Welcome to my site!

I am a student researcher interested in all things wild – especially birds, and I have a passion for science communication and environmental history, advocacy, and conservation. I am also a published author in peer-reviewed journals and the American Birding Association’s Birding magazine. I love exploring nature, birdwatching, and reading about the history of the environment during my free time and like to volunteer and engage with my community. I have a deep interest in the folk music of North America and the British Isles and serve as President for Harvard's student-run radio station (WHRB 95.3 FM).

Research

My interests span evolutionary ecology, and involve functional morphology, demography, behavior, and genetics. I am interested in basic evolutionary questions as well as applications of evolutionary methods in conservation biology.

  • Genetic Basis of Modularity in Avian Wing Morphology

    Edwards Lab OEB/MCZ, Harvard University (Prof. Scott Edwards - Advisor)
    Used CT scanning of passerine study skins and spread wings, and the PhyloAcc software, to characterize the modularity and genetic basis of wing morphology.

    Used avian whole-genome data to investigate the relationship of codon bias and tRNA sequence evolution; assisted in the collection of new specimens at Concord Field Station. 

  • Causes of Sex-specific Y-chromosome Bottleneck in the Neolithic

    Reich Lab HEB/HMS, Harvard University (Prof. David Reich - Advisor)

    Used simulations and analytical models to investigate potential causes of a major bottleneck in Y-chromosome genetic diversity during the Neolithic period.

  • Bird Migratory Behavior in High Latitudes

    Aero-Eco Lab, Colorado State University (Prof. Kyle Horton – Advisor)

    Analysis of avian migratory behavior on short high-latitude nights with next-gen radar data

  • Bird-Building Collision Study

    Aero-Eco Lab, Colorado State University (Prof. Kyle Horton – Advisor)

    Bird-building collision study in an urban center using next-generation radar data.

    Contributed to landmark PNAS study identifying drivers of fatal urban bird collisions.

  • Scrub-jay Morphology and Identification

    The Moore Lab of Zoology, Occidental College (Prof. John McCormack – Advisor)

    Assisted with scrub-jay morphology and identification of erroneously classified hybrid feral parrots from TX, CA, FL, and Mexico in the iNaturalist and eBird databases.

  • Calfiornia Condor Conservation and Wild Turkey Ecology Studies

    HEDGE Lab, Middlebury College (Prof. Alexis Mychajliw – Advisor)

    Used palaeoecological species distribution models to create suitability maps for the endangered California Condor and to recontextualize introduced turkey ecology in California.

  • Lemming Population Modeling

    MSEAS Lab, MIT, (Prof. Pierre Lermusiaux – Advisor) | Student Researcher, RSI Program

    One of 80 students worldwide selected for the Research Science Institute program. Used neural closure techniques previously used in biogeochemical applications to, for the first time, simplify lemming population models in ecology.

Volunteering

I founded The NativeBiota Project to fight for bird-related causes, share my love for nature with others, and preserve urban wildlife habitats. The NativeBiota Project has partnered with the Pasadena Audubon Society, World Wildlife Fund - India, and numerous online birding and naturalist communities to promote native urban habitats and catalog biodiversity on 2 continents. To date, we have documented 16,000+ wildlife observations in iNaturalist spanning 2800+ species. These observations are then available to scientists for conservation and research.

 

Experience

  • Student Researcher, Middlebury College HEDGE Lab

    Used paleoecology to answer pressing questions in conservation biology related to the critically endangered California Condor and the management of the introduced Wild Turkey populations in California. Link

  • CEE/MIT RSI Scholar

    Researcher in the MIT MSEAS Lab. Used neural closure techniques in terrestrial ecology for the first time to study lemming population dynamics. Link

  • Researcher, Colorado State University AeroEco Lab

    Extended the use of radar data to monitor Alaskan avian migration for the first time. Link

  • Student Researcher, The Moore Lab of Zoology, Occidental College

    Studied scrub jay morphology and identified misclassified feral parrot images in the eBird and iNaturalist databases.

  • Independent Researcher

    Studied biodiversity changes after wetland habitat restoration using remote sensing.

  • Board Member, Pasadena Audubon Society

    Vote on decisions on field trips, education, conservation, outreach, and other initiatives. Link

  • Advocacy & Conservation Chair, Pasadena Audubon Society

    Lead the bird-friendly street trees initiative for Pasadena. Link

  • Diversity Committee Member, American Ornithological Society

    Chartered to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the ornithology community. Link

  • Founder, The NativeBiota Project

    Founded The NativeBiota Project in 2018 to conserve nature community by community. Started 4 major initiatives. Conducted BioBlitzes, distributed brochures to educate the public, created a website for petition campaigns and online educational material. Collaborated with Pasadena Audubon, World Wildlife Fund - India, and a large online community of iNaturalists and birders. Link