About
Hi! I'm a geobiologist from the USA. I recently graduated with my masters in Biology, and my undergraduate studies were in Environmental Geocience with a minor in Russian language and Eastern European studies. Both of my degrees are from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, where I was active in both the Geology and Biology departments, as well as with student outreach. Post-graduation, I've been trying out different kinds of positions to gain experience [large labs vs small, government vs private, etc]. However, my main goal has always been to obtain a PhD so I can continue on to work as a research astrogeobiologist.
Prior Work
M.S. Thesis [defended Fall '22]
journal pub - work in progress :]
⋆ please go to Data Files in the sidebar for the Figures, Tables, and Appendices!
✦ Award - GSA Geobio + Geomicrobio division undergrad poster
Effects of Microplastics in Red Crayfish
BU COST Research Day Spring 2020
Collected data and provided statistics from R. Took care of crayfish aquaria with Catilin Collins.
Research Interests
I'm currently in search of an astrobiology/astrogeobiology focused PhD advisor that prioritizes field work.
My research interests include the geobiochemical aspects of Mars, microfossil formation and preservation, and Earth-Mars analogs. Anywhere from stromatolite/microbial mats, to polar microbe research, to isolated cave systems. I'm very passionate about field research and extreme environments and how they relate to astrobiology.
Previously, my research has been observing the effects of acid deposition and acid mine drainage on algal physiology, microbial ecology, bedrock geology, and aqueous geochemistry in headwater streams of Northeast Pennsylvania.
Before that, I used multiple types of microscopy to determine the possible origin of two different calcite formation types along Arionoceras orthocerid siphuncles. Specifically, observing the differences in calcite formations deposited during life vs. post death/during mineralization.