I am excited to join the BSP family as the second Faculty Director! My path to becoming a faculty member was not a traditional one. After completing my M.S. in Zoology in New Zealand, I spent four years living and working in Japan and Malaysia, teaching English and freelancing on science outreach projects before returning to graduate school in Canada. Living in different countries gave me a deeper appreciation for different cultures and for what it feels like to be an outsider. When I eventually came to UC Berkeley, I again found myself in an academic environment that was exciting but also alienating and unfamiliar. Caring mentors helped me find my place and gave me the confidence to recognize that there are many different paths to becoming a scientist.
These experiences have shaped my commitment to supporting the success of students from all backgrounds. As Faculty Director of the Biology Scholars Program, I want to help students navigate the unwritten rules of academic science, understand the many paths available to them, and find a community where they can develop confidence, independence, and a sense of belonging. I am excited to work with BSP students, faculty, staff, alumni, and campus partners to strengthen a supportive, student-centered community and create opportunities for students to thrive in biology.
I earned my B.S. and M.S. in Zoology from the University of Otago in New Zealand and my Ph.D. in Biology from Western University in Canada. I have been a faculty member in Integrative Biology at UC Berkeley since 2014, and was just promoted to Full Professor. My research explores how insects respond to changing environments, integrating physiology, genetics, ecology, and evolution to understand how organisms adapt to a rapidly changing world. I have mentored more than 80 undergraduate, high school, and post-baccalaureate researchers, and my teaching spans introductory biology, evolutionary and comparative physiology, climate change, and professional development.
