Leveraging multi-omics data to drive innovation in bioinformatics and microbiome research for human health advancement.

I grew up on the California coast and completed my Bachelor's in Animal Science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo as hopeful future veterinarian. I discovered a burning curiosity to learn about microbiomes as the student manager of Cal Poly's sheep ranch, where I first learned about soil microbes and carbon farming. This sparked a cross-country move to pursue a Master's degree in Soil Science from University of Wyoming, where I worked with Dr. Linda van Diepen to discover how soil bacteria and fungi respond to different intensities of cattle grazing. During my years in Laradise, Wyoming, I nurtured a growing passion for the microbiome sciences and pivoted to the human gut microbiome. I completed my Ph.D. in Integrative and Biomedical Physiology & Clinical and Translational Sciences from Pennsylvania State University, where I was co-advised by Drs. Erika Ganda and Connie Rogers. Here, I expanded my skillset in bioinformatics, sequencing data analysis, murine experiments, meta-analysis, and translational medicine. Throughout my training, I discovered a curious lack of research in non-bacterial members of the gut microbiome, and my perspective of soil microbiomes sparked a key question -- what is going on with fungi in the human gut? 

Currently, I am addressing that research question in my postdoctoral research in Dr. Seth Bordenstein's lab at Penn State. My work seeks to elucidate the fundamental roles of the human gut mycobiome (the fungal component of the microbiome) and specifically the host genetic and evolutionary drivers of fungal abundance and diversity. 

I am the happiest when tackling a new challenge by building a custom R function and enjoy training in diverse scientific disciplines. I am always open to new opportunities and ways of thinking. When I'm not doing science, I can usually be found on a nature walk, adopting senior Great Danes and mastiffs (and one cat who strongly believes he is a Great Dane), or knitting socks for family Christmas presents.