Amber Hill

 

 

Education

 

Ph.D. Desert Studies , specializing in Desert Agriculture

Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies,

Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boker, Israel 2012-2017

• Thesis: The Importance of Dew In Desert Plants

M.Sc. Environmental Studies

Ben Gurion University and Arava Institute, Sede Boker, Israel 2009-2011

• Thesis: Below Ground Carbon Dynamics of Olive Trees in Salt Stress

B.S. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, 1999-2003

• Thesis:  The Western Snowy Plover Success Rates in Monterey Bay: A Population Viability Analysis of Life Stage Sensitivity.                                                                  

Wildlands Studies

San Francisco State University, Off-Campus in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Summer 2002        

• Wildlife Biology Classes

Sierra Institute

University of California Extension, 5 Bioregions of California, Spring 2002

• Natural History and outdoor survival skill classes

 

Publications

Rewald, B., Eppel, A., Shelef, O., Hill, A., Degu, A., Friedjung, A., Rachmilevitch, S., 2012. 11 Hot Desert Environments. Life at Extremes: Environments, Organisms, and Strategies for Survival 1, 196.

 

 Hill, A., Rewald, B., Rachmilevitch, S., 2012. Belowground dynamic in two different olive varieties as affected by saline irrigation, Scientia Horticulturae

 

Hill, A., Dawson, T., Shelef, O. Rachmilevitch, S., 2015. The Role of Dew in Negev Desert Plants, Oecologia

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Dirks I., Raviv B., Shelef O., Hill A., Eppel A., Aidoo M.K., Hoefgen B., Rapaport T., Gil H., Geta E., Kochavi A. 2016. Green roofs: what can we learn from desert plants?, Israel Journal of Ecology & Evolution

 

Hill, A.J., Dawson, T., Arye, G., Rachmilevitch, S., 2019. Dynamic contact angle of water drop on desert plants leafs’ surface: with implications for dew spreading dynamics, Journal Arid environments

 

Hill, A. J., Lincoln, N. K., Rachmilevitch, S., & Shelef, O. (2020). Modified Hiltner Dew Balance to Re-Estimate Dewfall Accumulation as a Reliable Water Source in the Negev Desert. Water, 12(10), 2952.

 

Hill, A.J., Dawson, T., Dody, A., Rachmilevitch, S., 2020. Stable Isotope tracking of water in Negev Desert Plants, Oecologia

 

Yelin, M. D., Graph, S., Rabinovitz, O., Hill, A.J., & Lifshitz, O. Optimal treatment against Athelia rolfsii rot in processing tomatoes using pesticide and rootstock against key stages of the disease. Crop Protection, 176,

 

Submitted: Hill A.J., Cohen Y., Aidlin-Harari S., Silberstein M., Blank L., Schmilovitch Z., Goldshtein E., Mendelsohn O., Liddor G., Ohaliav K., Orlov V., Kongala P.R.., Ibdah M. and Shaltiel-Harpaz L. 2023 Analysis of Mediterranean Fruit Fly Subplot Hot Spots in Apple Orchards, Journal of Pest Management

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Awards

Molcho Award,  2010

Hais Award, 2010

Amy Adina Fund Award, 2010

Whole Organism Award, 2011

Ramat Negev Agriculture Scholarship, 2012, 2015

 

Conferences

• Galil Research Conference, Tel Hai Academic College, Israel, 12-13 March, 2023

• Drylands, Deserts and Desertification (DDD2022), Sede Boqer, Israel from November 27-December 1, 2022

• The Israeli Association for Ecology and Environmental Sciences, July 7-8, 2021

• 4th TEAM conference Le Palais des Congrès ,La Grande Motte (France) 5 to 9 October 2020.

• Migal Research Center conference, February 26 2020, Galilion , Israel

• Plant Biology Europe, ESPO/FESPB Congress, Prague, Czech Republic, June 26-30, 2016, presented poster of of my PhD results

• European Ecology Federation, Sept 21-25, 2015, Rome Italy, orally presented my PhD results

•  ISF-BIDR Workshop, Surviving the extremes: Abiotic stress tolerance in extremophile plants, Sede Boqer Campus, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel, February 2, 2015, presented poster of my PhD results

• Esra Galun Memorial Symposium; Under the auspices of The Annual Meeting of  The Israeli Society of Plant Sciences Weizman Institute, February 24, 2015, presented poster of my PhD results

• Drylands Desert and Desertification, November 17-20,2014 BGU, Sede Boqer Campus, Israel, presented poster of my PhD results

• 99th Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, August 10-15 2014, Sacramento, California, oral PhD results

•  6th International Conference on Fog, Fog Collection and Dew, May 19-24 2013, Yokohama, Japan, oral presented my preliminary PhD results.

• OliveBioTeq 2011 International Conference for Olive Tree and Olive products, Oct 31-Nov 5 2011

• Chania Crete, Greece, oral presented my Master’s results.

• Negev Convention, January 19, 2011, presented poster of my Master’s results.

• Hazava Research and Development Center, Israel, presented poster of my Master’s results.

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Post Doctorate

 “Reducing chemical sprays against foliar diseases by ozone treatment, and developing plant markers to examine the effectiveness of treatment”,under the supervision of Mery Dafni-Yelin (Migal), Meir Shlisel (Tel Hai Academic college). 2022-2024

“Identifying and characterizing hotspots of Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata)”,under the supervision of Liora Shaptiel-Harpaz (Migal), Lior Blank (Volcani Center). 2019-2021

 

Teaching Experience

Agrostudies, Tel Hai Extension Studies

Israel 2018-present

• Teaching plant protection, sustainable agriculture and research methods to students from abroad.

 The Golda Meir Carmel Center for International Training Israel Aid Agency and international cooperation

  Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2019-present

•   Teaching in the field of sustainable agriculture and promoting women in agriculture and food security.

Center for Youth in Academics, Tel Hai

Israel 2017-2019

• Teaching science and research projects to high school and middle school students.

Sustainable Agriculture and Permaculture seminars

 Israel 2017-present, Brazil 2018

• Teaching and guiding groups in sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices.

Ramat Negev Agricultural Research and Development Guide

Ramat Negev Station, Israel 2016

• Teaching and guiding groups at the agricultural station for research and development of the desert crops.

YEEPI Leader

Youth Environmental Education Program Initiative, Israel 2012-2015

• Teaching Arab and Jewish high school students about their environment and how to live together.

Science Teacher

Perach Foundation , Yerucham, Israel 2012-2013

• Teaching science to underprivileged children in Yerucham

Teacher Assistant

Arava Institute , Kibbutz Ketura, Israel 2009-2010

• Classes: Oragnic Food Production and Sustainable Agriculture taught after hours lessons for undergraduate level students

Substitute Teacher

Temple Emanu-el, San Francisco California, 2007-2009

Contra Costa Jewish Day School, Lafayette, 2007

• Grades pre-K through 8th.

Science Teacher

MIGAL- non-profit Science Education for the Galil, Kiryat Shemona, Israel 2008

• Taught chemistry, astronomy, biology and ecology for grades pre-K through 8th.

Nature/Tour Guide

Society for the Preservation of Nature, Kiryat Shemona, 2008

Birthright, Israel, 2006, 2008

University ofTel Aviv Botanical Gardens, Israel2005

• Taught ecology, plant identification and survival skills through hiking with pre-K -adult.

English Teacher

Wall Street Beijing and Yangshuo, China, 2006

• Taught and designed curriculum and lesson plans for children and adults.

Naturalist/Volunteer Coordinator

     Hidden Villa Environmental Education Program, Los Altos Hills, California, 2006

• Coordinated volunteers in the Environmental Education Program.

• Nature hike leader, garden and farm animal guide with preschool - 8th grade.

 Garden Coordinator

      AIS American International School , Kfar Shemaryahu, Israel, 2005

 Aliza’s Pre-school Tel Aviv, Israel, 2005

• Integrated gardening into the curriculum by creating a garden, compost learning center and pond.

 Head Naturalist

     Camp Tawonga, Groveland, CA, Summer 2002            

• Managed, prepared, and organized nature lessons for grades 1-12.

 

Environmental Stewardship and Projects

Reporting Officer for UNCCD

  2018, 2023

• Responsible for submitting the biennial report of the State of Israel to the UN Convention on Combating Desertification

Summer Course Project coordinator

      Sde Boker Campus, Summer Intensive Agricultural course, 2016

• Organized trips and projects for the summer intensive course.

Conference Coordinator

      Kirkham Conference, 2016

• Managed and organized the international conference on soil at Sde Boker Campus.

Project Manager

Preservation for the Charms of Nature, non-profit organization-  Qiryat Shemona, Israel, 2008

• Managed, wrote and received grants for community environmental projects in Israel.

Farm Manager

  She’ar Yashuv, Israel, 2007

• Handled all aspects of an organic dairy farm: administration, marketing and customer service.

         Kibbutz Yagur, Israel, 2004

• Cared for animals, designed the animal education program and organized a community mural project.

Wildlife Biologist

     California State Park and Recreation, Santa Cruz, CA, 2003

• Composed and conducted a scientific lecture series on the conservation of endangered species’.

 

 

 

Community activities

Community Garden Experience

• Created a Community Garden with children and community members, in Tel Aviv in 2005, Qiryat Shemona in 2007 and 2008 , Eilat in 2009, in Sde Boker in 2010 and 2011, Qasr a Sir 2013.

• Initiated PICA, Program In Community and Agriculture, community garden on UCSC campus from 2002-03.

Performance Experience

• Performed and helped choreograph modern and jazz dances at the annual Random with a Purpose show at UCSC, 2003.

• Helped organize and deliver the Vagina Monologues in 2002 and 2003.

• Performed dance at the Stern Grove Festival from 1986-1999

Event Coordination

• Organized and participated in a Mural project at the zoo in Israel, 2004 and 2009 at Kibbutz Ketura.

• Held a forum on women’s health issues, 2002 and 2009.

• Organized the Children’s Zone at 2000 Earth Day Festival in Santa Cruz.

 

Volunteering

Environmental Experience

• Organized Graduate Student Run Symposium- 2013-15

• President of Sde Boker branch, Engineers Without Borders, 2012

• Dug a well in Southern Zambia for the local villages, 2011.

• Member of environmental non-profit, Preservation for the charms of Nature, Park Hazahav, Israel.

• Worked on a Rice Farm in China, and an organic farm in Laos, 2006.

• Assisted with "The Green Network", in Tel Aviv, doing environmental education activities in schools, making composts, gardening, recycling programs, 2005.

• Helped at an educational Permaculture Farm in Modii’n, Israel, learning about organics and permaculture, 2005.

• Helped harvest crops, and set up excel spreadsheets for Food For Lane County Grassroots Garden in Eugene, OR, summer of 2003.

• Teacher at the UCSC Farm Life Lab, led courses in organics, plant life and farming to elementary school children, 2002 and 2003.

• Teacher and docent at Seymour Center, Long Marine Lab in Santa Cruz, facilitated lesson plans about marine ecology and conservation to grades K-12, 2001-2003.  

 

Community Experience

• “Common Paths” dialogue leader between Arab-Israeli and Jewish-Israeli teenagers, 2009-2010.

• Researched and assisted at an orphanage in Tamil Nadu, India, 2004.

• Assisted art teachers at Maude Kerns Art Center, taught art to children, organized and motivated, ages 6-12, in Eugene, OR, summer of 2003.

 

 

Certifications

 

2009      Yoga Teacher Certificate

2005     Permaculture Design Course Certificate- Intensive Study Design Course of                  sustainability methods

2003    CPR/First Aid

2002   Basic SCUBA diving, National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI)

2001    Lifeguard Certification

 

References

 

Upon Request