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:

  1. Using ancient DNA to try to understand the population history of individuals found at distinct archaeological sites
  2. Developing minimally destructive techniques for extracting ancient DNA from skeletal remains
  3. Using simulations to test the performance of existing population genetic tools