Katja Seltmann

Dr. Katja Seltmann is a Lecturer at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and serves as Director of the Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration (CCBER). Her leadership integrates collections management, ecological restoration initiatives, and STEAM education programs to advance the university's mission and support interdisciplinary research.

Educational background includes:

• PhD from Pennsylvania State University
• MSc from University of Kentucky
• BFA from University of Georgia

Her research program focuses on biodiversity informatics—applying data science methods to digitized natural history collections—and examines arthropod diversity in restoration habitats. She pioneers approaches to expand the educational impact of ecological restoration through integration of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). Specific interests include:

• Developing computational tools for analyzing collection specimen data
• Investigating bee ecology and pollinator responses to environmental change
• Creating STEAM curricula leveraging natural history collections

Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate strong research trends in pollinator ecology, biodiversity informatics, and restoration science, with particular emphasis on:

• Climate impacts on bee behavior and functional traits
• Genomic applications for herbarium specimens
• Standardization of biodiversity data practices

As CCBER Director, she oversees campus natural areas used for research and education, manages extensive biological collections, and develops community engagement programs that connect academic research with conservation practice.