About me

I grew up in central Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in Genetics and Wildlife Ecology in 2018. I am currently a PhD student at the University of Wyoming in the CE Wagner Lab after completing my MSc degree here in 2021.

I have a deep appreciation for the beauty of the natural world, which motivates my research and several of my hobbies. I'm an unabashed fish nerd who enjoys building and caring for terrariums/aquariums that showcase some of my favorite species.

I endeavor to contribute towards a better integration of evolutionary biology into conservation practice, as I believe this will give freshwater biodiversity the greatest chance of persistence into an uncertain future. Additionally, I hope to use the stories inherent in natural history to communicate the intrinsic value of biodiversity in ways that are effective to both scientists and laypeople.

Freshwater fish hold a dear place in my heart, partially because their diversity, relative obscurity, and sensitivity to alterations across the entire landscape make them very well suited to conservation narratives. I am not particular about what line of work I end up in after graduation so long as it allows me to pursue these interests and help make meaningful change in the way we interact with and relate to our environment.
Some of my aquarium residents: male Chilantherina alleni (top left), male Rhinogobius duospilus (top right), and juvenile Thorichthys aureus (bottom left)