In the meantime, Carlson has kept up several research projects. With Verena colleagues, he recently published a study that used machine learning to predict which bat species host which viruses (Lancet Microbe, doi:10.1016/S2666-5247(21)00245-7, 2022). And separate from the consortium, Carlson has teamed up with Jeremy Yoder, an evolutionary biologist at California State University, Northridge, to investigate relationships between flower symmetry, pollinator behavior, and species extinctions. Yoder says he has been struck by Carlson’s work ethic and dedication, adding that it’s often a challenge “trying to keep up with the pace of his thought.” The pair is now developing new methods for modeling ecological interactions such as plant-pollinator or host-parasite relationships.
The Scientist