B.S., Biology, Stanford University 2013
I am interested in mechanistic evolutionary ecotoxicology– specifically aryl hydrocarbon receptor independent mechanisms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) mediated cardio and neurotoxicity, as well as their potential to act as selection pressures underlying the PAH resistance of adapted Elizabeth River Fundulus heteroclitus. I am currently determining the effects of PAHs on cardiac excitation-contraction coupling and neuro-excitation.
I am also interested in how PAH exposures affect mitochondrial bioenergetics in fish and how mitochondrial dysfunction manifests at the whole organism level. Specifically, I am investigating the relationship between tissue specific (heart and brain) metabolism and whole organism bioenergetics, as characterized by swimming performance, aerobic respiration, and a neurobehavioral testing battery. I am especially interested in the degree to which mitochondrial toxicity acts as a selection pressure in the environment, the bioenergetic fitness costs of adaptation to pollution, and the tradeoffs experienced in multiple stressor scenarios.