PhD Researcher at Oregon State University, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences.
Researching freshwater ecosystems, biological invasions, predator–prey interactions, and fish–crayfish ecology using field surveys, controlled experiments, behavioral observations, and quantitative ecological methods.
Aquatic Ecology · Fisheries Science · Invasive Species · Freshwater Ecology · Crayfish Ecology · Smallmouth Bass · Predator–Prey Interactions · Behavioral Ecology · R
What I work on
My dissertation examines ecological interactions among non-native Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu), native Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), and non-native Ringed Crayfish (Faxonius neglectus) in Oregon river systems.
The work combines field diet and prey-availability sampling, controlled predator–prey experiments, thermal-preference trials, video-based behavioral analysis, and quantitative ecological methods to test whether interactions among non-native species can alter the course of a biological invasion while affecting the native species caught in between.
Currently
- Completing the experimental and field components of my PhD dissertation at Oregon State University.
- Running pilot-phase laboratory predation trials examining Smallmouth Bass interactions with native Signal Crayfish and non-native Ringed Crayfish.
- Running thermal-choice pilot trials with Signal and Ringed Crayfish using controlled experiments and video-based behavioral analysis; the planned shelter-competition experiment has not yet started.
- Expanding field sampling across the Umpqua River system to characterize crayfish availability and thermal habitat.
- Building reproducible ecological data-analysis workflows in R, Quarto, Git, and GitHub.
Research interests
Freshwater Ecology · Biological Invasions · Fisheries Ecology · Crayfish Ecology · Predator–Prey Interactions · Behavioral Ecology · Thermal Ecology · Species Interactions · Aquatic Conservation · Environmental Change
Geographic focus
Oregon, USA — Willamette River Basin, Umpqua River Basin, and Pacific Northwest freshwater ecosystems.
Saudi Arabia — Freshwater biodiversity, marine and fisheries ecology, aquatic conservation, and environmental monitoring.