Research

My current research is focused on investigating the role that mitochondria play in supporting the extreme metabolism of small mammals. To do this, I'm working with shrews as these small animals represent the extreme high-end of mammalian metabolism (i.e., the highest mass-specific metabolic rates and heart rates of up to 1500 BPM).

I'm employing a systems style approach and probing multiple levels of biological organization (e.g., mitochondrial morphology and proteomics) to provide a holistic understanding of how and why these organisms maintain such an impressive metabolism.

Funded by: NIH

Mitochondrial failure has been proposed as a mechanism that sets whole-organism thermal tolerance limits in ectotherms. I have previously used locally adapted Fundulus heteroclitus subspecies to investigate mitochondrial responses to temperature across biological timescales (i.e., acute, acclimation and evolution). My research and interest in this area focus heavily on identifying the mitochondrial mechanisms responsible for this failure.

Funded by: NSERC