Multi-Trophic eDNA Monitoring in the Yolo Bypass - In Progress

As an Assistant Specialist at UC Davis in collaboration with the California Department of Water Resources, I am developing and validating metabarcoding protocols to monitor fish communities in the Yolo Bypass. This project integrates eDNA sequencing, bioinformatics workflows, and statistical analyses to evaluate ecological responses to water management and habitat restoration. The work also focuses on building scalable, reproducible pipelines for processing large metabarcoding datasets.

 

Environmental DNA Monitoring of Restored Tidal Wetlands - Completed

My master’s research at the University of California, Davis used environmental DNA (eDNA) to evaluate how tidal wetland restoration affects fish communities in the San Francisco Estuary. By combining metabarcoding and species-specific qPCR assays, I monitored fish assemblages in restored and reference wetlands to assess ecological recovery. This work supports long-term restoration monitoring and provides a non-invasive tool for tracking biodiversity in complex estuarine ecosystems.​

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CRISPR-Based Detection of Rare Estuarine Species- Completed

I contributed to the development of a CRISPR-based SHERLOCK assay for detecting rare and endangered estuarine species using environmental DNA. My role involved creating a positive control system to identify inhibitors in environmental samples and ensure reliable detection. This work improves the sensitivity and reliability of rapid molecular tools for conservation monitoring.

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Phylogeny of Central American Heroine Cichlids- Completed

During my undergraduate research at California State University, Sacramento, I investigated evolutionary relationships among Central American heroine cichlid fishes. Using mitochondrial DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses, I reconstructed relationships within the group to better understand their evolutionary diversification.

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Life-History Variation in Cichlid Fishes- Completed

During my undergraduate research, I also examined how egg size influences fry size in substrate-spawning cichlid fishes. This project explored how reproductive investment shapes early life-history traits and offspring development, contributing to our understanding of evolutionary strategies in fishes.