I successfully summited Mt. Whitney in May of 2022.
Academic Background
2021 - Present: Postdoctoral Scholar, UC Riverside, advised by Amy C. Murillo
2015 - 2021: Ph.D. in Entomology, UC Riverside, advised by Alec C. Gerry Dissertation: Mechanisms Conferring Behavioral Resistance to the Neonicotinoid: Imidacloprid in the House Fly (Musca domestica Linnaeus).
2011 - 2015: B.S. in Biology, UC Riverside
My career goal is to conduct research and train the next generation of scientists to address complex problems through a multidisciplinary approach in the field of veterinary entomology. Prior to my graduate training in veterinary entomology, I worked in multiple research labs with a wide range of research disciplines. Having diverse research experiences prior to graduate school allowed me to think about research questions from multiple perspectives and address them accordingly.
My research passion is to take complex questions and address the topic through smaller, rigorous projects. When building my independent research program, I plan to meld traditional veterinary entomology research topics with genomic tools and approaches. My focus will include insect pests of livestock, with an emphasis on flies associated with animals
Other Interests: Ultra Running
I have always loved to spend time in nature! As a child, I spent many weekends camping in the California deserts and mountains! Unfortunately, when I began college in 2011, the time I spent in nature soon was greatly reduced, as I became busy with work and school.
In 2018, while working at the Pirbright Institute my passion for nature was reignited as I often spent my evenings wandering around the many walking trails close to my home.
I soon realized that I could cover more ground and see more of the English countryside if I ran. This is where my running journey began. When I first started running, I couldn’t even run a mile. By the end of my time in England, I was able to run 3-5 miles without stopping and I was hooked!
Some say I have an extreme personality, I personally think I just have passion! As soon as I arrived home, I signed up for my first marathon. In February of 2019, I ran my first marathon (The Surf City Marathon), and truly fell in love with distance running! But to be honest, while running 26.2 miles on the roads was an accomplishment, I was missing nature!
This is where my interest in Ultramarathon running began (Any distance longer than a marathon, common distances: 50K, 50 Miles, 100K, 100 miles, and 200 miles, with most races occurring on trails).
Just preparing to begin loop 2 of the 2021 Cuyamaca 100K. I was approximately 33 miles into the race.