I am a Staff Scientist at the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions. My research focuses on optimizing molecular and computational tools to address ecological and evolutionary questions. I have published in the areas of environmental change, ocean health, biodiversity, disease, environmental DNA (eDNA), -omics, and aquaculture. I hold a B.S. in Biology from the University of Georgia, began my doctoral studies at the University of California, Merced, and earned my Ph.D. at Penn State. I completed two postdoctoral appointments, first as a joint-postdoctoral researcher at University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences and University of Maryland’s Institute for Marine and Environmental Technology. Second, as a Early Career Science Fellow and postdoctoral scholar under Stanford University’s Woods Institute for the Environment at the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions and with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. I enjoy exploring and teaching about the natural world, its diversity, complexities, and the challenges faced by our environment.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Biology
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park
Graduate Studies, Quantitative and Systems Biology
University of California, Merced
Bachelor of Science, Biology, Minor in German
University of Georgia, Athens
Current Appointments
Staff Scientist
Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions
Stanford University Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove, CA
Past Appointments
Teaching Fellow
Thinking Matters Program
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Early Career Science Fellow & Postdoctoral Scholar
Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Stanford University
Joint-Postdoctoral Research Associate
School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences – University of Washington
Institute for Marine and Environmental Technology – University System of Maryland
Graduate Student Researcher & Teaching Fellow
Department of Biology
Pennsylvania State University
Graduate Student Researcher & Teaching Fellow
School of Natural Sciences
University of California, Merced
Graduate Student Researcher & Teaching Assistant
School of Natural Sciences
University of California, Merced