Research

I am both a researcher and a curator. My research interests are in Pacific Northwest insects as well as a few other insect groups and my work focuses on understanding their diversity as well as their evolutionary, and biogeographic histories.

In addition to insect research, I am actively engaged in developing and implementing modern approaches to museum curation and collection management. Also known as Museum Science, this professional field aims to improve the formal practice of curation. My current interests in this regard are in developing and implementing best practices for sharing digital data associated with natural history specimens as well as developing strategic planning for small natural history collections, especially those in academic settings.

Teaching

I enjoy introducing people to the amazing diversity of living creatures that go largely unnoticed around our daily lives. Insect biodiversity can be overwhelming given how many species there are and how abundant they can be. In my courses and experiential learning experiences, I work to provide students a roadmap, or a framework, they can use to make sense of that complexity. With that basic roadmap, they then have the confidence (and basic skills) to begin forming more sophisticated hypotheses about these fascinating creatures.

In addition to teaching about entomological diversity, I also love introducing students to the world of museum curation. Research museums, like the one I curate, are amazing spaces full of incredible specimens. Curating it requires substantial knowledge of the creatures themselves, but also an understanding of the role research collections play in science. Curators work to build, preserve, and make accessible these collections and I strive to involve students in numerous aspects of curating the university's collection. Some are volunteers, some are involved in experiential learning courses and some are paid curatorial assistants -- but I work with all of them to educate and inspire them.

Research areas