Education and Professional Positions

Professional Positions
2017 – present
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Villanova University, Pennsylvania

2014 – 2017
Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Kentucky
Advisor: Dr. Stephen Yanoviak, Department of Biology

2013 – 2014
Biomimicry Fellows Coordinator and Project Manager, Biomimicry Research and Innovation Center (BRIC), University of Akron, Ohio
Advisors: Thomas N. Tyrrell (CEO and Funder of Great Lakes Biomimicry), and Don Knechtges (VP, Director of Economic Development of Great Lakes Biomimicry)

2008 – 2013
Teaching Assistant, Department of Biology, University of Akron, Ohio

Education
2014
Ph. D. Integrated Bioscience, University of Akron, Ohio
Dissertation: The Effect of Water on the Gecko Adhesive System
Advisors: Dr. Peter H. Niewiarowski, Department of Biology, and Dr. Ali Dhinojwala, Department of Polymer Science

2006
B. S. Animal Biology University of California, Davis
Senior Thesis: Behavioral Study of California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) Suffering from the Effects of Domoic Acid Toxicity
Advisor: Dr. Brenda McCowan, School of Veterinary Medicine

2005
ARAD. Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance, The Royal Academy of Dance, London, UK
Advanced II Professional Examination in Ballet

2004
A. A. General Associates Degree, Santa Rosa Junior College, California

Consulting
2015 – present
Biologist, “Biologist at the Design Table” sessions for the Biomimicry Global Design Challenge, Biomimicry Institute

Affiliations
Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
The Adhesion Society
The Biomimicry Network
The Royal Academy of Dance, London