Isabel Emanuel is a AAAS Science Engagement Fellow at the United States Botanic Garden, where she focuses on developing research partnerships with academic institutions and supporting science education and outreach initiatives. Originally from Bel Air, Maryland, Isabel began her research career at the Army's Edgewood Chemical and Biological Research Laboratory, where she developed sensors to detect food spoilage in transatlantic shipping containers. She holds a bachelor's degree in microbiology from the University of Maryland and earned her master's and doctorate degrees in plant pathology from Ohio State University. Isabel completed her postdoctoral work at the University of Delaware, where she contributed to disease diagnostics and agricultural education for farmers and the broader community.