My research focuses primarily on physiological plant responses to ecological and environmental drivers. Specifically, I am interested in the underlying mechanisms which govern the processes of photosynthesis and respiration. My prior research focused on tree-level carbohydrate dynamics to address the apparent temporal lag between photosynthetic uptake and biometric growth. Future research will investigate the role of starch granule heterogeneity in resolving the isotopic variability of leaf-level dark respired CO₂.

My dissertation research will focus on the effects of invasive pests, specifically the Emerald Ash Borer, on tree and ecosystem nutrient dynamics and function. EAB was first discovered in the United States in 2002 and has spread prolifically across the Great Lakes Region due in part to anthropogenic transmission. In this study I will focus on the effects of carbon and nitrogen turnover of ecosystems both above and belowground. Throughout this study I will utilize stable C, N, and potentially O isotopes and soil microbial and fungal analysis to gain a better understanding of the potential shifts in ecosystem dynamics.