Experiences in the field
I am a field biologist at heart, and have been extremely fortunate to do field work in many incredible places across the world, including Australia, the Florida Everglades, Malaysian Borneo, Costa Rica, California, and Ithaca, NY. All work was done with the necessary permits and permissions of local, state, and federal agencies.
Fieldwork for dissertation research | New South Wales, Australia (2022-2023)
I spent 12 weeks in the field in New South Wales, Australia in collaboration with colleagues at the Australian National Wildlife Collection. I collected state-of-the-art specimens and tissue samples from 11 major organs preserved in RNAlater and liquid nitrogen from each individual. I focused on specific species of Australian honeyeaters (family Meliphagidae) to study the evolution of neo-sex chromosomes in this family. I also mist-netted and blood sampled White-eared Honeyeaters for a study on the genomic architecture of adaptation.
Terrick Terrick National Park | Victoria, Australia (2022)
I spent a weekend in Victoria, Australia searching for the elusive and mysterious Plainswanderer with fellow bird lovers.
Southern Texas birding trip with OEB 190 (2022)
I helped lead a Spring break birding trip to south Texas with the students of OEB 165 -- Avian Biology and Diversity lead by my advisor Scott Edwards.
Concord Biological Field Station | Concord, MA (2020-2024)
I applied cutting-edge preservation techniques to specimens collected at the Concord Biological Field Station.
Parque Nacional Volcán Gran Tenorio | Costa Rica (2019)
I spent two weeks in the rainforest of Gran Tenorio mist-netting and observing the behaviors of lekking White-ruffed Manakins.
