From microbes to plants to animals, species on Earth have evolved together for hundreds of millions of years. These relationships extend far beyond ecology, as they fundamentally influence molecular and cellular processes that determine how organisms develop, function, and respond to their environment. Thus, communication between species has played a central role in shaping the evolution of complex life, and when these relationships are disrupted, the consequences can be severe. By examining how organisms sense and respond to their closest neighbors, we can deepen our understanding of basic biology while also gaining insight into the mechanisms that underlie human health, disease, and ecosystem stability.

I’m driven by a fascination with the evolution of animal behavior — from molecules to neural circuits — and I am especially enamored by arthropods, whose extraordinary diversity makes them powerful platforms for discovery and a source of personal inspiration. I am currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in the lab of Dr. Nicholas Bellono at Harvard University, where I study the evolution of cross-kingdom communication, and how these processes shaped Earth’s earliest terrestrial ecosystems.

I completed my PhD in the lab of Dr. Marco Gallio at Northwestern University, where I studied the evolution of temperature sensing and preference behavior in Drosophila, combining molecular, genetic, and behavioral approaches to understand how animals adapt to different thermal environments.