About

Core Goals:

Research:

1) Investigate physiology and molecular mechanisms of signaling in the root-rhizosphere

2) Understand how local ecosystem conditions affect plant-microbial interactions, especially relating to nitrogen cycling

3) Study variation in bacterial nitrogen cycling in invasive plants and how these interactions can be increased in cereal crops to reduce reliance on fertilizer applications.

4) Investigate rhizosphere functions and ecosystem services as an emergent property of community interactions

Community:

1) Empower land stewards to incorporate soil microbial ecology into management decisions

2) Integrate permaculture into restoration and management of invasive species

3) Advance usage of invasive and weedy species as a source of food and community resources

4) Support food security efforts using hydroponics and permaculture

A Life in Molecular Ecology

Impact of early outreach

I was lucky to have my fascination with the complexities of the natural world supported from an early age. The diversity of systems that I was exposed to influenced me to practice observation through both science and art.

Deep thanks to scientific communicators and the educators who inspired this lifelong obsession.

Testing hydroponic tomato growth under pH variation

North Penn High School Science Fair, 2009

My concern about the impact of acid rain on plant growth led to my first official experiment. How does pH influence tomato seedling growth?

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for letting me build in the living room!

Evolutionary and Developmental Biology

Brandeis University, 2013-2016

Majors in Neuroscience, Biology, and Psychology

Drexel SURF REU: Interaction of cocaine and inflammatory proteins in astrocyte senescence

Cell and Molecular Neuroscience

University of Pennsylvania, 2016-2019

Laboratory of Dr. Greg Bashaw

Research associate and lab manager

Investigating molecular mechanisms of axon guidance at the D. melanogaster midline.

Polyculture in the Field

Field Hand and Greenhouse Manager at Blooming Glen Farm, 2021-2022

Seeded, transplanted, cultivated, weeded, harvested, and packaged over 60 veggie cultivars of all types.

There was no better way to observe sustainable management of agroecosystems while helping produce food for my community. This experience became the basis of integrating community, food access, and plant science

Serving Community & Food Access

Warehouse Assistant Manager at Manna on Main Street, 2022.

Here, I organized a warehouse of non-perishable donations and reconfigured the storage system for local food distribution and order fulfillment. The pantry distributed non-perishable items to the community on a weekly basis, and continues to be important to food security in Lansdale, PA.

Ph.D. Candidate

Agricultural & Environmental Plant Science

Penn State University

Root-Rhizosphere Fellow at the Center for Root Rhizosphere Biology

Walter Thomas Memorial Scholarship Awardee
Keynote Speaker, Awards Ceremony

Pollinator Garden Restoration Lead with PSU Community Garden and Master Gardeners: "Pollinator-in-Chief"

UN Food and Agricultural Organization World Food Forum PSU Academic Delegate
Botanical Illustration Instructor

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