About

I started my grad career in January, 2021 as a Master's student. I worked in the Collaborative Conservation Genetics Laboratory under Mark Davis, evaluating the use of eDNA metabarcoding for early detection of aquatic invasive species. I had started using eDNA during my undergrad at Saint Vincent College where I used eDNA to assess fish communities in restored and unrestored streams.

 

Although, I've always envisioned myself as a field biologist, I developed a passion for eDNA and other conservation genetics tools. After 1 year as a Master's student, I received a grant to fund another project and decided to switch to the PhD track. I'm aiming to graduate in Fall, 2025 where I am looking to continue my career in academia as a post-doc and eventually a faculty professor.

 

I hope to continue in the field of conservation genetics and use eDNA and other genetics tools (e.g. eRNA, Rad-Seq) to improve conservation efforts. While my heart will always like in marine systems, and I'd love to work with whales someday, I enjoy my current role where I get to work with lots of different animals and ecosystems.

 

While I throughly enjoy my area of research, I also have passions outside of academic research. First is my passion for teaching. I've TA'd several classes here at UIUC and at Saint Vincent College, including even designing my own field methods course on the use of eDNA for conservation. I also believe strongly in the friendships and the community that you build during grad school which has led me to become president of ​my departments graduate student association and social chair of UIUC's American Fisheries Society Student Sub-unit.

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