Originally from Texas, I obtained my undergraduate degree in Marine and Freshwater Biology from The University of Texas at Austin. After arriving at the University of Rhode Island as a master's student in August of 2009, I began a research project investigating macroalgal decomposition. Huge quantities of macroalgae wash ashore on the beaches of Narragansett Bay every year, yet little is known about their chemistry as they die and decompose on shorelines. Using experimental methods in the field, I am discovering how tissue nitrogen, stable isotopic nitrogen, and bacterial communities associated with macroalgae change as they decompose.

In addition to marine research, I have interests in science communication, the politics of climate change, dispute resolution, and corporate sustainability.