This field expedition through the Arctic Circle focuses on observing fragile polar ecosystems and examining the ecological impacts of climate change in one of the world’s most rapidly changing environments. Through environmental observation, photography, and interdisciplinary collaboration, the project explores themes of biodiversity conservation, ecosystem resilience, and the intersection of science and environmental storytelling in communicating global climate challenges.

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A field-based photography project focused on documenting Peru’s unique biodiversity, including endemic plant species, insects, and ecological landscapes across the Amazon, Andes, and coastal ecosystems. This project reflects an ongoing interest in conservation, environmental storytelling, and the role of biodiversity in sustaining resilient ecosystems.

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Meals for Minds is an independent advocacy initiative focused on addressing food insecurity and promoting equitable access to school nutrition programs in Palm Beach County, Florida. Developed in response to changes in local school meal policy, the project seeks to raise awareness about the relationship between nutrition, educational outcomes, and community well-being. This initiative reflects my broader interest in food systems policy, agricultural sustainability, and community-centered advocacy.

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This breeding program design project developed a strategy to improve the heirloom tomato variety Cherokee Purple for reduced fruit cracking under open-field production in Central and Northwestern Mexico. The project incorporated backcross breeding methods, donor parent selection, population design, and field evaluation strategies to balance trait improvement while maintaining the cultivar’s desirable fruit quality characteristics. The work emphasized applied plant breeding methodology and long-term crop adaptation under challenging environmental conditions.

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This greenhouse research project analyzed the relationship between reproductive traits, greenhouse microclimate, and fruit yield across multiple heirloom tomato varieties. Using statistical modeling and experimental analysis in R, the project examined how phenotypic variation influences productivity under controlled growing conditions. The research contributed to a better understanding of trait-performance relationships relevant to crop improvement and sustainable horticultural production systems.

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This research project investigates the role of plant stress-response genes in wound signaling, focusing on the expression and evolutionary significance of the KED gene across land plants. By analyzing how plants activate molecular defense pathways in response to physical damage, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of plant resilience mechanisms and the genetic systems that allow plants to respond and adapt to environmental stress. This work reflects broader interests in plant physiology, molecular biology, and the development of more resilient agricultural systems.

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This project focused on the use of CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology to study targeted genetic modifications in Arabidopsis thaliana, a model organism widely used in plant science research. By examining gene knock-out methods and their applications, this work highlights the growing role of biotechnology in improving our understanding of plant genetics and developing innovative solutions for future agricultural challenges.

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