BS in Global Disease Biology, University of California, Davis
MPH in Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, University of California, Berkeley

Born and raised in Oakland, California, my interest in vector-borne diseases and genomic surveillance developed from my major coursework and senior capstone project at UC Davis.

For my senior capstone project, I worked in the Vector Genetics Lab, where I characterized the genetic profile of Anopheles mosquito populations in African lake and oceanic islands. The goal of my project was to identify potential field trial sites for the controlled release of genetically engineered mosquitoes as a tool for malaria control. This experience introduced me to how genomics and ecology can be used to address public health challenges.

After graduating, I took a gap period during which I worked in different laboratories as a junior specialist before starting my MPH at UC Berkeley. For my MPH capstone project, I focused on developing a molecular inversion probe panel to target insecticide resistance loci in An. gambiae mosquitoes for genomic surveillance in Uganda. Currently, as a postgraduate research fellow in the Vogels Lab, my research focuses on understanding Powassan Virus ecology and evolution in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States.

Outside of the lab, I like to run, play RuneScape, explore different cafes and cuisine, read historical and science fiction, and take siestas.