Currently, I’m working on my doctoral degree in plant ecology/physiology at the Biology Department of Texas Tech University, under the supervision of Dr. David Tissue. My study focuses on how change in water availability impacts plant growth and species composition in a sotol-grassland in Big Bend National Park with the aim of assessing how climate change may affect the desert plant communities.
I received my Bachelor’s of Science in biology from Angelo State University and my Master’s at Sul Ross State University. I have eight years teaching experience, over five years of herbarium experience maintaining plant and fossil collections, and have served as a technician in fire ecology for the National Park Service. I have received several research grants, earned several scholarships and awards, and given oral and poster presentations at multiple conferences (e.g. XXI International Botanical Congress, Ecological Society of America, and Southwestern Association of Naturalists). I’m also a member of several organizations - ESA, Botanical Society of America, Southwestern Association of Naturalists, Texas Academy of Sciences, and the Nature Conservancy.
My research interests envelop a broad range of plant sciences, mostly focusing on the role of human and natural disturbances on plant distribution and composition in the past, present, and future. Other personal interests include hiking, wildland photography, birding, herbalism, paleoecology, archeology/ethnology, anime, science fiction, and global folklore. I’m also a major Star Wars fanatic. May the force be with you.
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