I am a geomicrobiologist and Assistant Project Scientist in the Santoro Marine Microbiology Lab at UC Santa Barbara.

At the core of my research is a desire to understand the interactions between the Earth system and microbial life that shape global climate today and throughout time. Geochemical “fingerprints” of microbial metabolism reveal information about the past environment and microbial interactions today. Our ability to accurately interpret these geochemical fingerprints has broader applications such as improving future climate projections; developing new tools in microbial ecology; and informing biosignature detection in astrobiology. I combine various cultivation techniques and analytical approaches in stable isotope and organic geochemistry to develop robust interpretative frameworks for such chemical patterns in biomolecules. Currently at UCSB, I am building on my previous mechanism-focused work by incorporating fieldwork, cell sorting, and genomic approaches to study uncultivated microbes in the ocean and their roles in shaping biogeochemical cycling. Please check out research for more. Recordings of my recent talks can be found here and here.

I am also passionate about making science more equitable and inclusive for all.
You can find examples of ways in which my work reflects this in teaching and deiaj.