About DATOC
DATOC was formed in 2016 to create and amend tactical response plans for Huanglongbing suppression and management for California citrus.
Our Team
Today, the Center is an interdisciplinary team of growers, entomologists, modelers, plant physiologists, data scientists, and other researchers, with input from regulatory personnel. We regularly produce analyses regarding the state of ACP and HLB in California, including policy briefings and program recommendations to the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee based on current research.
Most often, requests for DATOC analyses come directly from the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Subcommittees.
Meet our members
Our History
5201066 by Florida Division of Plant Industry, CC BY / Saturated and cropped from original.
Methods of combatting the Asian citrus psyllid and Huanglongbing in other citrus production areas, if implemented in California, would not be enough to protect CA citrus growers. Growers and researchers recognized that CA needed to adopt an aggressive tactical response to suppression and management.
An independent group was proposed which would regularly conduct situational assessments and create and amend actions plans in a rapid, flexible, and responsive manner. The group would include expertise from the sciences, as well as growers and regulatory personnel, with the goal of providing science-based information to guide policy decisions, logistics, and operations.
Brianna McGuire
M.S. Horticulture and Agronomy, UC Davis, CA
B.S. Environmental Biology, University of Notre Dame
Brianna McGuire is a staff researcher at the Quantitative Biology and Epidemiology Lab at UC Davis.
Dr. Dave Bartels
Ph.D. Entomology, University of Minnesota
M.S. Entomology, University of Minnesota
B.S. Agricultural Biology, New Mexico State University
Dr. Bartels is a Quantitative Analyst and Entomologist for the USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine Department.
Dr. Greg Simmons
Pd.D. Entomology, University of Arizona
M.S. Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Arizona
B.S. Botany, University of Washington
Dr. Simmons is a Supervisory Agriculturist with the USDA APHIS PPQ Science and Technology Center in Salinas, CA.
Dr. Judy Brown
Ph.D. Plant Pathology, The University of Arizona
M.S. Plant Pathology, Washington State University
B.S. Horticulture, Minor: Plant Pathology, Texas A & M University
Dr. Brown is a Professor for the School of Plant Sciences and the Center for Insect Sciences at the University of Arizona. She is also the Arizona Coordinator for the Western Region Plant Diagnostic Network.
Dr. Lukasz Stelinski
Ph.D Entomology, Michigan State University
Dr. Lukasz Stelinski is a professor of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida.
Dr. Matt Daugherty
Ph.D. Integrative Biology, UC Berkeley
M.S Biological Sciences, Illinois State University
B.A. Biological Sciences, UC Davis
Dr. Daugherty is an extension specialist and principal investigator at UC Riverside.
Dr. Neil McRoberts
Ph.D. Plant Pathology, University of Edinburgh, UK
B.S. Crop Science, University of Edinburgh, UK
Dr. McRoberts is a Professor of Plant Pathology at UC Davis, a panelist for the UC ANR Sustainable Food Systems Strategic Initiative, and the Western Region Director for the National Plant Diagnostic Network
Dr. Tania Brenes-Arguedas
Ph.D Plant Ecology, University of Utah
M.S. Plant Ecology, University of Utah
B.S. Chemistry, University of Costa Rica
Dr. Brenes-Arguedas is an applied biostatistician and data modeler at the Quantitative Biology and Epidemiology Lab at UC Davis, and the Associate Director for the Western Plant Diagnostic Network.
Jack Williams
M.S. Environmental Engineering, University of Southern CA
M.B.A. Amos Tuck School, Dartmouth College
B.S. Environmental Science, UC Riverside
Jack Williams is a Managing Partner for Ceres Management Group, LLC.
Tom Delfino
M.S. Chemical Engineering, UC Berkeley
B.S. Chemical Engineering, UC Berkeley
Tom Delfino is the former Executive Director for the California Citrus Nursery Society.
Dr. Bruce Babcock
Ph.D. Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Berkeley
M.S. UC Davis
B.S. UC Davis
Dr. Babcock is a Professor in the School of Public Policy at the University of California, Riverside
Dr. Greg McCollum
Ph.D. Horticultural Science, University of Florida
B.S. Horticultural Science, Michigan State University
Dr. McCollum is a Research Plant Physiologist at the US Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce, FL.
Dr. Jonathan Kaplan
Ph.D. Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis
M.S. Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Maine
B.A. Economics, Humboldt State University
Dr. Jonathan Kaplan is a Professor in the Department of Economics at Sacramento State University.
Dr. Kerry Mauck
Ph.D. Entomology, Penn State University
B.S. Biology, The College of New Jersey
Dr. Mauck is an Assistant Professor of Entomology at UC Riverside.
Dr. Mamoudou Setamou
Ph.D. Entomology, University of Hanover, Germany
M.S. Crop Science, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
B.S. Agronomy, National University of Benin, Benin
Dr. Sétamou is a Citrus Entomologist, IPM Specialist, and Assistant Director at the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Citrus Center in Weslaco, TX.
Dr. Michelle Heck
Ph.D. Biology, Watson School of Biological Sciences
B.A. Biology, Boston University
Dr. Heck is a Research Molecular Biologist with the USDA ARS Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research Unit in Ithaca, New York.
Dr. Robin Choudhury
Ph.D. Plant Pathology, UC Davis
M.S. Plant Pathology, UC Davis
B.S. Plant Science, University of Maryland
Dr. Choudhury is an assistant professor at the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley.
Greg Galloway
California State University, Fresno
Porterville College
Greg Galloway is a San Joaquin Valley citrus and table grape grower.
Rick Dunn
M.S. Plant Protection and Pest Management, UC Davis
B.S. Zoology and Entomology, Colorado State University
Rick Dunn is the Director of Data and Information Management at the Citrus Research Board.
Former members
Holly Deniston-sheets
M.S. Agriculture, California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, CA
B.S. Plant Science, CSU, Fresno
Holly Deniston-sheets was the DATOC Project Manager for 3 years at the Citrus Research Board in Visalia, CA.
Dr. Beth Grafton-Carwell
Ph.D. Entomology, UC Berkeley
M.S. Entomology, Purdue University
A.B. Biology, UC Berkeley
Dr. Grafton-Cardwell is Director of Lindcove Research and Extension Center and Research Entomologist for UC Riverside.
Dr. Carolyn Slupsky
Ph.D. Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Canada
B.S. Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Canada
Dr. Slupsky is a Professor in the Departments of Nutrition, and Food Science and Technology at UC Davis.
Dr. Tim Gottwald
Ph.D. Plant Pathology, Epidemiology, Oregon State University
B.S. Botany, CSU, Long Beach
Dr. Gottwald is the former Research Leader and Plant Pathologist at the US Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce, FL.
Dr. Monique Rivera
Ph.D. Entomology, Rutgers University, NJ
M.S. Entomology, North Carolina State University, NC
B.S. Entomology, Plant Science, University of Delaware, DE
Dr. Rivera is a former Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist in the Department of Entomology at UC Riverside. She is now an Assistant Professor of Tree Fruit Entomology at Cornell University.