I grew up in multiple states across the eastern United States, where my love for amphibians and reptiles flourished. My childhood was largely spent immersed in herpetology field guides and searching for amphibians and reptiles in my backyard and nearby forests. My passion for these organisms never faded, and ultimately became accompanied by a strong resolve to pursue conservation-oriented research, after learning about amphibian declines in high school. I later earned my BS in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida in 2017, and my MS in Fish and Wildlife Conservation from Virginia Tech in 2019. For my MS thesis, I assessed factors influencing the utility of in situ artificial shelters for monitoring and conserving eastern hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis).

 

In 2024, I completed my PhD in Biology within the Piovia-Scott Lab at Washington State University Vancouver. My dissertation research focused on evaluating the distribution of seeps and seep-associated species in the Pacific Northwest and working to identify locations where seeps and headwater streams may serve as climate change and disturbance refugia, using a combination of environmental DNA (eDNA) and visual encounter surveys. I have recently been appointed as an Associate Professor at Nanjing Forestry University in Nanjing, China, where I am developing both global and China-specific research projects focused on identifying, monitoring, and protecting biodiversity under anthropogenic stressors like climate change.

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