extends to his leisure activities, which include fishing, tide pooling, swimming, and aquarium keeping. Michael also loves the art, spending a great deal of time drawing with charcoal and painting with acrylic.
Rachel Surjono
Rachel Surjono is our Educator Associate who graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She decided to pursue this major as she has always had a love and interest for it. Rachel gained experience in the field working as a tutor and an after-school teacher to elementary students as she loves working with and encouraging children. In her free time, Rachel enjoys reading books and baking for her friends and family. One day she hopes to inspire the younger generation to be curious and passionate about the things they love.
Sandra Leo
Sandra Leo is our Educator Associate at Bionerds who graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation and Entertainment Art. Since a young age, she has maintained a strong interest in the sciences. By continuing to pursue areas of science throughout her education, she developed a deeper understanding of Biology. Sandra’s unique combination of skills allows her to create engaging classrooms, maximize hands-on activities, and use creativity to help inspire young minds. Her expertise in the arts and over 5 years of experience in teaching and coaching have been valuable in her role at Bionerds, where she also supports the company with her knowledge of content creation and media.
Sarah Christianscher
Sarah Christianscher is our Education Associate at Bionerds. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Organismal Biology from Chapman University and her Master of Science degree in Biology from Cal Poly Pomona. Sarah has been teaching at community colleges in Southern California for the past three years, but prior to that, she worked as a substitute teacher for kindergarteners to 8th graders. Sarah believes all children are born to be scientists, and that curiosity about our world and how it works should be nurtured from an early age.
Wendy Ochi
Wendy Ochi is our Educator Associate at Bionerds. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and Science at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She teaches science at the Ocean Institute, California State University, Long Beach Young Scientist’s camp and Discovery Science in Orange County. Wendy attended California State University, Fullerton where she took courses toward a single-subject credential. Her educational experience at CSUF validated her love of learning science and her desire to teach the subject. Wendy is passionate about mentoring young people, especially girls, and encourages them to pursue rewarding careers in the STEM field. When not teaching science, she enjoys photography, sports and considers herself a “foodie” who loves trying new eateries.
Bionerds
PO BOX 81004
Rancho Santa Margarita, California 92688
(949) 288-1486
hello@bionerdsllc.com
