About Me

I am currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at the University at Albany where I employ genetic and genomic approaches to elucidate the ways in which landscape ecology and habitat heterogeneity shape population structure. My current research ranges from aquatic population genetics to wildlife disease genomics, with an emphasis on applicability in the context of biodiversity preservation and wildlife conservation. I hold a Doctorate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, as well as a Master of Science in Biodiversity, Conservation & Policy. I have over six years of experience teaching at the college level and have worked as an adjunct faculty member at multiple institutions. My previous and current research program emphasizes the participation and mentoring of a diverse array of students at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Through strong collaborations with State and Federal agencies, as well as non-profit organizations I have been able to secure ample funding for my work. I am currently supported under a two and a half million dollar National Science Foundation grant in Dr. Wendy Turner’s lab (http://wendyturner.org/) studying the transmission and evolution of Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax disease affecting wildlife across the globe. I am also heavily involved in work related to aquatic landscape genetics and fresh-water fisheries. In addition, I am collaborating on work that incorporates genomics as a tool to understand the ecological interactions between native bat species and White-nose syndrome in the Northeastern United States. My research interests are tied together by the common thread of molecular ecology; the application of genetic-genomic approaches to traditional ecological questions.