I am a Ph.D. candidate investigating diatom species and their gene regulation in varying nutrient regimes. The project I am a part of focuses on identifying diatom and bacterial associations that allow certain species to survive in areas with low nutrients as well as the genes typically expressed by these diatom hosts. My research interests include using molecular genetics and lab-based experiments to investigate phytoplankton-bacterial associations in response to environmental stressors. Before starting at URI, I received my Master’s in marine biology from Texas A&M University at Galveston on a project investigating the effect of oil and dispersant on natural microbial communities in the Gulf of Mexico. I have previously worked on projects studying salt marsh biogeochemistry, algal biofuels, and the heritability of adaptations to thermal stress in coral reefs.