About Me

Hi! I am currently a Ph.D. candidate at Central Michigan University in the Earth and Ecosystem Sciences program and a research technician at the Smithsonian Center for Conservation Genomics. I am broadly interested in using molecular tools to answer ecological and conservation related questions, particularly in aquatic habitats. I currently work under the supervision of Dr. David Zanatta studying conservation, genomics, and evolution of freshwater mussels. Check out the Research tab to read more about my work.

I grew up on Florida's Gulf Coast falling in love with the ocean. As a little girl, I knew I would grow up to be a scientist (though at that point I wanted to be a paleontologist), and I am so grateful for the opportunities that have led me here. After I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Port Charlotte High School, I moved to the gorgeous Pensacola, FL to complete a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology at the University of West Florida. The program at UWF allowed me to gain hands-on experience with lab and field techniques relevant to my research interests. After completing that degree, I worked as a Benthic Ecology intern at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. I wasn't quite done with UWF, and I returned under the supervision of Dr. Alexis Janosik to complete a Master of Science degree in Biology. You can read more about my past experiences and current research on the respective pages.