Greetings and Welcome!
About Me
I hold a Ph.D. in Natural Resource Sciences with a specialization in Applied Ecology from the School of Natural Resources (SNR) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). I have been broadly trained in whole organism biology, archaeoparasitology, palynology, and pathoecology. My research is interdisciplinary in nature and has allowed me opportunities to work in the areas of archaeoentomology, decompositional biology/taphonomy, and mummy studies. Additionally, I have applied my knowledge and technical skills to studies of pollinator ecology, melissopalynology, wildlife parasitology, epidemiology, and the corpocenosis.
Major Research Interests
My major research interest lies in better understanding the dynamics of human-parasite associations among past populations. In exploring these associations, I have also become interested in the intricacies of the interplay between diet and parasitism as reflected in archaeological materials. As a pathoecologist, I have analyzed a wide range of archaeological materials (including latrine sediments, coprolites, mummified tissues, hair, and quids) from sites as recent as the 1900s and as far back as prehistoric times. These materials have come from sites in the United States (Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Montana), Italy (Florence and Monticiano), Lithuania (Vilnius), and Mexico (Northeast Durango). Analyses of these materials have provided data regarding what individuals were eating and what sorts of parasites were eating them. These kinds of data have been helpful in elucidating human behaviors in antiquity, such as demonstrating migration and trading routes among early cultures. Pathoecological studies give insights into medical history and help to establish a better understanding of the everyday lives of humans throughout time and space.
I am also interested in modern pollen from honeys, pollinators, and dried plants. Our lab has developed our own methods for extracting and quantifying pollen from these sources. Data from these sources are being used to build the Nebraska Pollen Database, which can be accessed here. With the help of a UNL student interested in database construction and SNR's webmaster, this site was created and went live in the Spring of 2015. We are still in the process of adding to this database, which I plan to continue growing throughout my career. In the Fall of 2015, I had the assistance of three undergraduate students who processed over 30 different species of Nebraskan wildflowers for this database, making a significant contribution to the data that will soon be available on the site.
I have recently begun studying the archaeological corpocenosis. Through the analysis of mummified tissues, one can examine a number of insects and other types of arthropods that are associated with archaeological materials. I am learning to identify pupal casings from eclosed dipterans (true flies) that can reveal seasonality of death, curatorial concerns, and some types of human behaviors associated with mummification. Additionally, I am beginning to explore the role that mites play in the decomposition of human remains. Our lab recently discovered another type of arachnid from burial contexts, moving my interests in archaeoacarology into the broader field of archaeoarachnology. The archaeological corpocenosis has not been well-explored and I am excited to continue probing into the uncharted waters of this realm.
Undergraduate/Graduate Teaching/Mentoring
My career as an educator began with an undergraduate teaching assistant position at my Alma Mater (Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas) in the fall of 2008. Since that time, I have served as a teaching assistant for a wide range of courses spanning the fields of biology, ecology, anthropology, archaeology, and forensic science. I have taught in traditional classroom and field settings both domestically and abroad. My students have ranged from high school juniors and seniors to graduate students in research-centered institutions. I have learned how to adapt my teaching methods to accommodate both broad and highly-specialized levels of experience within the scope of my courses.
I have mentored a number of undergraduate and graduate students over the years. I have also coordinated both research and outreach projects involving students from various departments across both City and East campuses at UNL. I look forward to having a faculty position that allows me to mentor students and provide education to college students interested in biology, ecology, bioanthropology, mummy studies, and forensics.
Future Endeavors
In the future, I plan to continue working on exciting research projects and training the next generation of scientists. I plan to find a job in academia where I can continue to conduct meaningful pathoecological research and teach subjects ranging from introductory biology, to whole organism biology, to specialized courses in parasitology, palynology, and/or taphonomy. I look forward to educating young scientists and to having graduate students to guide through higher degrees. I also plan to continue outreach efforts that allow me to serve as a liaison between science and the general public. I would love to join a supportive and hard-working departmental team that embraces collaborative research, empowers students and faculty to succeed as professionals, and serves the general public through extension and outreach efforts.
I hold a Ph.D. in Natural Resource Sciences with a specialization in Applied Ecology from the School of Natural Resources (SNR) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). I have been broadly trained in whole organism biology, archaeoparasitology, palynology, and pathoecology. My research is interdisciplinary in nature and has allowed me opportunities to work in the areas of archaeoentomology, decompositional biology/taphonomy, and mummy studies. Additionally, I have applied my knowledge and technical skills to studies of pollinator ecology, melissopalynology, wildlife parasitology, epidemiology, and the corpocenosis.
Major Research Interests
My major research interest lies in better understanding the dynamics of human-parasite associations among past populations. In exploring these associations, I have also become interested in the intricacies of the interplay between diet and parasitism as reflected in archaeological materials. As a pathoecologist, I have analyzed a wide range of archaeological materials (including latrine sediments, coprolites, mummified tissues, hair, and quids) from sites as recent as the 1900s and as far back as prehistoric times. These materials have come from sites in the United States (Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Montana), Italy (Florence and Monticiano), Lithuania (Vilnius), and Mexico (Northeast Durango). Analyses of these materials have provided data regarding what individuals were eating and what sorts of parasites were eating them. These kinds of data have been helpful in elucidating human behaviors in antiquity, such as demonstrating migration and trading routes among early cultures. Pathoecological studies give insights into medical history and help to establish a better understanding of the everyday lives of humans throughout time and space.
I am also interested in modern pollen from honeys, pollinators, and dried plants. Our lab has developed our own methods for extracting and quantifying pollen from these sources. Data from these sources are being used to build the Nebraska Pollen Database, which can be accessed here. With the help of a UNL student interested in database construction and SNR's webmaster, this site was created and went live in the Spring of 2015. We are still in the process of adding to this database, which I plan to continue growing throughout my career. In the Fall of 2015, I had the assistance of three undergraduate students who processed over 30 different species of Nebraskan wildflowers for this database, making a significant contribution to the data that will soon be available on the site.
I have recently begun studying the archaeological corpocenosis. Through the analysis of mummified tissues, one can examine a number of insects and other types of arthropods that are associated with archaeological materials. I am learning to identify pupal casings from eclosed dipterans (true flies) that can reveal seasonality of death, curatorial concerns, and some types of human behaviors associated with mummification. Additionally, I am beginning to explore the role that mites play in the decomposition of human remains. Our lab recently discovered another type of arachnid from burial contexts, moving my interests in archaeoacarology into the broader field of archaeoarachnology. The archaeological corpocenosis has not been well-explored and I am excited to continue probing into the uncharted waters of this realm.
Undergraduate/Graduate Teaching/Mentoring
My career as an educator began with an undergraduate teaching assistant position at my Alma Mater (Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas) in the fall of 2008. Since that time, I have served as a teaching assistant for a wide range of courses spanning the fields of biology, ecology, anthropology, archaeology, and forensic science. I have taught in traditional classroom and field settings both domestically and abroad. My students have ranged from high school juniors and seniors to graduate students in research-centered institutions. I have learned how to adapt my teaching methods to accommodate both broad and highly-specialized levels of experience within the scope of my courses.
I have mentored a number of undergraduate and graduate students over the years. I have also coordinated both research and outreach projects involving students from various departments across both City and East campuses at UNL. I look forward to having a faculty position that allows me to mentor students and provide education to college students interested in biology, ecology, bioanthropology, mummy studies, and forensics.
Future Endeavors
In the future, I plan to continue working on exciting research projects and training the next generation of scientists. I plan to find a job in academia where I can continue to conduct meaningful pathoecological research and teach subjects ranging from introductory biology, to whole organism biology, to specialized courses in parasitology, palynology, and/or taphonomy. I look forward to educating young scientists and to having graduate students to guide through higher degrees. I also plan to continue outreach efforts that allow me to serve as a liaison between science and the general public. I would love to join a supportive and hard-working departmental team that embraces collaborative research, empowers students and faculty to succeed as professionals, and serves the general public through extension and outreach efforts.