Demetra Skaltsas

Demetra N. Skaltsas is an Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Environmental Science at Diné College and Director of the Land Grant Office Agricultural Research Laboratory on the Navajo Nation. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, College Park, and completed postdoctoral training as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Fellow with the United States Department of Agriculture before joining Diné College.

Dr. Skaltsas is a mycologist whose research focuses on the interactions among fungi, plants, microbes, and the environment, with applications in forest health, environmental monitoring, ecosystem resilience, genomics, and bioremediation. Her current research includes investigating fungal endophytes associated with medicinal and culturally important plants, exploring the use of fungi in strategic mineral discovery and environmental remediation, monitoring water quality in tribal communities, and assessing forest ecosystem health on the Navajo Nation.

At Diné College, Dr. Skaltsas established the Land Grant Office Agricultural Research Laboratory and leads research programs that provide undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on experience in molecular biology, microbiology, genomics, environmental science, and natural resource management. Through research, mentorship, and workforce development initiatives, she works to expand access to scientific training, strengthen research capacity at Indigenous-serving institutions, and help students develop the skills and confidence needed to pursue graduate education and STEM careers.

As an MIT MLK Visiting Scholar, Dr. Skaltsas looks forward to building new collaborations, advancing environmental and genomic research, and exploring innovative approaches to strengthening research capacity and student success at Indigenous-serving institutions.