I am a postdoctoral fellow jointly at the University of California, San Diego (in the Department of Psychiatry) and San Diego State University, as well as a member of the Palmer Lab at UCSD. I completed my PhD in Human and Molecular Genetics with a concentration in Quantitative Genetics at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2024. You can view my publications on ORCID or Google Scholar.
I am a behavioral geneticist, interested in the complex ways in which genes and the environment shape behavior. My work has primarily been in the area of alcohol use disorder and other substance use disorders, and I have worked with both mouse and rodent models for these human diseases. While during my PhD I worked directly with mouse models in the wet lab, now my time is spent on dry lab work in R and Python.
My primary research interest is in cross-species genetics; basically, I want to ask:
Are the same genetic factors driving similar behaviors in both humans and rodent models?
I am fascinated by the challenges of comparing complex behavioral phenotypes and the genetic factors influencing them across species, particularly when those behaviors are not identical across species.
I have worked with genetic mapping studies (both quantitative trait loci and genome-wide association studies), bulk transcriptomics, behavioral assays in animal models, network biology, and development of machine learning models to integrate these types of data for candidate gene prioritization.
Areas that I’m particularly passionate about in this space include:
- Minimization of harm and maximization of value in animal model studies
- Ethical and responsible use of AI in science
- Open science
- Promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion in genetics (both in research populations and
- Creating avenues to careers in science for individuals from less privileged backgrounds
In addition to research, I act as a mentor for the Biology Undergraduate and Master’s Mentorship Program at UCSD and have previously volunteered with the Psychiatric Genetics Consortium’s Cross-Population Working Group and acted as the VCU Data Science Lab‘s Data Science Ambassador.
Outside of science, I enjoy backpacking, bodybuilding, reading, and oil painting.