¡Hola! My name is Mateo Rull Garza.
I grew up in Mexico but returned to Massachusetts (where I was born) in 2016 with nothing but a piece of luggage. A few odd jobs and a high school diploma later, I went on to study for a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. There, I became fascinated with fish and salamander feeding behaviors, which I researched for four years using biomechanics; a branch of engineering that seeks to understand the way in which animals move. Using similar techniques, I spent the summer of my junior year at the University of Chicago, where I studied tongue movements in rhesus macaques and the role that this muscle plays during the production of sound.
During my undergraduate tenure, I was trained to understand the interactions between animals and their environment, so I was thrilled to apply this knowledge by working for UMass Extension, where I became interested in food production systems. To understand the way in which biology can inform pest management strategies, I began my M.S. in Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences at UMASS. Currently, I help apple growers deal with insect infestations in an environmentally-sound manner. In addition to this, I have the pleasure to serve as the REEU research coordinator.
Throughout the summer, I mentor REEU interns in the scientific process and help them develop their own, independent research projects. The diversity in scopes and foci of the REEU student projects grants me the opportunity to grow as a scientist, an extension professional, and a mentor.
Learn more about the Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) Program