Name, title, and department: Natalie Constancio, Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Entomology
Educational Background: B.A. in Biology from the University of San Diego, and a PhDin Entomology from Michigan State University.
Describe your work: My work focuses on monitoring and managing spotted lanternfly in grapes here in Ohio. The most exciting part of my research is the extension work when I visit the grape growers in their vineyards and provide hands on training to help identify spotted lanternfly.
How have past career opportunities prepared you for your current role? For my undergraduate research capstone project, I worked with the California State Parks system assessing the impact of invasive fish on insect communities in the desert. During my PhD, I worked with growers to monitor invasive insects across Michigan farms. These two projects provided me with a lot of experience working with invasive species in different systems which I can apply to my job here at OSU.
When did you join OSU? How long have you been here? I joined OSU back in August of 2024, so I’ve been here about a year and a half.
How has OSU and your current career impacted your life? OSU has made a positive impact on my life. Not only are the people in my department kind and supportive, but I’ve also been given a lot of freedom to pursue research questions that genuinely interest me. Additionally, I’ve had opportunities to learn new skills that I hadn’t considered before like 3D printing, which I am just starting to explore.
Tell us about your family and pets: I have two cats, Nimbus and Saber, who run my entire household!
What is your hometown? I grew up in San Diego, California. Learning to adjust to Midwest weather was one of the greatest challenges of my degree program.
Favorite things to do and places to go in Wooster:
Who is your biggest mentor? My PhD advisor was an amazing mentor. She emphasized not just being a good scientist but also being a good person, something I try to practice every day.
Any advice you would give current ATI students? Find a creative hobby you genuinely enjoy. It gives you an outlet beyond academics and can help you stay grounded.