I am a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. I recently completed my PhD in the Soft Earth Dynamics Lab at the University of Pennsylvania, where I studied experimental geophysics and geomorphology. Here, I explored the rheology (the behavior of a material as it deforms) of permafrost, and "soft solids" like soil and lunar dust. I probed these materials in unique ways by using robotic legs, and extended my lab findings to really cool landscapes in the field, including...
I am a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. I recently completed my PhD in the Soft Earth Dynamics Lab at the University of Pennsylvania, where I studied experimental geophysics and geomorphology. Here, I explored the rheology (the behavior of a material as it deforms) of permafrost, and "soft solids" like soil and lunar dust. I probed these materials in unique ways by using robotic legs, and extended my lab findings to really cool landscapes in the field, including permafrost in the Alaskan Arctic, dunes in White Sands, NM, and rocky mountains like Mt. Hood, OR. I graduated from Franklin & Marshall College with a BA in Geosciences and Business.
I have had the privilege of teaching both undergraduate and graduate students in geoscience-related fields. While an undergraduate at Franklin & Marshall, I was a Teaching Assistant (TA), instructing courses like Introduction to Environmental Science, Introductory Geology, and my personal favorite, Geomorphology. During my graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, I led recitations for Introduction to Environmental Science and Engineering in the Environment. I was chosen as the instructor for Sedimentology & Stratigraphy (the first time a graduate student in the department was given this special privilege), where I wrote and delivered lecture material, exam content, labs, and led field trips that highlighted application of the course concepts.
During my educational journey in college and graduate school, I have been fortunate enough to teach/tutor in tandem with my own studies. This has reflected in an enriched academic environment where I am able to collaborate with and teach a vast age range of students, not only in the classroom environment, but extended to the field and lab. Through this sort of pedagogy, I have been able to apply my experiences to my teachings. I believe science should be accessible for all audiences, and therefore science communication and how information is delivered is of the utmost importance.
