About Me
Research Interests
My research interests span the fields of genetics including: population genetics, landscape genetics, functional genomics, and metagenomics.
I am fascinated by how non-adaptive factors (e.g., gene flow, drift, metapopulation structure, colonization history, genomic architecture) can interact with natural selection to influence evolution. I am also interested in the evolutionary predictability of adaptive traits and how this differs across multiple mechanistic "levels" (e.g., is a repeatedly evolved phenotype caused by a common SNP, gene, paralog?). Additional interests include the molecular mechanisms and evolutionary and ecological processes underpinning host/pathogen interactions, speciation, and interspecific interactions at the community level. |
What's so special about fish?The diversity of forms observed in fishes makes them an ideal model to tackle many fundamental biological questions. Understanding the genetic sources of this diversity is critical to the management and conservation of fish species, many of which are commercially and culturally important but are threatened by climate change and other anthropogenic influences (e.g., facilitation of the spread of pathogens). Alternatively, such genetic insights can be critical for mitigating the negative effects of invasive fish species.
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Bioinformatics
I am proficient in data analysis and have extensive experience analyzing and teaching others to analyze multiple data types (genomic, morphological, environmental) using a variety of programs and command languages (e.g., R, bash).
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Lab work
I am skilled in a diverse range of molecular lab techniques (e.g., DNA extraction, amplification, quantification, gel electrophoresis) and have experience mentoring students to work efficiently and safely in a lab environment.
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Field work
Using a suite of field techniques (e.g., electrofishing, gillnetting, angling) I have successfully collected morphological measurements as well as sensitive tissue and eDNA samples for downstream DNA/RNA analysis in a variety of locations and conditions.
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