Class Year: 2027
Cohort: Education
Organization you serve: Oneonta High School

About me

I'm from Buffalo, NY, and I'm a second year Biology M.S. student in the Bastiaans' Lab. I'm interested in how animal species will adapt in the face of climate change, and I specifically enjoy working with amphibians. For my thesis, I study the relationship between stress and movement in Eastern Red-backed salamanders. After graduating, I want to go on to get my PhD and eventually become a professor.

I have a rare form of migraine called hemiplegic migraine which causes numbness and weakness on the left side of my body during attacks, as well as a movement disorder that causes painful twisting movements and muscle spasms. I am on medications that reduce my symptoms, but you may see me moving around with a little difficulty at times, especially if I am having a migraine/flair up. It can be a little alarming for people, but I am okay while I am experiencing symptoms unless I indicate otherwise.

Why I serve

I applied to the Empire State Service Corps program to have a job that allows me to give back to the local community. There have been a lot of people who have helped me navigate through difficult times in my life, and I wish to provide similar support to others.

Fun Fact

I enjoy tinkering with computers, playing video games, and reading fantasy, science, and history books.

Random fun fact: a compound that is in GLP-1 weight loss drugs was discovered by a biologist studying the venom of Gila monsters.