Research Interests
The main focus of my dissertation is to leverage genomics to provide insight to the evolutionary history of Plestiodon, a genus of skinks that occupy two continents and are distributed around the Pacific Ocean from Vietnam to Belize. Using whole genome sequencing, I aim to determine the role of introgressive gene-flow and ancient hybridization in the clade’s continental dispersal and diversification.
Beyond Plestiodon, I am very interested in adaptive introgression, the formation of hybrid species, and the environmental variables that may contribute to either.
Reticulate Evolution
Photo by Gary Nafis
I am interested in the processes of sequencing and annotating genomes for species and groups that do not have a large amount of genomics resources. Currently, I am working on members of the genus Plestiodon—I am creating an annotated reference genome for Plestiodon fasciatus in order to reference map short read genomes for the rest of the genus.
In the future, I hope to expand beyond squamates.
Genomics
Photo by Travis W. Reeder
Paleoclimate
My undergraduate research focused on using stable and clumped isotope sclerochronology of oyster macrofossils from the Western Interior Seaway of North America to estimate paleoseasonality and water mass circulation during the Cretaceous Thermal Maximum. We found there to be seasonal temperature differences of 14 to 23 C, similar to the seasonality at modern mid-latitudes, as well as potential large scale water mass circulation on an annual scale.
