Dr. Victor Carmona
As a tropical biologist, Dr. Carmona’s research focuses on the ecology of interspecific interactions, examining how these interactions vary with respect to local biotic and abiotic environments. He investigates how the resulting mosaic of conditional outcomes affects community structure (such as species assemblages) and ecosystem function (such as ecosystem services). Students in Dr. Carmona’s research lab explore topics such as ant-plant interactions, plant-defense chemistry, sexual dimorphisms in mutualistic species, vector ecology, and forest conservation. They utilize tools like image processing, geographic information systems, machine learning algorithms, metagenomics, and UAV/drones.
Dr. Carmona maintains active research projects in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, and California, and regularly publishes scholarly articles with undergraduate co-authors. His teacher-scholar model links multiple disciplinary scientists and engineers with local community stakeholders to champion research innovations in environmental justice and sustainability.
Academic technology and student mentoring are integral components of Dr. Carmona’s teaching, research, and professional outreach. His model for course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) facilitates the mentorship of short-term field projects that contribute to the long-term study of ecological phenomena both in the U.S. and abroad. Bilingual and bicultural in English and Spanish, Dr. Carmona has mentored undergraduate students who have gone on to conduct field projects abroad through the Fulbright Student Program and Engineers Without Borders.
Educational Background
Dr. Carmona currently serves on the U.S. Fulbright Specialist roster and has twice served as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar with the “Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Salud” (CENSALUD) and the “Departamento de Biología” at the “Universidad de El Salvador” in San Salvador, El Salvador. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship with the Biology Department at Occidental College in Eagle Rock, California, supported by the Consortium for Faculty Diversity at Liberal Arts Colleges.
Dr. Carmona earned his Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas, supported by a Dissertation Fellowship from the Southern Regional Education Board. He earned his B.S. in Chemistry with minors in Biochemistry and Philosophy from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, and graduated from the American School of Madrid in Spain.
Publications
Dr. Carmona’s scholarly work is accessible on ResearchGate.
Awards / Honors
Dr. Carmona has received Honorary Diplomas of Recognition from the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the “Universidad de El Salvador” as well as the Institute for Science, Technology, and Innovation at the “Universidad Francisco Gavidia“ in San Salvador, El Salvador. He has also been awarded a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from the Representative of California’s 33rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Dr. Carmona has been nominated twice for Professor of the Year at both the University of Detroit Mercy and Loyola Marymount University. Additionally, he has been invited to serve as a keynote speaker at multiple research conferences in the U.S. and Latin America.
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