About

I am interesting in exploring the world of microbes and how they impact plants, in order to improve the productivity and sustainability of agriculture and industry, and understand the diversity of life.

As an undergraduate student, I majored in plant biology due to my earlier interest in identifying and understanding the flora around me. During my classes, I also learned to appreciate the variety of other organisms, such as fungi, bacteria, and algae. My first year, I joined Dr. Gregory Bonito’s lab. I worked in this lab for the rest of my undergraduate degree and continue to work in the lab as a Master’s student. In the lab, I have become interested in studying microbes and their symbiosis with other microbes, plants, viruses, and animals. I also have found that computational tools can provide impressive assistance in measuring and interpreting these systems.

I find that biology is always fascinating, with incredible new questions at every scale and with each organism we study. Because I find biology to be so intriguing, I want to share what I have learned with students and the general public through teaching and outreach. During my MSc, I sat on the outreach Committee of the Plant Biology Graduate Student Organization. I hope engagement with science can inspire learners to appreciate the organisms around them and bring scientific thinking to many aspects of their lives.

Outside of my research and outreach, I enjoy a variety of activities such as cooking and baking, gardening, foraging, birdwatching, and spending time outdoors in any way I can.