“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.”
-Sir David Attenbourough
Curiosity about the natural world and how it functions is what drives my studies. My previous studies focused on insect behavior: learning in butterflies, host recognition in mites, and larval choice of host plants. Most recently, I worked in Dr. Jen White’s lab at University of Kentucky as a research analyst. I additionally recently obtained my Master’s degree examining the maternally-inherited symbionts that are reproductive manipulators of a Linyphiid spider. I currently work as a Staff Entomologist and Educational Specialist for the National Pest Management Association (NPMA).
I have also previously worked for Flying Dog Brewery as a tour guide. Outside of the lab and the brewery, I am an amateur equestrian, musician, and photographer.