I study plant-microbe interactions examining the bacterial and fungal communities found within and on the surface of the leaves, or the phyllosphere. Plant-associated microbes have been known to affect growth, disease resistance, response to fire, and other components of plant health and physiology. I’m currently working on characterizing the leaf microbiome in Redwoods along the California coast where trees encounter different environmental conditions and events such as varying levels of rainfall, fog, and fire. Further studying the leaf microbiome and its role in plant health can inform future conservation and management in the Redwood forests.

Before exploring the plant world, I studied the gut microbiome and host health in aging animals using the model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans.

I received my undergraduate degree from Macalester College, where I developed my passion for microbiology and ecological research.