I am interested in understanding biodiversity patterns in marine invertebrates like
comb jellies, sponges, cnidarians, and sea stars. In my research I use information
from DNA and RNA sequences to determine how organisms respond to their environment
over short (minutes, hours, or days) and long (hundreds of millions of years) periods
of time. I spend most of my time analyzing data on high power computers, a medium
amount of time performing experiments in the lab, and a little bit of time going out
into the field. Some of my past and current projects include: i) comparing how copepod
crustaceans from different populations adjust to changes in salinity, ii) searching
the DNA sequences of sea stars to find regions that make them resistant to disease,
and iii) testing how sponges respond to the sea slugs that prey on them.
My lab is based on respect, inclusivity, compassion, curiosity, and boldness. I believe
that all folks have a place in academia and science, regardless of their identities,
experiences, and backgrounds. We make the most progress (and have the most fun!) when
everyone is welcome and valued.
Undergraduate students have played very important roles in my research program, from
executing field experiments to performing molecular biology lab work to conducting
computational analyses. I encourage students interested in working with me to reach
out with questions or ideas!