I am interested in how genomics and evolutionary theory can be used to better inform conservation practices. Genetic diversity is one of the three key forms of biodiversity in need of conservation action, and I use whole genomic methods to assess how genetic diversity is affected by human associated land use changes. By combining field sampling and museum collections, I assess these changes in diversity in association with land use changes across space and time. On these same populations I use morphometric methods to examine adaptive potential (evolvability) to examine what factors contribute to a population's ability to adapt to further environmental changes. My current focus is on insect pollinators due to their value to natural communities as well as the ecosystem services they provide to humans.

My background is largely evolutionary in focus, examining topics such as sexually selected behavior in leaf footed cactus bugs, co-evolution of fungus farming mutualisms in ambrosia beetles (University of Florida), the demographic history of a grasshopper species radiation facilitated by sexual selection (Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich), and the changes in orangutan mitochondrial diversity over time using museum specimens (Uppsala University).