I have a joint appointment in the departments of Biology and Environmental Studies, which reflects my interest in science contextualized within real societal problems. I am passionate about promoting broad public understanding and use of science to help frame public policy and inform daily personal choices.
I am an ecologist and conservation biologist, working primarily in aquatic systems. I am interested in the effects of environmental stressors such as increased temperatures, contaminants, and diseases on aquatic organisms. I work both in the lab and in the field and would be happy to work with students interested in projects related to experimental ecology, field surveys, or computer-based modeling.
Human-caused alterations to natural habitats often influence the organisms that live in and around these habitats. Research in my lab explores the effects of environmental stress in aquatic ecosystems, from individuals to ecosystems. Wetland organisms with complex life histories, such as amphibians, are frequently exposed to a wide variety of stressors during development. I am broadly interested in both the effects of stressors alone and the potential interaction between stressors in time and space. Understanding how stressors interact on a spatial and temporal scale is important for predicting species persistence, distribution, and behavior; changes in which can result in altered ecosystem function. In my lab, we use surveys, experiments, and computer models to answer questions about the effects of climate change and other human-driven alterations to aquatic systems. Our primary focus is amphibians (frogs, toads, and salamanders), though we work on all types of aquatic organisms, from zooplankton to fish.
