My primary research focus is studying the intersection of activity and other elements of animal personality. Specifically, if selective breeding for high voluntary wheel running has led to development of a distinctive behavioral profile in the Garland Lab High Runner mice.

High Runner Mouse Website

Garland Lab Website

Utilizing the High Runner mice, I am also studying the connection of stereotypies (such as circling or bar-biting) to wheel running. Additionally, how providing environmental enrichment affects the development of stereotypies and whether wheel running can be considered a stereotypic behavior.
Pictured: toilet paper tubes for nesting and resting.

How does early-life wheel access affect elements of personality later in life, both as a form of enrichment, or an opportunity for mice to enact stereotypic behaviors.
Pictured: barrier test.

Some other projects that have piqued my interest are paternal behavior, wheel behavior in small vs. rat-sized wheels, early-life characteristics, and spontaneous ear regeneration.
Pictured: Male mouse during pup-retrieval test.

I am part of a graduate student team developing the "Graduate Student Well-Being Survey". This survey is designed to investigate the mental health and well-being of graduate students, addressing discrepancies in past studies.

Graduate Student Well-Being Website

gradstudentwellbeingsurvey@gmail.com