I graduated from the University of Maine with a B.S. in ecology and environmental science with a concentration in forest ecology in 2019. Through several research experiences and technician positions, I developed an interest in the relationships between insect populations, plants, habitat, and human land use, as well as the co-evolution of specialized Lepidopterans and their host plants, and using science to inform conservation efforts. My senior capstone, an applied conservation paleobiology project, and a technician position at an NGO solidified my interest in science in collaboration with conservation agencies. At UNR, I research the Carson wandering skipper, and ESA-listed, grass-feeding specialist, its host plant, and its habitat. This work allows me to merge my interests while also aiding in the conservation and management of an endangered insect.

I am interested in understanding how interactions among organisms are mediated by biological compounds. My dissertation experiments will provide insight into phytochemically-mediated mechanisms which have contributed to plant success over evolutionary time with a focus on synergistic effects. To examine such synergistic effects in an anti-herbivory context, I am examining industrial hemp which meets the standards of the NDA hemp program. I am combining observational and experimental studies to characterize effects of chemical variation on naturally occurring insect communities associated with hemp, and to examine specific hypotheses about effects of plant chemistry on insect physiology. My research includes field collections, rearing experiments with herbivores and parasitoids, cultivation of hemp under experimental treatments, development of an infrared spectral library to characterize phytochemical diversity, and extraction of compounds to conduct Lepidopteran feeding experiments.