I study the factors that shape diverse microbial communities, and why differences in those communities matter for hosts and ecosystems. Our lab studies fungi in plants and invertebrates in the ocean and on land.

I’m broadly interested in the idea of ecological connectivity and networks and how seemingly unconnected organisms and substrates are linked via shared microbes and the molecules they produce or elicit. My interest in connectivity with nature extends naturally to interest in connectivity in research.

One of our main interests is how microbes can be used in restoration. At the moment we’re working on using microbial transplants to help restore some of Hawaii’s most endangered plants and snails. Ultimately, I aim to obtain a greater understanding of how microbes can be used to help restore entire ecosystems.