Freshwater Salinization
I am working with collaborators to investigate how freshwater salinization influences decomposition and biotic communities across riparian and stream ecosystems. This work contributes to collaborative efforts that integrate field and mesocosm studies across salinity gradients, and incorporates biodiversity, food web, and trace element analyses.
Chugach National Forest
During the Summer 2025, I worked with the Cordova Ranger District in Cordova, Alaska to prepare an advisory report on Elodea canadensis management. I worked with the fish team to collect temperature sensor data, inspect fisheries passes for upstream migration, and assess impacts of culverts across the Copper River Delta and Prince William Sound. I also worked with the wildlife team to collect data on nest success and species activity of Dusky Canada Geese in wetlands across the Copper River Delta.
Trends in STEM Education
I worked with an Economist at Virginia Tech to explore the extent to which U.S. students participate in STEM courses in high school and college, and how this has changed over time. Using two nationally representative data sets from the U.S. Department of Education, we found that differences existed between groups of students based on gender, English Language Learner status, parental education, and race.
Coastal Wetland Pond Temperature Forecast
I collaborated with the USDA Forest Service in Chugach National Forest (Copper River Delta) and Tongass National Forest (Yakutat Forelands) to forecast how coastal wetland temperatures are expected to change before the end of the century. Using observed water and air temperatures from 20 wetlands and forecast air temperatures from the Scenarios Network for Alaska + Arctic Planning (SNAP), I fit Bayesian state-space models to forecast water temperature in these two regions of Alaska.
Invertebrate Diversity in Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands
I worked with the Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program to assess alpha, beta, and gamma diversity of invertebrate communities in coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes. I also used random forest models to determine relative importance of water quality and land use to diversity.
Elodea in the Copper River Delta, Alaska
I collaborated with the USDA Forest Service - Chugach National Forest on a variety of projects related to invasive Elodea canadensis on the Copper River Delta within the Cordova Ranger District. We had three ongoing projects: 1. Using stable isotopes to assess whole food web response to Elodea in ponds across the delta; 2. Exploring the effect stands of Elodea on water chemistry, invertebrates, and fish compared to stands of native vegetation; and 3. Assessing the impacts of an Elodea-selective herbicide treatment on water chemistry, invertebrate communities, and fish.
Long Lake Project
I worked with collaborators to explore the impacts of dissolved organic carbon on lake ecosystems via a whole lake manipulation. I focused on how these impacts affect consumers within the lake.
Individual Specialization Across Population Densities
I worked with well studied populations of rusty crayfish (Faxonius rusticus) in northern Wisconsin to assess how individual specialization changes across population densities. I assessed dietary specialization using stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen and assessed behavioral specialization using a series of laboratory behavioral assays.
Relating Laboratory Behavior to Trophic Position
I aimed to link laboratory dominance to the diet of individuals using stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen. I tested whether laboratory acclimation time, tissue analyzed for stable isotopes, and the primary consumer collection time impacted this relationship between dominance and diet.
Trophic Ecology of Olympic Mudminnow
I investigated the trophic ecology of Olympic mudminnow (Novumbra hubbsi) in Lake Ozette in Olympic National Park. I used spatial occurrence data and stable isotope analysis to assess whether Olympic mudminnow interact with other co-occurring fish species yellow perch, prickly sculpin, and northern pikeminnow. I found that Olympic mudminnow were spatially and trophically segregated from other fish species and that prickly sculpin would be the most likely competitor.