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I am an evolutionary biologist who examines how populations adapt to their environments and how those adaptations can lead to the formation of new species. My research combines field experiments, molecular lab work, genomics, quantitative genetics, and statistical modeling to investigate the processes that generate and maintain biological diversity. My current work focuses on yellow monkeyflowers (Mimulus guttatus and M. laciniatus), where I study the roles of natural selection, hybridization, and gene flow in shaping adaptation and reproductive isolation.

 

Before joining Ä¢¹½´«Ã½, I earned my Ph.D. from the University of Melbourne, where I studied the evolution of coloration and speciation in Australian lizards. I then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Tulane University investigating the genomic basis of adaptation and speciation in monkeyflowers. Across these diverse study systems, I have remained fascinated by how genetic and environmental variation influence phenotype and how those differences contribute to the remarkable diversity of life.

 

One of my favorite aspects of science is mentoring students. In the GENOME Lab, students participate in different stages of the research process, from designing experiments and collecting data to analyzing results and communicating their findings. Students have the potential to gain experience with greenhouse research, genomics, R programming, and quantitative approaches for analyzing biological data.