Kathryn (Katie) E. Caruso

PhD Student — Microbiology & Cell Biology

Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University

+1 (919) 667-5773 · 366 Barnard Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717
caruso.k.e@gmail.com (personal)
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Highlights

  • Pursuing a PhD in Microbiology & Cell Biology at Montana State University's Center for Biofilm Engineering, studying cold-adapted bacteria for biocementation in thawing permafrost environments.
  • Author of three peer-reviewed publications spanning microbial ecology, conservation genetics, and environmental microbiology, with fieldwork from Appalachian forests to the Greenland Ice Sheet.
  • As NASA DEVELOP North Carolina Center Lead, designed and managed six Earth-observation research projects in collaboration with 14 partner organizations, earning two NASA awards.
  • Recipient of over $145K in competitive funding, including an NSF Extreme Biofilms National Research Traineeship and a Presidential Fellowship.
  • Completed 21 months of full-time conservation experience supporting habitat restoration and ecological monitoring on public lands, including work with the U.S. Park Service and the National Wildlife Refuge System.
  • Presented research at AGU and oSTEM conferences, and completed Software Carpentry Instructor certification through The Carpentries.

Research Experience

2024 – Present
Graduate Researcher — Biocementation in Permafrost Environments
Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University

Studying applications of cold-adapted bacterial isolates for MICP to stabilize materials in thawing permafrost environments.

  • Characterizing growth and urease activity of cold-adapted bacterial isolates
  • NSF Extreme Biofilms National Research Traineeship recipient
2022 – 2024
North Carolina Center Lead & Communications Fellow
NOAA NCEI, NASA DEVELOP National Program

Designed and managed six research projects applying NASA Earth observations to environmental management decisions in collaboration with 14 academic, government, and non-profit organizations.

  • Supervised six project teams of 3–5 researchers each
  • Supported Software Carpentry Workshops on Python and Git
  • Managed operations of NASA DEVELOP's NOAA NCEI Office
  • Supported career-building for early-career scientists
2021 – 2022
Ecological Forecasting Researcher
NASA Ames Research Center & UGA Center for Geospatial Research, NASA DEVELOP

Collaborated with federal, academic, and non-profit agencies to model present and future Venus flytrap habitat and monitor spongy moth defoliation using remote sensing imagery and environmental data.

2019 – 2020
Research Fellow
McCullough Institute, UNC Asheville

Examined Spiraea virginiana reproduction and physiology to assess barriers to species' survival.

  • Compared reproductive effort and output among populations; tested pollen and seed viability through selfing, inbreeding, and outbreeding treatments
  • Facilitated plant education workshops for pre-K–middle school students
  • Collected and propagated S. virginiana for reintroduction; reintroduced only known member of extirpated population maintained in Arnold Arboretum Living Collections to Botanical Gardens at Asheville
2018 – 2020
Hemlock Research Assistant
Southern Appalachian CESU, U.S. Park Service

Assessed efficacy of biological and chemical treatments of hemlock woolly adelgid by monitoring hemlock tree canopy health, infestation rates, and Laricobius spp. predator beetle densities.

Education

2024 – Present
PhD, Microbiology and Cell Biology
Montana State University
Advisor: Christine Foreman, PhD · Center for Biofilm Engineering
NSF Extreme Biofilms National Research Traineeship
GPA: 4.00/4.00
2025
Molecular and Cell Biology of Symbiosis
Marine Biological Laboratory
2016 – 2020
BSc, Biology · Minor: Religious Studies
University of North Carolina, Asheville
summa cum laude · GPA: 3.97/4.00
Advisor: Jonathan Horton, PhD

Thesis: "Assessing the effect of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) decline from hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) infestation on ectomycorrhizal colonization and growth of red oak (Quercus rubra) seedlings"

Peer-Reviewed Publications

1. Dieser, M., Smith, H. J., Caruso, K., and C. M. Foreman. (2025). Seven genome sequences of bacterial environmental isolates from the western coast of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Microbiology Resource Announcements, e01192-25.
2. Estep, M. C., Clark, L., Emery, K., Sanigepalli, S., Caruso, K. E., Morgan, A., Greene, D., and J. R. Ward. (2025). Reproductive and genetic patterns in Virginia spiraea (Spiraea virginiana Britton; Rosaceae) reveal a fragmented species, frozen in place and time. Castanea, 90(1):48–66.
3. Caruso, K. E., Horton, J. L., and A. A. Hove. (2021). Assessing the effect of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) decline from hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) infestation on ectomycorrhizal colonization and growth of red oak (Quercus rubra) seedlings. American Midland Naturalist, 186:16–34.

NASA Technical Reports

1. Zhu, S., Caruso, K. E., Dean, M., and J. Orser. (2022). Monitoring trends in tree defoliation due to Lymantria dispar outbreaks to predict future hardwood tree mortality and health impacts. NASA Technical Reports Server.
2. Rock, M., Caruso, K. E., Lampley, J., Siddhi, A., and S. Zhu. (2021). Utilizing NASA Earth observations to map suitable Venus flytrap habitat in an effort to inform conservation, seed banking, and reintroduction in the Carolina Coastal Plain and Sandhills Regions. NASA Technical Reports Server.

Funding & Scholarships

  • 2025 — Crawford Wildlife Habitat Scholarship $10,000
  • 2024 — NSF Extreme Biofilms National Research Traineeship $100,000
  • 2024 — Mildred Livingston Grant Memorial Presidential Fellowship $10,000
  • 2020 — French Broad Garden Club Scholarship $1,250
  • 2020 — UNC Asheville Undergraduate Research Presentation Travel Grant $500
  • 2019 — McCullough Fellowship $5,180
  • 2019 — UNC Asheville Undergraduate Research Grant $804
  • 2016 — Laurels Fellowship $19,000

Awards

  • 2022 — NASA DEVELOP Performance Award Recognized for supervising the Gatlinburg and Beatty Wildfires Project.
  • 2022 — NASA Ames Research Center DEVELOPer of the Term Recognized for research on the Vermont and New Hampshire Ecological Forecasting Project.
  • 2020 — Bernhardt Perry Award for Undergraduate Research Awarded for academic performance and contributions to four research projects.
  • 2020 — Manly E. Wright Award Nominee Nominated for university-wide valedictorian award by the UNC Asheville Dept. of Biology.

Presentations

Oral Presentations

1. Caruso*, K. E., Madden, M., Payne, S., Rock, M., and A. Siddhi. (2023). Spatial ecological modeling of suitable habitat and forecasted land cover change using remote sensing data to identify at-risk populations of Dionaea muscipula (Venus flytrap) and inform species conservation efforts. Annual Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA.
2. Allsbrook, K., Burke, S., Caruso*, K. E., Childs-Gleason, L., Clayton, A., and K. Ross. (2023). 25 Years of the NASA DEVELOP Experiential Learning Model. Annual Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA.
3. Caruso, K. E., Lampley*, J., Rock, M., Siddhi, A., Zhu, S., Randall, J. L., Waitt, D., Weakley, A., Payne, S., and M. Madden. (2022). GIS spatial analysis and habitat suitability modeling using remote sensing data to help identify at-risk populations of US Carolina Coastal Plain endemic Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula). Annual Meeting, Botanical Society of America: 24–27 July 2022, Anchorage, AK.
4. Caruso*, K. E., and J. L. Horton. (2020). Assessing the effect of eastern hemlock decline from hemlock woolly adelgid infestation on mycorrhizal fungi. UNC Asheville Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium.
5. Caruso*, K. E. (2019). Lessons in Leaves: Learning from Plants through Scientific and Contemplative Practice. McCullough Fellowship Annual Luncheon, Asheville, NC.

Poster Presentations

1. Caruso*, K. E., Rock, M., Siddhi, A., Payne, S., and M. Madden. (2024). Informing Dionaea muscipula (Venus flytrap) Conservation through Habitat Modeling and Forecasted Land Cover Change. oSTEM 14th Annual Conference, Portland, OR.
2. Bolinger, G., Caruso, K. E., Monteiro, T., Sgan*, A., Villalobos-Heredia, C., West, T., and M. Woloszyn. (2023). Utilizing NASA Earth observation data to monitor trends in air quality during a drought case study to improve public health response to drought threats. AGU Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
3. Caruso*, K. E., and J. R. Ward. (2020). Factors Contributing to Reproductive Success and Failure in Virginia Spiraea (Spiraea virginiana), a Federally Threatened Shrub. UNC Asheville Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium.
4. Caruso*, K. E., Kranyik, J., and J. R. Ward. (2020). Factors contributing to reproductive success and failure in Virginia spiraea. 81st Annual Meeting, ASB, Jacksonville, FL. (Accepted; canceled due to COVID-19)
5. Caruso*, K. E., Horton, J. L., and A. A. Hove. (2020). Assessing the effect of eastern hemlock decline from hemlock woolly adelgid infestation on mycorrhizal fungi. 81st Annual Meeting, ASB, Jacksonville, FL. (Accepted; canceled due to COVID-19)

Invited Talk

1. Caruso*, K. E. (2023). Highlights from NASA Capacity Building: DEVELOP. Health and Air Quality Applications Program Review, Asheville, NC.

Professional Positions

2022
Program Coordinator, AmeriCorps Summer of Service
Conserving Carolina
2022
Forestry Technician
Hemlock Restoration Initiative
2020 – 2021
AmeriCorps Habitat Restoration Member
Oʻahu National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Kupu Hawaiʻi Conservation Leadership Development Program
2019 – 2020
Science Writer
National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center

Research Projects

  • Biomaterials for Stabilizing Defense Materials in Arctic Environments · Montana State University Sept. 2024 – Present
  • Measuring Crop Yields in Northern Brazil During El Niño Conditions to Evaluate Trends in Agricultural Production and Support Crop Forecasting · NOAA NCEI Jan. – March 2024
  • Multi-Hazard Approach to Mapping Flood Susceptibility and Vulnerability in Kentucky · NOAA NCEI Jan. – March 2024
  • Methods for Monitoring Rhode Island Habitats: Contributing to a Framework for Targeted Conservation and Management · NOAA NCEI Jan. – March 2024
  • Monitoring Trends in Air Quality During a Drought Case Study to Improve Public Health Response to Drought Threats · NOAA NCEI June – Aug. 2023
  • Using Earth Observations to Evaluate Snow Variability through a Climatological Analysis to Support Ecological Monitoring in Northeast Alaska · NOAA NCEI Jan. – March 2023
  • Evaluating the Role of Soil Moisture in Determining Vegetation Health, Fuel Loads, and Wildfires in the Gatlinburg and Beatty Wildfires · NOAA NCEI Sept. – Nov. 2022
  • Monitoring Trends in Tree Defoliation Due to Lymantria dispar Outbreaks to Predict Future Hardwood Tree Mortality and Health Impacts · NASA Ames Jan. – March 2022
  • Utilizing NASA Earth Observations to Map Suitable Venus Flytrap Habitat in an Effort to Inform Conservation, Seed Banking, and Reintroduction in the Carolina Coastal Plain and Sandhills Regions · UGA Center for Geospatial Research Sept. – Nov. 2021
  • Assessing the Effect of Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) Decline from Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae) Infestation on Ectomycorrhizal Colonization and Growth of Red Oak (Quercus rubra) Seedlings · UNC Asheville & Warren Wilson College May 2019 – May 2020
  • Factors Contributing to Reproductive Success and Failure in Virginia Spiraea (Spiraea virginiana), a Federally Threatened Shrub · UNC Asheville May 2019 – Aug. 2020
  • A CEREUS (Consortium Exchanging Research Experiences for Undergraduate Students) Approach to Assessing Ecological Responses in the Southern Appalachians to Environmental Change · UNC Asheville Jan. 2019 – May 2020
  • Hemlock Assessment, Southern Appalachian Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit · U.S. Park Service May 2019 – May 2020

Service

  • Aug. 2025 – May 2026 — Board Member, Boardroom Bobcats
  • Feb. 2025 – Feb. 2026 — Volunteer, MSU Science Day
  • Dec. 2024 – Nov. 2025 — Treasurer, Montana State University oSTEM Chapter
  • Jan. – April 2025 — STEM education and outreach, Emily Dickinson Elementary School
  • March 2025 — Volunteer, MSU MicroFair
  • Feb. 2025 — Volunteer, MSU Microbiology & Cell Biology Career Workshop
  • 2023 – 2024 — Board Member, North Carolina Space Grant Advisory Board

Skills

Microbiology
Aseptic technique Growth assays (OD600) Urease activity measurement Culture isolation & maintenance
Remote Sensing & GIS
Google Earth Engine ArcGIS Pro & StoryMaps Landsat Sentinel-2 MODIS processing Habitat suitability modeling TerrSet Land Change Modeler
Data Science & Programming
R & RStudio Python Jupyter Notebooks HTML/CSS Git & GitHub
Science Communication
Technical writing Grant writing Oral presentations Workshop instruction Canva ArcGIS StoryMaps

Certifications

  • 2023 — Software Carpentry Instructor, The Carpentries

Media

CV design inspired by Lea Verou's CV.