Currently, my research is focused is on benthic invertebrates in intertidal ecosystems and how they (and the system) are impacted by rising sea-level; specifically in the Dutch Wadden Sea.  Further, the reaching effects of these changes are of particular interest for the PhD project I am part of.  I investigate these topics using existing, long-term datasets, and a recently developed modelling approach (integrated nested Laplace approximation). 
          Prior to my current work, I developed a well-rounded background in marine biology (with a focus on management, policy, and practical application of marine science). I graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in marine biology from Northeastern University in Boston. Additionally, I completed a minor degree in English; a decision that continues to benefit me in my scientific writing and communication.
Following Northeastern University, I earned a Master of Science in marine sciences at Utrecht University, a program that is uniquely multidisciplinary (focus in physics, ecology, and policy).
         My education has been punctuated by incredible opportunities to work at each of the many levels of marine ecosystems. At the base of the ecosystem, I have studied tides and sediment, and earned my scientific scuba certification to study epibenthos and marine botany in the Atlantic Ocean. In the upper levels of the ecosystem, I have had the opportunity to study or work with African Penguins, Rockhopper Penguins, Little Blue Penguins, Red-billed Tropicbirds, and Bar-tailed Godwits. 
         Now, as a PhD candidate at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) I am afforded the opportunity to unite the many facets of my previous experiences to investigate multiple ecosystem levels and their responses to sea-level rise, an important and pressing issue in today's world.