My Research
I’m interested in how invertebrates develop and respond to environmental stress through physiological and genomic processes. My work focuses on developmental plasticity, resilience, and symbiosis—key mechanisms that support adaptation in changing environments. As a Research Assistant in the Patel Lab, I study embryonic development and evolutionary change in butterflies. I’m currently gaining experience with microinjection, fluorescent staining, in situ hybridization, microscopy, and image analysis, and I’m excited to apply these tools to independent projects exploring how changes in gene regulation influence development, morphology, and ecological adaptation.
About Me
I grew up in Mattapoisett, a small town along the coast of Buzzards Bay in southeastern Massachusetts, where I spent much of my time exploring marshes, intertidal zones, and rocky shorelines. Immersed in these coastal ecosystems, I developed a fascination with the life teeming just beneath the surface—an early curiosity that grew into a lifelong interest in marine science.
I earned my B.A. in Human Ecology with a concentration in marine biology from College of the Atlantic, where I studied marine invertebrates through fieldwork and independent research. My senior thesis—conducted in the Roberson Lab at the Marine Biological Laboratory and supported by the Maine Space Grant and Sea Grant programs—examined the role of endolithic algae in the coral holobiont.
After graduating, I worked at Mote Marine Laboratory on a project investigating how environmental and genetic factors influence outplant success in staghorn corals (Acropora cervicornis), then returned to the Roberson Lab as a research assistant to support tropical seaweed cultivation projects and help establish the temperate coral, Astrangia poculata, as a symbiosis model system. Aiming to integrate my coral research background into a broader evolutionary framework, I joined the Patel Lab to study invertebrate development through molecular and cellular approaches.
Outside the lab, I enjoy SCUBA diving, cooking, running, playing the cello and drums, and spending time in nature—activities that keep me grounded and continue to inspire my curiosity about the natural world.
