PhD Student
Education
BA,
Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara
Bio
Athena DiBartolo is currently pursuing a PhD in Andy MacDonald's Lab, specializing in disease ecology. Her research aims to fill knowledge gaps in the ecological niche of Valley Fever, an emerging fungal disease endemic to the California Central Valley. Having spent most of her life there, she is a passionate advocate for increased disease awareness and monitoring in impacted communities, including her hometown of Modesto, CA. Her work highlights the importance of environmental justice and community-based solutions in regions facing climate change inequalities.
Prior to starting her PhD, Athena received a B.A. in Environmental Studies from UCSB. Her undergraduate research focused on insect ecology, parasitology, and marine biogeochemistry. Athena also participated in internships with the Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration (CCBER) and the NASA Surface Biology and Geology High-Frequency Time Series Campaign (SHIFT). After graduation, Athena dedicated herself to teaching science in underprivileged schools near the US-Mexico border.
Year Admitted
2024
Faculty Advisors
Andrew MacDonald