I am currently a PhD candidate at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Department. My current mentor and advisor is Dr. Maureen Kane, who is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Mass Spectrometry Center. My thesis research will encompass understanding the host/pathogen relationship between lung tissue and the opportunistic pathogen, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa. Our lab studies retinoid/vitamin A metabolism and regulation as this pathway is frequently disrupted during injury and in different diseases. As part of the Mass Spectrometry Center, I also have access to a wide array of instrumentation. My interests as an analytical chemist include small molecule development as well utilizing the "-omic" pipeline to understand cellular response to stressors. As an openly gay scientist, I also contribute to discussions on creating inclusive STEM opportunities through my volunteer work with oSTEM and also as a member of UMB's President's Student Leadership Institute.Penn State Alum. Queer Science Advocate.