Meet Carmel Katz, a BARD-funded graduate student who is conducting her research in Dr. Cass’s lab in the Department of Entomology at UC Riverside.
What is the main focus of your research?
“My research uses an ecoinformatics approach, combining existing datasets to uncover ecological patterns across large spatial and temporal scales. I focus on how landscape characteristics, particularly those of residential areas bordering commercial citrus growers affect the population dynamics of citrus pests. My Ph.D. research in Israel focuses on the Mediterranean fruit fly, and during my fellowship I am expanding this work to the Asian citrus psyllid in Southern California.”
What got you interested in your area of research?
“I love the combination of technology and ecology. There is something exciting about looking at a huge dataset and realizing that it can reveal patterns at a scale that would be almost impossible to study with a traditional field experiment. I also really value the opportunity to quantify things that farmers already know from experience, to test those observations scientifically and give them evidence-based support.”
What are your plans after your fellowship?
“After the fellowship, I’ll be heading to another conference in Greece and then back home and back to routine. My main goal is to keep pushing forward and finish my PhD. After that, I’m curious myself to see what comes next.”
What tip would you give someone beginning their Graduate Student Fellowship?
“Take the time to plan ahead and make sure you and your host researcher are on the same page about what you hope to accomplish. Think not only about what you want to learn, but also about what you can bring to the collaboration. And beyond the research itself, take the opportunity to meet new people, see how other labs work, learn from a different research environment, and enjoy the experience!”
