I’m a mathematical ecologist and data scientist, working at the interface of theory and data. I work as a salmon modeler and software developer working for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). For related R packages and products, see my WDFW github page and my team’s R-Universe. Previously I was a postdoctoral research associate, working the Crone lab at Tuft University / UC Davis, the Schultz lab at Washington State University, Vancouver, and the Wolfe lab at Tufts University. I received my PhD in Ecology from Cornell University, where I was advised by Prof. Stephen P. Ellner, and worked closely with Prof. Anurag Agrawal.

As a salmon modeler for WDFW, my primary focus is working with and further refining the Fishery Regulation Assessment Model (FRAM), and using FRAM to model salmon populations under different fishing regulatory regimes. To that end, I have helped developed several R packages that interface with the FRAM databases or associated excel products, allowing WDFW and others to use the programming language R when carrying out our work.  

In my academic pursuits, I develop computational and statistical methods to tackle a broad range of questions in biology, including novel applications of random forests, generalized linear models, and smoothing splines, and a variety of dynamic models, computer simulations, and R packages. As an ecologist, my work focuses on identifying trends and drivers of population dynamics and shifts in phenology, identifying the mechanisms behind community assembly in microbiomes, and understanding plant defense strategies. I have taught courses and workshops on data science and programming, mentored quantitative methods and programming in R, and developing workflows and resources for others to streamline their R experiences. 

Here you can find out more about me, my research explained for academics or for a general audience, my packages and software products, as well as use tutorials and resources I’ve developed for working in ecology and evolutionary biology.