About the department:

NC State is a land grant institution with a really strong history of basic and applied research in quantitative genetics. We're in the heart of Raleigh, but I pass by a field full of NC State cows on my way to work every morning. We even have our own creamery that makes delicious ice cream!

About the research:

My lab studies processes that create and maintain variation in populations using genetics, genomics, and experimental evolution in Saccharomyces yeast. The two main areas we are focused on right now are 1) how recombination rate varies between populations, and 2) how hybridization can aid populations in adaptation to different environments. We are also involved in some fun collaborative projects baking and brewing with Saccharomyces and other wild yeasts.

What has been the biggest challenge as a new PI so far?

I started my lab right after my second son was born, and then 1 year in, COVID happened. So both of those things have been challenging to navigate. A more standard but very true challenge: prioritization of various activities (grant writing, mentoring, teaching, admin, project management, etc).

How have you prepared to be a PI?

I think one of the most common things I've heard about becoming a new PI is that our traditional PhD/postdoc training does not encompass many of the skills needed to navigate PI life. I do find this to be true in several ways, particularly regarding finances and management. However, I was particularly fortunate to have amazing mentors for my PhD and postdoc, and I learned so much from them (and continue to learn from them). And of course one of the first things I did when I was sitting alone in my new empty office was to read Mohamed's book, "You're Hired! Now What?"

Do you have a funny story to share from an Evolution Meeting?

I once drove a stick-shift (without knowing how) through the countryside of Vermont in the middle of the night after a wedding to catch an early flight from Boston to the Snowbird meeting. It was worth it!

When was your first Evolution Meeting, and how did it affect your career?

I attended my first Evolution Meeting as a 2nd year grad student in 2011 in Norman, OK. After my talk, Bret Payseur sat down and chatted with me for half an hour about my research. I'll always remember the time Bret and many others spent talking with me at that conference. I was young and new to the field, but it really made me feel a part of the community. I've always loved that the Evolution meetings are trainee focused, and they are my favorite meeting to attend every year. I can't wait until I can see everyone again in person!

Do you teach evolution? What concept blows students’ minds?

I teach undergraduate Population & Quantitative Genetics. We read the Weber et al. 2013 paper about QTL mapping of mouse burrowing behavior, and it totally blows the students' minds that complex behavior can have a fairly simple genetic basis. On a more serious note, I teach a class on Eugenics, and I think it is probably the class that my students remember the most. Most people are completely unaware of the role that American scientists played in advancing eugenics, and that Eugenics Boards were operating across the country until quite recently (the North Carolina Eugenics Board disbanded in 1974).

Do you have a time management tip to share?

I need time management tips! But one thing that has been instrumental for me is a writing group with a couple of my friend/colleagues that meets weekly. It has held me accountable to writing, and more importantly, has offered a critical support system.

What book should every evolutionary biologist read?

This isn't an evolutionary biology book per se, but you should read Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver!

What one piece of advice would you give to a starting graduate student?

I think one of the hardest things about grad school is that your time is often fairly unstructured. I found it really helpful to create my own schedule each week, with daily tasks/goals that I needed to accomplish. Second - meet/establish relationships with seminar speakers, other faculty in your department, your committee members, etc. I did this less than I should have because I was intimidated/shy, but it can really help you scientifically and personally. Finally, celebrate your victories big and small!

Do you remember making any mistakes as a trainee; how did you recover?

When I was in graduate school, I was genotyping a Drosophila cross using microsatellite markers. I was getting really weird results, and I realized that my fly stocks had gotten contaminated (two different lines had been collapsed into one). It was about 6 months of work that I had to discard. I cried. I drew a picture of a gravestone in my lab notebook. I went out to dinner with a friend (Hi Cathy Rushworth!). Then I set everything back up and redid the project.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I have two boys (ages 2 and 4) who have an endless amount of energy. We spend a lot of time walking in the woods and throwing things in streams/puddles/lakes/ponds/gutters. When I can escape them, I like to run and listen to podcasts.