I am currently a Grand Challenges Fellow working towards my Ph.D. to design a high-sensitivity biosensor to detect Botrytis in vineyards.
I am fascinated by plant-microbe interactions, particularly because of their interdisciplinary nature and their significance in both agriculture and other industries. My undergraduate research focused on characterizing Streptomyces spp. through multi-locus sequence analysis, aiming to understand how soil microbes contribute to plant health and disease suppression. As a Grand Challenge Fellow, co-advised by the Casteel and Vanden Heuvel labs, my current research focuses on developing a biosensor with high sensitivity and accuracy to detect Botrytis cinerea in vineyards. In my free time, I enjoy exploring Ithaca through activities like biking, hiking, fishing, and disc golf—outdoor adventures I’ve carried over from my home state of California.
