Short History
A fascination with the origin of life led me to pursue a degree in biochemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where I got interested in marine microbes after taking a microbiome seminar. I did most of my undergraduate research in Holly Moeller’s lab using laboratory experiments and mathematical modeling to study the effects of climate change on the evolution of mixotrophic phytoplankton that are capable of predation in addition to photosynthesis. After graduating, I worked as a researcher at the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, a part of the US Army Corps of Engineers, focusing mainly on biotechnological applications of cold-adapted microorganisms.
Research Interests
I am broadly interested in studying the interplay between microbial interactions and biogeochemical cycling in the past, present, and future. I’m particularly excited about marine virology as there are currently major gaps in our understanding of how viruses influence biogeochemistry. My research at Rutgers will help to address some of these gaps by focusing on the effects of viral infection on marine phytoplankton including the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi, a major player in ocean carbon export.
Education
2023-present, PhD Student, Biological Oceanography, Rutgers University
2020, B.S. Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara