Research Focus

My research focuses on understanding how animals adapt to their environments, with an emphasis on genomic and phenotypic diversity, bioinformatics, and biogeography. I combine computational (R, Python, UNIX) and molecular techniques (DNA/RNA extraction, PCR) with fieldwork. Currently pursuing my PhD at the Estonian University of Life Sciences, investigating genomic signatures of adaptation in Perca fluviatilis.

Education

• Sept 2021–Present: Ph.D. Agricultural Sciences — Estonian University of Life Sciences. Genotype and environment interactions in Eurasian perch. Co-advisors: Dr. Riho Gross, Dr. Anti Vasemägi, Dr. Kristina Noreikiene
• 2021: M.Sc. Biological Sciences — DePaul University. Phylogenomics and Population History of Cichlid and Live-bearing Fish. Co-advisors: Dr. Windsor Aguirre, Dr. Caleb McMahan
• 2015: B.Sc. Molecular and Cellular Biology — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Minor in Philosophy

Work History

• Sept 2021–Present: Junior Research Fellow, Chair of Aquaculture, Estonian University of Life Sciences. DNA/RNA extraction, RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, morphometric analyses, PCR.
• Oct 2019–Aug 2021: Graduate Researcher, Grainger Bioinformatics Center, Field Museum of Natural History. DNA extraction, ddRAD-seq, PCR, mitochondrial sequencing.

Conferences

• 2024 FSBI 2024: Talk — Regulatory landscape of chromatin accessibility sheds light on biological processes of humic-water adaptation
• 2023 EMPSEB28: Talk — Subtle transcriptomic response of Eurasian perch associated with Triaenophorus nodulosus plerocercoid infection
• 2023 CSBSP10: Conference organizer, Tartu, Estonia
• 2021 Evolution Meetings: Talk — Phylogenomics and Population History of Widespread Fishes in Lowland Neotropical Rivers
• 2020 JMIH: Poster — Phylogeography of Gambusia nicaraguensis (cancelled due to COVID-19)

Teaching

DePaul University (2019–2021, undergrad)

• General Biology Lab 1, 2, 3
• Cellular Biology Lab
• Genetics Lab

University of Vilnius (2024–2025, graduate)

• Introduction to Population Genetics
• Introduction to Phylogenomics

Professional Development

• Physalia RNA-seq (2022)
• Physalia RADseq/Stacks (2023)
• Physalia ggplot2 (2023)
• Univ. Gothenburg bioinformatics (2023)

Memberships & Awards

• Fisheries Society of the British Isles (2022–present)
• Evolution Society (2021–present)
• Kristjan Jaak Scholarship (2021)