My research interest is in mathematical models of the emergence and maintenance of biodiversity. I want to use these models to predict changes to these ecosystems under disturbances.
In my research, I use a combination of mathematical modeling and transmission experiments in the field to study how host diet and climate play a role in patterns of pathogen variation at multiple scales in the Douglas-fir tussock moth-baculovirus system.
I am interested in the evolution of molecular systems at the protein level. How do proteins evolve to fulfill their roles, and what can this tell us about the systems as a whole?
I study the functional causes and consequences of host plant changes in Pierinae butterflies, and will use a combination of functional genetics, comparative phylogenomics, transcriptomics, and biochemical assays in my research to do so.
I study the development of mathematical models of epidemics, and I am especially interested in the interplay of disease transmission, climate, and public policies.
I am broadly interested in computational and theoretical approaches to coevolutionary processes in ecology and epidemiology, particular through a social/behavioral lens. As well as natural-human coupled systems.
I am interested in developing computational methods to study the evolution of natural populations, and hope to take advantage of novel sequencing data and ancient DNA in my research.
