I grew up in the gusty, sun-baked plains of Oklahoma, before moving to Minneapolis and completing my Bachelors of Science in Microbiology here at the University of Minnesota in 2019. As an undergraduate, I learned how to do research under the guidance of Dr. Jeff Gralnick (and his lab!), where I fell in love with microbial metabolism. In 2025, I completed my PhD at the University of California, Berkeley where, under the tutelage of my advisor Dr. Dipti Nayak, I learned how to use molecular genetics to answer questions about metabolic pathways. In my thesis work, I studied how a methane-producing microbe called Methanosarcina acetivorans makes energy from acetate (vinegar!). As a postdoctoral associate in the Fixen Lab, I continue to work at the intersection of genetics and metabolism in a bacterium called Rhodopsuedomonas palustris (or “Rpal” for short). I am interested in how Rpal routes electrons (yes, electrons!) to different pathways within the cell that require these "reducing equivalents" to catalyze reactions, which can teach us about similar strategies that may be used by other bacteria that cause infections. Beyond research, I am very passionate about education and research mentorship in biology and microbiology, especially for undergraduate-level students. In the future, I hope to craft a career that includes a healthy dose of both teaching and hands-on research mentorship, so that I can help nurture a passion for the weirdness of biology in the next generations of scientists! Outside of science, I love singing choral music, drinking sour beer, watching Star Wars, and cuddling with my cat, Shelly Panda.
