Gabriela Inveninato Carmona, Ph.D., is a field scientist at Corteva Agriscience in Woodland, California.

By Zach Cohen, Ph.D.

Editor’s Note: This is the next article in the “Standout ECPs” series contributed by the Entomological Society of America’s Early Career Professionals (ECP) Committee, highlighting outstanding ECPs that are doing great work in the profession. (An ECP is defined as anyone within the first five years of obtaining their terminal degree in their field.) Read past articles in the Standout ECPs series.

Gabriela Inveninato Carmona, Ph.D., is a field scientist at Corteva Agriscience in Woodland, California. She previously served as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln after receiving her Ph.D. in entomology there in 2022. Inveninato Carmona earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy and crop science in 2017 at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. In 2025, she served as Pacific Branch representative to the ESA Early Career Professionals Committee.

Cohen: How did you get into entomology?

Inveninato Carmona: It is funny, but I never thought about becoming an entomologist. I always wanted to get an M.S. or Ph.D.; that was the only thing I knew at the time I applied for an entomology program. I honestly didn’t know much about it. By that time, I only had taken a couple of entomology classes during my undergraduate studies, and I liked it. In Brazil, where I am from and where I got my B.S. degree, entomology is part of the agronomy department. But, to shorten the story, I got into entomology when I started my M.S. at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Looking back today, I feel so lucky I made that decision.

What do you do in your current job?

I am a field scientist for Corteva Agriscience, located at our research station in Woodland, California. I lead the entomology and nematology field research program we have at the station. Super fun job!

Gabriela Inveninato Carmona, Ph.D. (center), presents data during an internal field tour at Corteva Agriscience.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

I really enjoy the diverse aspect of my job. I love working with so many different crops, from lettuce, tomato, and alfalfa to almonds, grapes, and apples. It means that I work with very complex pest systems, which I love! Also, leading interns is one of my favorite parts of my job. I love teaching and learning from them; I feel we grow a lot together.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

The diverse cropping system and insect populations I work with bring a lot of complexity to my job. Planning and organizing the daily activities, given the fact that each season and also each crop-insect dynamic is different—it makes the work flow very challenging and complex.

What do you see yourself doing in the future?

I really enjoy my current job and, as I said, leading the interns is one of my favorite parts of my career. So, I would like to explore more people-management roles in the future.

Gabriela Inveninato Carmona, Ph.D., is a field scientist at Corteva Agriscience in Woodland, California. “I love working with so many different crops,” she says, “from lettuce, tomato, and alfalfa to almonds, grapes, and apples. It means that I work with very complex pest systems, which I love!” Here, Inveninato Carmona (right) poses with a colleague during an insecticide application trial in a vineyard.

Who inspires you to do what you do?

My family. I love agriculture because I grew up in that space. Each of my family members works with ag, but each in a different area. Now I am part of the group but working with something none of them have worked with: entomology!

What would you do if you weren’t working in entomology?

That is a hard one! I think I would completely change my career and would look for an adventure to work with small animals, such as dogs and cats. But being a bit more realistic, I would love to work with cover crops in different agroecosystems and how growers can adapt it more.

Do you have time for any hobbies?

Of course! My main hobby is to take my dog for walks in different parks and places. I also love traveling worldwide, so each year I try to get to know at least two or three places.

Gabriela Inveninato Carmona, Ph.D., is a field scientist at Corteva Agriscience in Woodland, California. “Leading interns is one of my favorite parts of my job,” she says. “I love teaching and learning from them.” Here, Inveninato Carmona (front left) pauses for a selfie with a group of interns and colleagues while scouting for pests.

What is your advice for other ECPs?

Enjoy the journey. It is really easy to get anxious about the next step, but try to focus on the things you can control: develop different skills, network, focus on your mental health and on your work-life balance.

What is your favorite arthropod and why?

I love carabid beetles. I had to count and identify several of them during my Ph.D. I think they are cool!

Are there any exciting directions that you think entomology is headed?

I think that with the new technology era, the entomology community has a great potential to think how we can incorporate new technologies on how we study insects and collect data. Very exciting!

Thanks Gabi! Learn more about Gabriela Inveninato Carmona and her work via LinkedIn or Google Scholar.

Zachary Cohen, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral researcher Florida Atlantic University’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Previously, he worked in a postdoctoral role at the at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service in College Station, Texas. He currently serves as the Southwestern Branch representative to the ESA Early Career Professionals Committee. Email: [email protected].

All photos courtesy of Gabriela Inveninato Carmona, Ph.D.