I have studied the amphibian fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, and the bat fungal pathogen, Pseudogymnoascus destructans. I hope to understand the dynamics of these diseases by studying their ecology and evolution using both field, molecular and microbiological lab techniques. Additionally, I utilize museum collections to answer questions about historical disease dynamics. I have worked abroad in China and Panama as well as domestically, in Nevada, California, Texas and New Mexico. Using precious resources as well as working with collaborators across the globe can be key to undiscovered pathways to discovery.
To help me gather my thoughts after working hard in the lab, I love searching for salamanders and mushrooms in the woods while running or hiking with my two cattle dogs, Rango and Bandit.
Finally, I am also interested in human exercise and metabolism research as well. I work everyday to increase the longevity and health of my body knowing that will grant me increased mental health long term. Ask me about health coaching!
The Focus of my Graduate Research Emerging Infectious Disease Infectious diseases pose significant threats to plant, animal and human health. In recent decades, an increasing number of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) have spread to new areas. With many diseases, the environment shapes the outcome of infection. Therefore, a central question in understanding EIDs is how three critical players – host, pathogen and the environment – interact to shift disease dynamics. In our rapidly changing global environment it will be critical to better understand the role of the environment in shaping the outcome of EIDs. I come from a One Health framework to understand disease outbreaks. This means that we take an approach to science that considers the local, reginal, national and global scale of health outcomes and recognizes the interconnectedness of plants, animals, humans and the environment to reach optimal health (learn more at the Center for Disease Control's website https://www.cdc.gov/onehealth/index.html).
Fungal disease on the rise? Emerging fungal diseases have caused unprecedented declines in vertebrate species. In the past decade over 6 million North American bats in eastern N. America have perished due to White-nose Syndrome, caused by the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans. I hope to understand the role of the environment in this disease system. The environment can affect both host and pathogen responses. Understanding the environmental mechanisms shaping hibernation physiology (such as the immune system) as well as in pathogen virulence will aid in discovering which bats will be most at risk to the disease before it arrives in new areas. Thus, we are working rapidly in the western U.S. to find out what defenses bat’s have in hibernation to White-Nose Syndrome. Merging fields of study: Eco-Immunology and Disease Ecology For a mammal, hibernation is a dramatic physical and behavioral change. Bats comprise almost one quarter of all species of mammals and are well-known hibernators, but very little is known about their immune function during hibernation. Recently, however, hibernating bats are becoming infected and killed by a deadly new disease: White Nose Syndrome (WNS). It is thought that the pathogen causing WNS, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, is opportunistically infecting bats because their immune system is suppressed in hibernation. Unfortunately, very little is known about the mechanisms of bat's immune system during hibernation. Some researchers have observed that not all species of bats are similarly affected by P. destructans. It may be the case that some species can shift or control different aspects of their immune response during hibernation or change behavior to protect themselves from this disease. We are interested in learning what shifts occur in immunity and behavior during bat hibernation in order to learn not only about the immune system of bats, but also to discover how we can conserve bat species in North America before it is too late. As key pest controllers and pollinators across North America, the presence of bats would be greatly missed.