Bio

Research Interests

Genetic diversity is the most basic building block of biodiversity and determines the adaptability and survival of populations and species. However, the genetic diversity of many wild populations is poorly understood, along with the potential or realized impacts of anthropogenic stressors (like climate change and introduced species), landscape features (like dams and habitat quality), and other relevant factors. In my lab, we leverage genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics to investigate the genetic diversity of fish and other aquatic species across freshwater and marine ecosystems. Our research focuses on several key themes, including: characterizing the spatiotemporal distribution of genetic diversity to uncover eco-evolutionary dynamics, assessing the influence of climate and landscape on genetic adaptation, and exploring the molecular mechanisms that underlie trait variation. Additionally, I am interested in developing technologies to aid in fisheries monitoring and conservation efforts. A major goal of my lab’s work is to generate insights that inform fisheries management, enhancing the effectiveness of existing interventions or enabling the development of new strategies. Given the applied nature of our research, my lab often works hand-in-hand with biologists and managers at fisheries management agencies.

Extension Interests

My primary extension interests are in fisheries science and management, including in the context of pond management.

Area(s) of Expertise

- Fish Ecology
- Conservation Genomics
- Fisheries Management
- Conservation Genetics
- Landscape Genomics
- Fish Biology
- Conservation Technology

Publications

• Dams and Introduced Species Drive Patterns of Environmental Adaptation in an Iconic but Imperiled Coldwater Fish (Brook Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis ) , Evolutionary Applications (2026)
• Embryo and Larval Developmental Staging Guides for Striped Bass , Fishes (2026)
• Evaluation of pondside tank rearing systems for juvenile striped bass production , Aquaculture Reports (2026)
• Genomic variation of brook trout along the Minnesota shoreline of Lake Superior: Implications for coaster life history , Journal of Great Lakes Research (2026)
• Relationships among fluvial and adfluvial brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in a Lake Superior tributary revealed using genomic and passive integrated transponder data , Journal of Great Lakes Research (2026)
• A practical introduction to effective population size for fisheries management , Transactions of the American Fisheries Society (2025)
• Evaluation of Pondside Tank Rearing Systems for Juvenile Striped Bass Production , (2025)
• Genomic analyses reveal contemporary patterns of genetic diversity: Implications for source-sink dynamics of coaster brook trout in Lake Superior , Great Lakes Fishery Commission Lake Superior Technical Committee Meeting (2025)
• Range-wide climate risk and adaptive potential in a cold-water fish species , Nature Communications (2025)
• Advancing fisheries sustainability by combining the power of genomics and artificial intelligence , World Fisheries Congress (2024)