In an endless jungle, a tiny beetle pollinator faces the challenge of finding its rare host plant. How do they find each other? What signals and sensory systems do they use to communicate?
Once the beetle finds its plant, it must also be able to feed on it. Yet these plants are often packed with deadly toxins that target the nervous system. How do insect herbivores protect their neurons?
I am an evolutionary biologist interested in answering these questions by uncovering the molecular basis of specialized species interactions. My research explores how signals and senses evolve to enable communication between species. I also investigate the molecular pathways that underlie neurotoxin resistance in tightly co-evolved systems, leveraging evolutionary insights to inspire medical innovation. These projects combine genomics, physiology, and fieldwork, and span levels of organization, from molecular mechanisms to the complexity and wonder of behaviors.