Dissertation Research

My dissertation research, funded by a 2019-2020 Fulbright U.S. Student Study/Research award, examines connections between reforestation strategies and health in Costa Rica. In this project, reforestation is considered as an act of resilience in response to the negative effects of deforestation. Reforestation occurs in a range of ways, all of which affect the end forest that is produced, which in turn affects that forest’s effect on health in the region. Reforestation programs also serve as a connection point for other support programs within the community. As the COVID-19 pandemic has made clear, health also affects reforestation, including preference for tree species and the availability of funds and labor for tree planting. This research explores the intersections between health, forests, and communities.

Center for Global Health Impact

As a data analyst at SMU’s Center for Global Health Impact, I work on a range of qualitative and quantitative projects centered on maximizing the impact of innovative health programs through the creative use of technology. These projects include developing and using VR simulator training to improve surgical skills in low-resourced settings to improve women’s access to high-quality obstetric and gynecological care, studying the effects of COVID-19 on students, and examining tools for helping students manage stress through the formation of meditation habits.

Cairns Lab

As a member of the Cairns Lab, I have participated in fieldwork around the world, data analysis, and dissemination of research via academic publications, blog posts, social media, resource guides, and other forms of public-facing scholarship. My research with the Cairns have has primarily focused  on the NSF-funded MERA investigation, an interdisciplinary investigation that draws together microbiology, epidemiology, and ethnography to improve risk assessment models. I also mentor junior lab members, providing academic guidance and editing to them as they write grants, publish papers, and apply to graduate school.

Maguire Fellowship

I received a Maguire and Irby Family Foundation Public Service Fellowship for summer 2017 from SMU’s Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility to study how children learned about the environment at a south Dallas nature center. Blog posts from this time are available on the SMU Adventures Blog.