Principal Investigator

About me: I study how viruses spillover from wild animals into novel hosts. Identifying the conditions that drive viruses to host jump at multiple scales - molecular, organismal and ecological – can help with predicting the next pandemic.

Fun fact: I lived in a tropical forest in Costa Rica for 6 months studying spider monkeys. I did not know that I could sweat that much!

Ph.D. Student | Environmental Biology

About me: I am interested in the ecological and phylogenetic drivers of avian influenza transmission. My project will help to identify “super-spreaders” and “super-diluters” among wild birds during the current outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Fun fact: I use a mechanical typewriter for my non-scientific writing.

Postdoctoral Researcher

About me: I am interested in community ecology, predator-prey dynamics, wildlife conservation, and epidemiology. I am fascinated by the cascading effects anthropogenic and climate drivers have on wildlife communities and pathogen transmission.

Fun fact: I went backpacking in Patagonia and succeeded in losing only 4 of my toenails.

MS Student | Environmental Biology

About me: I am studying host-microbe interactions using nesting seabirds on Appledore Island, Maine, as a model system. My research aims to determine how bacterial-viral interactions within the gut microbiome influences development of the host immune response.

Fun fact: I’m a huge Pokémon fan! I have the names, types and weaknesses of all 1,025 characters memorized.

PhD Student | Integrative Biosciences

About me: I study the molecular and ecological drivers of avian influenza spillover at the human-animal interface. My approach combines epidemiology, bioinformatics and public health to uncover what factors precipitate outbreaks with a focus on understudied regions such as Africa.

Fun fact: I’ve been to Montreal 4 times. I don’t know anyone there, so statistically this is starting to look like a migration pattern.

MS Student | Public Health (Tufts)

About me: I am studying the predictive value of citizen science data for outbreak detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza. This is a collaborative study with the VirusPlus Lab. In future, I plan to continue my research of disease spillover factors along with how climate change will affect zoonotic disease spread and preparedness.

Fun fact: I've designed and sewn together an outfit entirely made of repurposed Ikea bags!

Research Assistant

About me: I am a junior biology major on the pre-medical track with an interest in how viruses evolve so rapidly and how the host immune response fights back. I’m working on isolating IgY antibodies to understand passive vs active immunity during early-life development of seabirds.

Fun fact: I’ve studied five languages—English, French, ASL, Mandarin, and Spanish.

Research Assistant

About me: I am an Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution major + Marine Sciences minor at UC San Diego, but a Boston local! I am interested in seabirds and how they respond to stressors, specifically influenza outbreaks and pollution. Within the lab, I assist with antibody assays and viral extractions to understand what immune responses gulls and ducks have as defenses against bird flu.

Fun fact: I volunteer at the San Diego Natural History Museum where I am learning how to taxidermy bird specimens, and I have an archaeopteryx tattoo!

Research Assistant

About me: I am a junior biology major and cognitive science minor on the premedical track. I am interested in the impact of viruses on their host’s health and how they are so successful at propagating. My project investigates maternal antibody transfer from parent to offspring

Fun fact: I was born in Cameroon, a beautiful country in Central Africa.

Research Assistant

About me: I am a sophomore biology major on a premedical track. I am interested in studying viral mutations that allow for spillover transmission from avian reservoirs into mammals. I enjoy molecular virology and the intensity of working on viruses in a biosafety level 2 plus lab.

Fun fact: I am one of three siblings all named after different cheeses!

Research Assistant

About me: I am a junior biology major on the premedical track. I am interested in viruses, how they spread between hosts, and their impact on animal and human health. My project aims to develop DNA barcoding tools to identify different wildlife species involved in avian influenza outbreaks.

Fun fact: I play volleyball for UMass Boston.

Then: Postdoc with VirusPlus Lab, 2023-2024

Now: Current collaborator & Postdoc at Sydney University (Holmes Lab)

About me: I am interested in using next-generation sequencing to understand the extent of virus diversity in wildlife populations to prevent spillover events. My interests also include understanding how these virus communities impact wildlife health and conservation.

Fun fact: I adopted a 13-year-old deaf cat that snores loudly