I've always had a deep connection to nature and the world around me, so wanting to study the inner workings of our biosphere and its history has been my goal in life since I was very young. I sought adventure exploring local natural wonders and seeing those from further away in zoos, museums, and countless books and other storytelling media.

My primary research interest lies in vertebrate paleontology, and I specifically work on understanding the evolution of vocalization in birds in Dr. Julia Clarke's research lab. More specifically, I've investigated the syrinx (the unique vocal organ of birds) in group of birds called paleognaths, which includes the ostrich, cassowary, and kiwi, among others. While the data I work on is decidedly modern, the implications of the evolution of this structure in modern animals go all the way back to their ancient ancestors, such as the dinosaurs! The geosciences are inherently interdisciplinary, and we creatively bring together almost every other field of science together to better understand our planet, from biology to physics.

My passion for nature has also made me excited to help people understand and want to protect the natural world that we rely on so heavily in a time where humanity's relationship with our planet is increasingly fraught. For me, this is yet another way to put my creativity to work, creating paleoart and educational short films that aim to capture people's imaginations and communicate scientific concepts and the ways earth history connects to human impacts on our environment today. I hope not only to bring ancient ecosystems back to life, but to help people better appreciate the landscapes that millions of years of time and evolution have built all around us.