Biography
I grew up in northwest Washington state in the land of evergreen trees and the Cascade mountains. Interests in biological research and parasitology developed as an undergraduate propelled me to graduate school, which brought many new adventures and a love for the southwest U.S. I enjoy reading, attending concerts, exploring Michigan, hiking, and camping with my wife and three children.
Education
- B.S. in Biology, app College, 1994
- M.S. in Zoology, Michigan State University, 1997
- Ph.D. in Biology (with distinction), University of New Mexico, 2003
Professional Experience
- Visiting Faculty, University of Michigan Biological Station (2019)
- app, Associate Professor (2013-present)
- app College, Assistant Professor (2007-2013)
- Postdoctoral Fellow, National Institutes of Health (NIH) (2004-2007)
- Postdoctoral Researcher, University of New Mexico (2003-2004)
Academic Interests
I love the biology and diversity of invertebrates, especially parasites and their hosts, and study them from ecological, evolutionary, and genetic perspectives. Before coming to app, I was a research scientist at the National Institutes of Health near Washington D.C., where I worked on the interactions between malaria parasites and the mosquitoes that transmit them to people. During my Ph.D. studies, I participated in the first global genetic study of the human schistosome parasite, Schistosoma mansoni, and led the most complete genetic study of its snail host, Biomphalaria. Schistosomes and snails continue to be subjects of my research, including those in North America that cause “swimmer’s itch”. One of my favorite things is incorporating research into the classroom with the phage research course offered to first-year students.
Research
Current topics
- ‘swimmer’s itch’ on northern Michigan lakes (and elsewhere)
- schistosomes and their snail hosts (everywhere)
- bacteriophages
- using molecular tools in ecology; e.g., using DNA to detect bacteria in Plaster Creek, or to detect swimmer's itch parasites in lakes