Background
My passion for wildlife and the outdoors began during my childhood in rural Wisconsin. I spent my time outside exploring the Western Coulees and central sand plains capturing any creature I could get my hands on and observing the rest. I enrolled in evolutionary biology and ecology classes during my Bachelor’s degree at UW-Madison and quickly found that my favorite classes were wildlife-related. A class called ‘Birds of Southern Wisconsin’ was what initially sparked my interest in avian biology (taught by Zuckerberg Lab member Ryan Buron).
After graduating I pursued my passion for science and ecology by working a variety of jobs including an entomology research technician, wildlife rehabilitator, and a biomolecular chemistry researcher. My work as a wildlife rehabilitator inspired me to pursue a graduate degree in the field of wildlife ecology. I broadened my knowledge of birds and avian biology by volunteering with the Biocore Prairie Bird Banding Observatory and the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance.
My general research interests lie in climate change ecology, avian biology, and evolutionary ecology. I am broadly interested in the impacts of anthropogenic change on the health, genetic diversity, and distribution of wildlife, specifically birds. I am co-advised for my Master’s project by Ben Zuckerberg and Sean Schoville, where I am investigating the genomic underpinnings of phenotypic polymorphism in Wisconsin Ruffed Grouse.
Outside of the lab I enjoy birdwatching, reading, running, and working as a wildlife rehabilitator (see above picture from DCHS Wildlife Center).
Education:
B.S. Evolutionary Biology, The University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2023
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