I am a quantitative ecologist studying patterns across the ecological hierarchy in search of the processes that link individuals to populations, populations to communities, and communities to ecosystems. I specialize in integrating analytical methods into synthetic models aimed at providing robust inference and filling data gaps. I have applied these integrated models in a broad set of interdisciplinary problems ranging from building risk maps for conservation and natural resource priority species to estimating life history characteristics of data-deficient species. Above all, I enjoy solving puzzles across the natural sciences. With a background in biology and chemistry, it is no wonder that my other interests feature these subjects prominently. I am an avid gardener with a collection of Zingiberales and orchids. I take much of my gardening inspiration by exploring the natural world and especially enjoy hunting for rare plants in situ. I try my hand at photography both in the garden and out exploring so the photos featured here are my own. |
My BackgroundI grew up exploring the Southwestern United States and Eastern North America. I received a B.S. in Biology and B.A in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. I stayed there for my M.S. studying the spatial and movement ecology of Basking Sharks in the Bay of Fundy. I finished my PhD at the University of Florida in 2017 studying the role of habitat in structuring aquatic vertebrate interactions. I stayed on as a postdoctoral researcher from 2018-2020 specializing in advanced species distribution modeling. I continued on as an assistant research scientist working on an ecosystem-based fisheries management initiative in collaboration with NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center.
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