I am an animal physiologist interested in how organisms acquire energy based on their specified feeding mechanisms and digestive strategies. My research uses a blend of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology to answer biological questions about performance, mainly in marine animals. I also enjoy pairing my research with various outreach endeavors.

I am interested in how organisms acquire energy based on their specified feeding mechanisms and digestive strategies. My research uses a blend of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and modeling to answer biological questions about performance, mainly in marine animals. I also enjoy pairing my research with various outreach endeavors.

-Investigating Sphyrna tiburo (bonnethead sharks) in order to understand how they capitalize on plant foods as juveniles by using a combination of molecular methods, biochemical assays, and feeding trials -Using zebra fish in feeding trials of varying diets (herbivorous, omnivorous, & carnivorous) to determine enzyme and microbial levels in various regions of the gut-Responsible for mentoring/teaching undergraduate students-Teaching Assistant

-Using zebra fish as a model to study pathogenic mechanisms of lysosomal disease-Responsible for carrying out experiments using RT-PCR, cloning, transformation, western blots, RNA preparation, cDNA synthesis, etc. -Responsible for zebra fish husbandry, breeding, injections, dissections/harvesting-Responsible for ordering supplies, editing manuscripts, and overseeing the other research technician and undergraduates in the laboratory-Responsible for maintaining the Stock Center which is used by the entire department and entails handling over $15,000 worth of lab supplies

-Working on developing a faster, more effective way to monitor water quality-Responsible for collecting samples in field, water filtering, PCR, culturing samples, and microbial source tracking-Responsible for Inventory of lab freezers and chemicals

Two Projects: 1) Diel vertical migration of zooplankton and it's relationship to chlorophyll levels and moon phase 2) Studying how the stress of temperature increase impacts the symbiotic relationship between the California Golden Gorgonian and the microoganisms residing on the coral

Peer tutor (has aided in increasing Writing Center use by 73% over the past year) -Workshop Leader -Competition of training in Online Tutoring

Set up experiments for the scientists and graduate students -Assisted in caring for nurse sharks -Helped carry out certain experiments -Helped with nurse shark dissections -Entered raw data into electronic files via Microsoft Excel

Engaged in conversations about the exhibits and the organisms that reside within them with Aquarium visitors.