scientific advisors

Leryn Gorlitsky, PhD

UCLA

Dr. Gorlitsky is a lecturer at UCLA in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department for the past 10 years, offering courses that specialize in Restoration Ecology. She holds a Master's in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a focus on mining and toxic waste from UC Boulder and a PhD in Plant and Soil Sciences from UMass Amherst.  

Dr. Robert Dodge

Physicians for Social Responsibility - LA

Dr. Bob Dodge is a family physician practicing in Ventura, California.  He is the Co-Chair of the Security Committee of Physicians for Social Responsibility - USA. He is the Co-President of Physicians for Social Responsibility - Los Angeles and co-founder of Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions.

Nicholas Spada, PhD

UC Davis, Air Quality Research Center

Dr. Spada is a scientist with the Air Quality Research Center at the University of California, Davis which operates the CSN and IMPROVE air monitoring networks. He has over 10 years of professional experience in air quality characterization and method development. His research utilizes both established and novel techniques to monitor air quality in challenging environments. As co-director of the Citizen Air Monitoring Network, based in Vallejo, California, he works closely with citizen scientists to overcome challenges of hyper-local air pollution issues.

Tevin Schmitt

Wishtoyo Chumash Foundation

Tevin Schmitt’s work as a watershed scientist has focused on the protection and restoration of the Santa Clara River, in addition to SoCal beaches, watersheds, and wetlands, in the interest of preserving and protecting habitats for endangered species.

Marco Kaltofen, PhD

Boston Chemical Data Corp

Dr. Kaltofen is a Massachusetts licensed civil engineer and he is the principal at Boston Chemical Data Corp. His research area is the study of nuclear forensics. He has a PhD in Civil Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), and a Masters in Environmental Engineering. Dr. Kaltofen's current research projects include internal radiation dosimetry, radiation transport by wildfire, radioactive dust released near uranium mines, and in partnership with the T.S. Chan School of Public Health, routine radiation releases from nuclear power stations.

Meet the Team

  • Melissa Bumstead, Founder and Co-Director

    Melissa became an accidental activist for the SSFL cleanup after her four year-old daughter was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia in 2014. In her previous life she was a stay-at-home mom, before that, a graphic designer. She lives in West Hills with her husband, daughter, son, dogs, cats and chickens. She believes that it should be a basic human right to live in an uncontaminated environment.

  • Jeni Knack, Co-Director

    Jeni jumped into activism for the SSFL cleanup after learning that her drinking water could have as much as 67% well water mixed in, contaminated by the Santa Susana Field Lab. She’s a well-known face in the community as she collected nearly 400 soil samples from local homes after the Woolsey Fire. She holds a degree in Anthropology from UCLA and lives in Simi Valley with her husband and daughter.

  • Denise Duffied, Senior Advisor

    Denise is the Associate Director for Physicians for Social Responsibility- Los Angeles (PSR-LA.) Denise leads PSR-LA’s efforts to fully clean up the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL), a contaminated nuclear and rocket-engine testing site near Los Angeles. She also serves with Back from the Brink, a national grassroots campaign that brings communities together to abolish nuclear weapons.

  • Martita Martinez-Bravo, Cultural Advisor

    Dr. Martinez-Bravo has not only been a vital resource for PASSFL but also serves as Councilmember for the City of Camarillo. She is the Executive Director of Friends of Fieldworkers and is a powerful voice for justice and equity in our community. She resides in Ventura County with her husband and three children.

  • Lauren Hammersely, Community Advocate

    Lauren lives with her husband and four children in Simi Valley. Since her daughter Hazel’s cancer diagnosis in 2013 and subsequent passing in 2018, Lauren has worked tirelessly as an advocate and fundraiser for childhood cancer and environmental justice. She also helped found Parents Against the Santa Susana Field Lab.

  • Marissa Lopez, Community Organizing Consultant

    Marisa lives in Oxnard with her husband, son, and daughter who has glioblastoma brain cancer. Marisa formerly worked at United Way as the Volunteer Director. She served as a leader in loal, state, and national Volunteer Management coalitions including the Points of Light Foundation and California Volunteers.

  • Seti Cane, Research Consultant

    Seti is a recent graduate of Lewis and Clark College and attended UCSC for her undergrad. Having previously worked at Committee to Bridge the Gap, she has in-depth knowledge about the SSFL. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her puppy, Little Meatball, and her wife, Angie. Seti recently passed the bar in Oregon.