Hi! 👋🏻 I’m a data scientist and ecologist. I'm currently exploring ways to make genomics research more accessible by connecting communities to cloud-based resources. I get really excited about things at the intersection of ecology and data, like population genetics and statistical modeling in nature. Lately, I've been especially interested in how plants evolve in man-made ecosystems (cities!) and how we can link those findings to public health outcomes. I like coding, climbing things, everything DIY, and ta
Cities are everywhere, affecting plants and animals more each day. Yet, many species show the ability to evolve to cope with city life. I'm using weed species and genomics to understand how populations are structured in major US cities. I'm also curious about how different parts of the city (some more stressful than others) drive genetically-based traits.
Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama grass) is one of our most important native prairie plants. This grass is widespread throughout semi-arid grasslands, expertly tolerates drought, and is valuable food for livestock. I study how blue grama varies across its range, using greenhouse experiments and genetic sequencing tools, and how such variation cascades to affect ecosystem function.