Broadly speaking, my research focuses on understanding how species interactions structure ecological communities and influence ecosystem function. Much of my research focuses on empirically testing the mechanisms driving species interactions in order to test and refine ecological theory. For me, biological invasions have provided an exciting model system because the interactions between native and exotic species often reflect current ecological processes. Yet, at the same time native and exotic species are under strong selection pressures to evolve in response to a rapidly changing environment. Within this context, I aim to understand the ecological and evolutionary processes of species interactions for making prescriptive predictions regarding how anthropogenically-driven changes in biodiversity alter key ecological processes.

Ph.D. Ecology, University of California-Davis. Dissertation: The influence of invader traits and community characteristics on the invasion success of an exotic crayfish. Advisor: Dr. Andrew Sih. 

M.S., Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Thesis: The effect of drought on species interactions, behavior and habitat use by the Hine’s Emerald dragonfly, Somatochlora hineana. Advisor: Dr. Daniel A. Soluk. 

B.S., Ecology, Ethology & Evolution. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

ENR 4890H - Honors Colloquium