About Me

I am a Science Research Initiative Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Utah and a Blue Marble Space Affiliate. I was previously a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Rensselaer Astrobiology Research and Education (RARE) Center. I earned my Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder and my B.S. in Geology from the University of Southern California. My research focused on mineral-facilitated organic reactions and how environmental parameters govern mineral transformations and partitioning. I explore these processes through experimental geochemistry to better understand prebiotically relevant reactions across a range of hydrothermal conditions. As an SRI Fellow, I am building an undergraduate research lab to provide students with a meaningful research experience from their first year at university. My goal is to train them in transferrable laboratory skills, have them engage deeply in complex and relevant research questions, build confidence as they progress through their undergraduate coursework, and establish a solid foundation for their future endeavors.

Beyond my research, I’m deeply passionate about science education and ensuring equitable access to higher education, especially for students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. As someone who benefitted enormously from the community college system, I know firsthand the doors it can open. I also recognize the very real gaps in equity and access that exist along the way, and I’m committed to helping change that for future students.