I am a Molecular Microbiology and Immunology PhD Candidate at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. My thesis advisers are Drs. Cristiana Cairo and Kirsten Lyke.

My thesis research seeks to understand the impact that prenatal exposure to maternal viral load and antiretrovirals has on Innate-like and Adaptive T cells of HIV-exposed Uninfected Infants at birth and during early life. Working with a Malawian clinical cohort, we processed cryopreserved cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with 30+ color Spectral Flow Cytometry (SFC) panels.

When not in lab (or thinking about autofluorescence), I enjoy birding, trail running, kayaking, coffee, learning new languages and have occasionally had a plant survive my summer gardening attempts.