Karen Shapiro is a veterinarian and infectious disease researcher working as an Associate Professor at the Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology at the University of California in Davis. Her research program spans traditional parasitology, molecular epidemiology, and the ecology of zoonotic pathogens in coastal ecosystems. Karen’s research largely focuses on zoonotic protozoan parasites that are important pathogens in both human and animal populations. She has been investigating the waterborne transmission of Toxoplasma gondii in diverse ecosystems for nearly two decades, including studies on the transport and fate of the parasite in coastal ecosystems where the parasite impacts the health of endangered marine wildlife. Karen also has a keen interest in food safety and understanding the dynamics of Toxoplasma and related protozoans’ contamination in seafoods, with implications to human public health. When she is not pursuing science, Karen enjoys chocolate, wine and exploring the outdoors with her family.