I was born and raised in rural Alaska, where I graduated both high school and college. I spent the short summer months watching bears from my window and otherwise enjoying the outdoors, and the winter months were spent either skiing or being holed up in the research lab waiting for the -40F temperatures to end. I graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2016 with a degree in Biochemistry. During my time there, I worked with Dr. Thomas Kuhn to study the impacts of naturally-derived compounds on the Nrf2 pathway in the context of neuroinflammation and antioxidant blunting in Alzheimer’s Disease.

After graduating college, I worked for 3.5 years at the National Cancer Institute in two different labs. The first lab studied the role of the formyl peptide receptors in colon development and carcinogenesis using colon crypt organoids. The second lab sought to address the controversial role of the metabolite itaconate in activation of the Nrf2 pathway in M1-polarized macrophages. Although my past research has been very diverse, my current research interests include the interaction of the tumor microenvironment with the immune system, as well as the role that the gut microbiome plays in the development of colon cancer.

During my free time, I love kayaking, writing, playing volleyball, and exploring hiking trails with my dog, Miska. I’m excited for the coming adventures—both academic and non-academic—in Kansas City and at KU!