About Me
I am currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at 23andMe on the Ancestry Research team.
I completed my PhD in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University in the Spring of 2020. I was advised by David Reich and John Wakeley, and supported by a fellowship from the Max Planck - Harvard Research Center for the Archaeoscience of the Ancient Mediterranean. Prior to starting my PhD, I worked as an ancient DNA technician in the Reich Lab for two years. In 2013, I received an M.Phil. in Human Evolutionary Studies from the University of Cambridge, advised by Toomas Kivisild. In 2012, I received a BA in Biochemistry, with a minor in Anthropology, from Vassar College, where I was advised by Jodi Schwarz.
I am broadly interested in using ancient DNA to learn about the human past. My PhD research focused on:
- Using ancient DNA to try to understand the population history of individuals found at distinct archaeological sites
- Developing minimally destructive techniques for extracting ancient DNA from skeletal remains
- Using simulations to test the performance of existing population genetic tools