Research Interests: I am interested in applying ecological principles to conservation and management practices, and am motivated largely by a desire to combat the global decline of carnivore populations. I am particularly interested in understanding mesocarnivore ecology in the context of broader ecological communities, as this is an essential step in identifying and mitigating key threats. Additionally, I am interested in using non-invasive genetic and genomic techniques to explore the mechanisms underlying local adaptation and evolutionary divergence of organisms.
Current Research: My postdoctoral research will focus on exploring the effects of disease outbreaks on metapopulation connectivity, genetic diversity, and inbreeding-load in the San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica).
Past Research: One chapter of my PhD research explored the ecological and evolutionary differences between native and invasive red foxes in California’s Sacramento Valley. I used genomic tools to investigate patterns of genetic exchange across a naturally occurring hybrid zone between these two populations to identify reproductive isolation, local adaptation, and ecological risks associated with an introduced species that was highly modified through captive breeding.
Check out my website for more information about me.
You can also find my CV here.