Driven by curiosity, I am a scientist, educator, scientific illustrator, and photographer currently based in Fairbanks, AK. As a second year PhD student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, my interests encompass all areas related to underwater acoustics, soundscapes, bioacoustics, and noise pollution. My current research investigates the underwater soundscapes of the Gulf of Alaska, where regular oceanographic cruises provide fodder for my field sketching practice. I am continually seeking new perspectives and more equitable, inclusive ways to both do science and communicate it to broad audiences.
I reside and study on the traditional and contemporary unceded homelands of the Lower Tanana Dena. My research takes me to the waters of the Sugpiaq/Alutiiq, Eyak, Łingít, and Athabascan people. These cultures have come together in these regions for millennia; I honor and respect their past, present, and future stewardship of land, animals, and waters. As a researcher, avoiding “parachute science,” supporting the interests of local Indigenous communities, and doing my part in addressing the lasting impacts of colonialism are my paramount priorities.
I walk through this world as a white, cisgender, mostly able-bodied woman who was raised with relative socio-economic stability. My journey in science and society has been privileged as a result. I am also queer, neurodivergent, and a first-generation college student who has often struggled in this field. I understand my work through the lenses of all these identities.
