Born and raised in Bridgeport, West Virginia as the youngest (by far) child of a roofer and a nurse with two (much) older brothers and many, many, many, many cats and dogs.

Growing up, I spent equal time reading every book I could get my hands on, playing in the creeks and woods surrounding my house, learning how to hang drywall and bale hay, and lacing up my shoes to play whatever sport was in that season.

​As a kid, I loved trees, bugs, salamanders, wildlife, and generally everything about the outdoors, but for some reason wanted to be a secret agent/spy or archaeologist (blame too much Indiana Jones and James Bond as a kid).

Biology has always captivated me (an enthusiasm encouraged by my amazing high school teachers) and I assumed it would lead me to a career in medicine as a nurse or physician's assistant. Upon graduating from Bridgeport High School, I attended West Virginia Wesleyan College on academic and athletic scholarships.

There, I studied biology and chemistry, competed on a nationally-ranked women’s softball team, and led outdoor recreation excursions for rising freshman. 

Upon graduating with my BS in biology in spring 2016, I packed my bags and moved to Memphis, Tennessee to join the Integrated Biomedical Sciences program at University of Tennessee Health Science Center. I graduated with my doctorate in 2020.

During undergrad, my professors introduced me to the world of research. I had no clue scientists actually existed outside of movies and TV shows, which fuels my desire for community engagement and "empathetic education" today.

As an undergrad, I completed ecology-based research projects at my home institution and, as part of INBRE, went to West Virginia University in two consecutive summers to study the intersection of exercise physiology and immunology.

In fall 2017, I moved to Memphis, Tennessee to pursue my doctorate at UTHSC in the Integrated Program of Biomecial Sciences as part of the Microbiology and Immunology track. The next spring, I joined the lab of Dr. Stacey Schultz-Cherry at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

My work in the Schultz-Cherry lab centered on viral infections in high-risk hosts,  specifically those with metabolic dysfunction. I investigated how dysregulated metabolism attenuates innate immune responses, alters cellular metabolism, promotes a pro-viral environment for influenza viral spread, and reduces the efficacy of our vaccines.

Virulence and pathogenesis is a product of host, pathogen, and the environment. So, I also studied the reverse: how does the host environment impact the virus? Here, I looked at the evolutionary pressures on viral populations and how metabolic disease alters genetic shift and drift as well as transmission dynamics. I successfully defended my dissertation in October 2020.

During a short-term postdoc in the Schultz-Cherry lab, I continued my work with high-risk hosts as well as tackling questions concerning vaccine efficacy and influenza spillover.

After a short post-PhD tenure in the SSC lab to wrap up some experiments, I along with my partner-in-crime Chris, moved to the Green Mountain State to pursue our next steps professionally and personally.

I accepted a post-doctoral position in Dr. Jason Botten's group at the University of Vermont. Here, I am expanding on my current skills and gain more experience in evolution, molecular virology, and viral ecology. I am excited about teaching opportunities at UVM and other local colleges, as well as community outreach in Chittenden County and beyond.

By challenging myself to become an expert in a new, albeit adjacent, field I can enable myself and my future independent laboratory to integrate multiple fields and push the boundaries of our collective knowledge.

Outside of science, I am an avid concert-goer with interests from Sturgill Simpson and John Craigie to The Killers and The Raconteurs, and basically everything in between (except Bon Iver, because…Bon Iver).  My first concert was Merle Haggard and my next is Sturgill Simpson (finally)!

I also love baking; I make a mean pepperoni roll (a West Virginia delicacy), cinnamon roll, and apple crisp. In my spare time catch me playing tag or laser with our cats, loving Mothman as every Appalachian should, hammocking in the woods, or finding new ways to annoy our dog.

According to online personality tests, I am a combination of Dr. Ellie Sattler and Ann Perkins. Oh and did I mention, I have been Knighted in the state of West Virginia? Ask me about that some time.