BIO
Originally from the plains of Kansas, I grew up surrounded by wide open skies, cottonwood trees, and tallgrass prairie. I attended Kansas State University, where I received my bachelor’s degrees in biology and physical science (2021). During this time, I joined the demography crew in the Louthan Lab. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, measuring plants, doing dung counts, and avoiding bison encounters, I fell in love with the plants and with the process of research. I then had the amazing opportunity to move to Québec, Canada, to not only pursue a master’s degree but also to learn a new language and rich culture. At the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, I earned my master's in renewable resources with a concentration in biological resources, focusing on wood anatomy and functional traits of sugar maple trees (2024).
In the fall of 2025, I joined the Plant Biology department as a PhD student under the direction of Dr. Tim Rademacher. I work on the UVM main campus while also doing research at the Proctor Maple Research Center on the western slopes of Mt. Mansfield. My research primarily focuses on tree physiology, and here in Vermont my study species is the iconic sugar maple. I am working on the dynamics of energy reserves in maple trees under different treatments, and I hope to understand the potential long-term impacts of tapping sugar maple trees to ensure sustainability and best tapping practices. I am also examining sap characteristics, including volume and sugar content, as well as potential relationships between tapping methods, tree vigor, and climate. I look forward to advancing my understanding of tree physiology and also spending more time among the trees, hiking, exploring, and enjoying all that Vermont has to offer!
Bio
Originally from the plains of Kansas, I grew up surrounded by wide open skies, cottonwood trees, and tallgrass prairie. I attended Kansas State University, where I received my bachelor’s degrees in biology and physical science (2021). During this time, I joined the demography crew in the Louthan Lab. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, measuring plants, doing dung counts, and avoiding bison encounters, I fell in love with the plants and with the process of research. I then had the amazing opportunity to move to Québec, Canada, to not only pursue a master’s degree but also to learn a new language and rich culture. At the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, I earned my master's in renewable resources with a concentration in biological resources, focusing on wood anatomy and functional traits of sugar maple trees (2024).
In the fall of 2025, I joined the Plant Biology department as a PhD student under the direction of Dr. Tim Rademacher. I work on the UVM main campus while also doing research at the Proctor Maple Research Center on the western slopes of Mt. Mansfield. My research primarily focuses on tree physiology, and here in Vermont my study species is the iconic sugar maple. I am working on the dynamics of energy reserves in maple trees under different treatments, and I hope to understand the potential long-term impacts of tapping sugar maple trees to ensure sustainability and best tapping practices. I am also examining sap characteristics, including volume and sugar content, as well as potential relationships between tapping methods, tree vigor, and climate. I look forward to advancing my understanding of tree physiology and also spending more time among the trees, hiking, exploring, and enjoying all that Vermont has to offer!