A BIT ABOUT ME

Research in mathematical biology often reminds me of putting together a puzzle. The variables we use are the pieces, analyzing equations are how we put the pieces together, and the biological interpretation of the outputs is the final picture when the puzzle is complete. After hard work and dedication, we can see how the pieces start to fit together, leaving us with novel biological insights and an increased understanding of the intricacies of natural systems.

To me, research in disease ecology often reminds me of puzzles and this is what draws me to it. I love using math to solve biological problems related to infectious diseases. I'm largely interested in the interaction between humans and wildlife that lead to the spillover and possible emergence of infectious diseases. Additionally, I am curious about how the social interactions of animals influences infectious disease dynamics.

I'm currently a PhD student in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology program, working with Dr. Nina Fefferman at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Before coming to Tennessee I had spent the past five years working with Dr. Scott Nuismer at The University of Idaho. There we worked on mathematical modeling of the optimal delivery of different types of vaccines into wildlife populations. These vaccines could be used to control the spread of disease and in turn reduce the risk of spillover.