Dr. Senait Senay is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and Research Associate with G.E.M.S™ initiative at the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on improving ecological modelling systems that are used to predict and analyze suitable habitats for invasive species. At GEMS, she focuses on developing pest risk models that can fully utilize Genomics, Environment, Management, and Socio-economic data which are accessible through the G.E.M.S platform that makes such multi-sourced data interoperable. Senay believes it is important to develop strategies that counter homogenization of species distribution as novel climates developing from climate change can create suitable habitat for invasive species.
She received her B.Sc. in Forestry from Wondo Genet College of Forestry, Southern University in Ethiopia, her M.Sc. in GIS and Remote Sensing from Wageningen University, The Netherlands, and her PhD in Ecological Informatics/Biosecurity from Lincoln University, New Zealand.
