About Me

I am a Postdoctoral Researcher in Dr. Laura Figueroa's and Dr. Lynn Adler's labs at University of Massachusetts at Amherst. I am currently studying plant-pollinator networks and disease dynamics related to Crithidia and proportion of Asteraceae plant species in pollinator habitats. My career goals are to become a faculty member and continue my research in plant-pollinator communities and behavior while mentoring and encouraging students to pursue careers in science and research.

Previously I completed my PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology advised by Dr. Amy Toth at Iowa State University, graduating in May 2024. For my dissertation, I studied plant-bee and plant-wasp networks in conservation habitat in agroecosystems. I specifically work with the conservation program called “prairie strips” (CP 43), which are native prairie plant communities within rowcrop fields to improve water quality and soil retention while providing habitat for native organisms. I also studied wasp pollination and found them to be better pollinators than bees in some cases.