I was born and have spent most of my life in Seattle, WA. As a kid I loved animals and spent a lot of time asking questions and trying to figure out how things worked. I later realized a lot of those questions fell under the umbrella of “science,” and from then on stuffed my school schedule with science classes. When I went to college at Lewis & Clark in Portland, OR I majored in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and studied the evolution of arachnid lineages in the Caribbean. Although a love of animals initially attracted me to biology I realized my interests lie more at the cellular and molecular scale and for the past couple of years have been studying the molecular basis of mutagenesis as related to cancer at the University of Washington. I hope to research a question that combines this slightly more clinical perspective with my interest in the natural world.
When I’m not in lab I look for any excuse to be outside, whether it’s biking, running, playing soccer, hiking, or camping. During the colder, darker months I spend time reading whatever I can get my hands on and pursuing a variety of art projects. I also enjoy exploring new places, whether they are hidden corners of my own neighborhood or farther afield.