I received my undergraduate degree from UIUC in Integrative Biology in the spring of 2017. Immediately after graduating, I moved to Cordova, Alaska to work as a wildlife intern at Chugach National Forest. I was then fortunate enough to return to the Chugach the following summer, this time as a fisheries technician. I credit this experience with sparking my interest in fisheries science as well as my love of fishing! Following this, I spent time as a wildlife technician at Cape Hatteras National Seashore completing shorebird and sea turtle nest surveys. I also worked at Situ Biosciences, an antimicrobial testing laboratory, as a lab technician, where I was able to get great hands-on experience with a variety of bacteria, fungi, and algae. I’m excited to be back at UIUC and working with fish again in Dr. Cory Suski’s lab!
My research is focusing on the role of contaminants in the stall of invasive bighead and silver carp movement in the Illinois River near Chicago. I am looking to see whether the carp are exhibiting behavioral and/or physiological responses to the pollutants that come out of the Chicago Area Waterway System. There is a strong concern about these fish having devastating effects on Great Lakes ecosystems, so understanding the reason that their movement is being impacted has important implications for future management decisions.
In my free time, I love to go camping with friends, read, hang out with my dog, and discover fun restaurants and breweries.