a little about me

I am originally from Charlotte, North Carolina and I attended the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, NC before I began my undergraduate journey at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA. Spelman College was where I realized how much I love marine biology! Going to a historically Black college was incredibly rewarding and introduced me to a variety of research internships that would only further increase my interest in becoming a Marine Biologist. I am a 2017 alumna of The Diversity Project at UCLA. I am also a 2018 alumna of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's Summer Student Fellowship.

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These undergraduate experiences led me to pursue a Ph.D. at the University of California, Santa Barbara in the Hofmann lab. As a Ph.D student, I was able to explore my many different interests in aquaculture, climate science, biological oceanography, transgenerational plasticity, larval biology, and ecophysiology. Now, as a Ph.D. candidate, I am focused on exploring impacts of marine heatwaves on egg quality and physiology of early stages of the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Through simulating marine heatwave events in the lab, I investigate how these events impact purple sea urchin physiology by looking at body size, metabolic rate, protein content, oxidative stress, lipid content, and other biochemical properties. I invite you to learn more about my experience by visiting my research tab. 

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When not doing science, I am an avid baker. I love to make sourdough and a wide variety of pastries. While my bread rises, I love to read historical fiction, mysteries, memoirs, and contemporary fiction. Some of my other hobbies include hiking, yoga, anything crafty, and traveling with friends. Thank you for visiting my website and reading a little about me!