What started as camping and canoeing trips around Wisconsin as a kid has bloomed into a wide interest in all things ecology, particularly plants. As an undergraduate studying freshwater biology, I worked in an aquatic ecology lab where I studied invasive fish and molluscs, as well as algal physiology. The phytoplankton work further bolstered my love for photosynthetic organisms and introduced a new interest in aquatic plants and algae. I have recently become fascinated by the variety of mating systems that manifest in plants, as well as how the distributions of these mating systems differ biogeographically. More specifically, I am interested in comparing mating systems in the two extremes of global water availability, aquatic habitats and deserts. As a result of facing completely different abiotic environments, plants in these contrasting conditions employ a wide range of mating systems, which directly inform how scientists conserve rare species and mitigate invasives.
Outside of research, I play the guitar, bass, and saxophone. I love making music with friends, and we are always looking for new people to play with. I also enjoy gardening, cooking, going to the gym, fishing, and exploring!