I am a scientist with a background in plant-infecting viruses and their effects on cultivated and (especially) wild plants. For my PhD research, I studied the ecology and epidemiology of a crop virus in wild systems using molecular tools to detect viral infections under the guidance of Dr. Kerry Mauck. Through my graduate work, I’ve gained experience and skills across multiple disciplines.

In general, my interests include detection of infectious diseases, with a special focus on arthropod-borne pathogens and their vectors.

Where am I now?

I am currently a Scientist in R&D Infectious Disease at Quest Diagnostics. I now work with serology assays and infectious disease diagnostics - a very different group of “bugs” from my dissertation.

Education

University of California, Riverside

Entomology, Ph.D.
2016-2021

University of California, Irvine

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, B.S.
2011-2015