Daniel Katz

Daniel Katz is an Assistant Professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University, specializing in plant ecology and aerobiology. His work focuses on linking ecological processes to public health outcomes, particularly through modeling airborne pollen concentrations and urban tree impacts. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan (2015) and a B.A. from Bard College (2007).

His research integrates field studies, remote sensing, and Bayesian statistics to address ecosystem services and disservices. Key projects include assessing allergenic pollen in Detroit, modeling Ashe juniper pollen in Texas, and developing national-scale airborne pollen frameworks. Recent work explores urban greening’s role in heat mitigation and health equity.

Publications span interdisciplinary topics like pollen-asthma correlations, urban tree classification, and climate change effects on plant phenology. Media highlights include 2024 findings on pollen-driven asthma spikes and 2023 profiles of his faculty role at Cornell.

Based in Bradfield Hall, his lab (Plants, Pollen and People) emphasizes collaboration with communities and stakeholders to translate ecological insights into actionable health strategies.