Bio

I’m a postdoctoral researcher in Nicola Müller’s group at the Experimental and Population-based Pathogen Investigation Center (EPPIcenter). My research will focus on developing and applying Bayesian phylogenetic methods to trace the history and spread of infectious diseases.

I received my BS in Biology at UC Davis, where I conducted research on butterflyfish behavior in the Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity Department and on the effects of stress on Mexican-American families in the Department of Human Ecology. As an undergraduate, I became interested in phylogenetic comparative methods and the ways evolutionary relationships can be used to answer fundamental biological questions. This led me to pursue a PhD focused on developing phylogenetic methods and deepening my understanding of Bayesian statistics. During my PhD with Dr. Paul Lewis at the University of Connecticut, I developed Bayesian phylogenetic methods for estimating species trees and quantifying phylogenetic information content. As a postdoctoral researcher, I am now excited to extend my methodological background into infectious disease research, exploring the intersection of phylogenetics and epidemiology to practically inform public health.