I am broadly interested in how organisms adapt the their environment at a molecular level. My research is largely focused on conservation genetics in wild populations of marine organisms and my lab employs a combination of molecular, genetic, and genomic tools. My lab is currently working on conservation genetics and hybridization in river herring, populations of juvenile summer flounder using the Pamlico Sound as a nursery, environmental selection of blue crabs in Lake Mattamuskeet, identifying genes involved in barnacle adhesion, and use of environmental DNA to detect anadromous fish and species composition in the ichthyoplankton.
School Division
Marine Science & Conservation Marine LabEducation
- Ph.D., University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (1996)
Recent Grants
- REU Site: Undergraduate Research in Estuarine and Coastal Marine Systems awarded by National Science Foundation
- The Barnacle Adhesive System and the transition to mineralization awarded by Office of Naval Research
- Application of Genetic Markers to Inform River Herring Management awarded by NC Sea Grant
- Barnacles and Expertise for Antifoulilng, Foul Release and Adhesion Research awarded by Office of Naval Research
- Hybridization of Lionfish Species (Pterois volitans and P.miles) in North Carolina awarded by NC Sea Grant