Education
2015-2019: PhD, Research School of Biology, The ANU, advisor: Dr. Scott Keogh
2011-2014: M.Sc., Department of Biology, Villanova University, advisor: Dr. Aaron M. Bauer
2005-2009: B.S., Department of Biology, Union College, advisor: Dr. Barbara Pytel
Grants and Awards
2019 - World Congress of Herpetology: Best Student Talk ($500)
2018 - The Society of Systematic Biologists: Ernst Mayr Award for Best Student Talk, Evolution 2018 ($1000)
2018 - The Australian National University: Vice Chancellor's Higher Degree Research Travel Grant ($1500)
2017 - Australian Department of Environment (ABRS): International Student Travel Grant ($1500)
2015 - Idea Wild: Student Research Equipment Grant ($1,100)
2015 - Australian Department of Environment (ABRS): Taxonomy Research Student Travel Grant ($825)
2015 - The Australian National University: International Student PhD Research Fellowship ($184,500)
2015 - The American Australian Association: Sir Keith Murdoch Fellowship ($7,840)
2012 - Villanova University: Graduate Research Fellowship ($18,000)
2012 - Vilanova University: Summer Research Fellowship ($4,500)
2011-13 - Villanova University: Tuition Scholarship and Teach Assistantship ($128,000)
Teaching
2012-13: Teaching Assistant - Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy lead by Dr. Aaron Bauer
2012: Teaching Assistant - Evolution lead by Dr. Todd Jackman
2011: Teaching Assistant - Introduction to Biology lead by Dr. Todd Jackman
Society Meetings, Symposia, and Presentations
2019: World Congress of Herpetology (WCH9) - Dunedin, NZ
Title: Phylogenomics of monitor lizards and convergence with mammalian predators
Winner of the Best Student Talk (lizards).
2019: Evolutionary Transformations in Vertebrate History - Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Title: Integrating competition into macroevolutionary models.
2019: Joint Meeting for the Study of Evolution (SSE, SSB, ASN, 'Evolution') - Providence, RI, USA
Title: Incorporating fossil uncertainty is essential to macroevolutionary inferences.
2018: II Joint Congress on Evolutionary Biology (ESEB, SSE, SSB, ASN) - Montpellier, France
Title: Incorporating fossils and competition into monitor lizard macroevolution.
Winner of the SSB Ernst Mayr Award Symposium. Video available soon.
2017: Joint Meeting for the Study of Evolution (SSE, SSB, ASN, 'Evolution') - Portland, OR, USA
Title: Miocene biome turnover and size evolution across Australian vertebrates. Presented in the SSB Ernst Mayr Award Symposium. Video available here.
2017: Gekkota Mundi: Global meeting for gecko biologists - Fremantle, WA, Australia
Conference Organizer & Presenter
Title: Using pygopodids to identify trends in modularity across limb-reduced squamates
2017: Invited Dept. Seminar: Centre for Biodiversity Analysis (CBA at ANU) - Canberra, ACT, Australia
Title: Beyond the tree: Phylogenetic comparative methods for evolutionary inference of phenotypic data. Presented with Emma Sherratt.
2016: Joint Meeting for the Study of Evolution (SSE, SSB, ASN, 'Evolution') - Austin, TX, USA
Title: Mass extinction and diversification of Australian Pygopodoidean geckos
2016: Joint Meeting of Herpetologists and Ichthyologists ('JMIH') - New Orleans, LA, USA
Title: Ancient turnover spurs adaptive radiation of Australian geckos
2016: Molecular Paleobiology Australia - Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Title: Heterogeneous biome facilitated diversification of Australian geckos
2016: Australian Society of Herpetologists ('ASH') - Launceston, TAS, Australia
Title: Extinction and environmental impacts on macroevolution of Australian Pygopodoidea
Society Memberships
Society of Systematic Biologist (SSB)
Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE)
Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR)
Australian Society of Herpetologists (ASH)
Society of Australian Systematic Biologists (SASB)