Gisel Garza
Years in the program: 2018 - 2019
Mentors: Dr. Teresa Patricia Feria Arroyo, Jon Dale
Title of Projects/Products:
- How Mesh Traps Compare to Standard Traps at Assessing Asian Citrus Psyllid Populations and Avoiding the Capture of Tamarixia radiata, its Biological Control Organism. Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science. Honolulu, HI.
- Comparing Mesh Traps against Standard Traps to Avoid the Capture of Tamarixia radiata, a biological control organism of the Asian Citrus Psyllid a Vector for Citrus Greening Disease. Texas Academy of Science Meeting. Brownwood, TX.
Where I am now:
Being a part of the TACFSA program back in 2018 catapulted me to a future in research and mentorship. I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in biology in May 2019 and after that attained a Master of Science in Biology in May of 2021. Since my graduation, I have been working as the project manager of restoration with American Forests. My work allows me to help restore the Rio Grande Valley’s Thornforest ecosystem by collecting seeds from a multitude of species used in restoration and manage the Semillas Compartidas Collaborative Seed Bank. I have been fortunate in that I am still connected with this program that was pivotal in my development as a scientist. I currently serve as a co-mentor to students in the EFAS program that are interested in addressing global change issues through restoration research. The students join me in the field while I collect seeds year-round and develop a research project related to Thornforest restoration. Students that have been mentored by me have gone on to present their research related to climate change and its effect on seed collection at multiple conferences which I’m grateful for and proud to see. This year I attended the national Ecological Society of America Conference and presented research, and I’m grateful for this program for giving me the skills to develop, conduct, and present research successfully. I am planning on continuing my education and seeking a Ph.D. in the upcoming future, and I am grateful for this program for exposing me to research and connecting me with great mentorship!