Associate Professor

Molecular Biology

My research focuses on the evolutionary genetics of sexual reproduction in eukaryotes.   My work is focused broadly on understanding the evolutionary history of sexual processes in yeast, and on the process of mating-type switching (in which yeast undergo a programmed DNA rearrangement to change mating-type in order to go through mating) in particular.  At Colorado College, my research and teaching laboratories employ a combination of molecular genetics ("wet lab") and bioinformatics ("dry lab") methods to examine these topics.
Current open research questions in my laboratory include: 

1.  How has the mating-type (MAT) region sequence and structure evolved in yeast that performs
     flip/flop mating-type switching?

2.  How has the regulation of sexual processes evolved in yeast?

3.  How is DNA organized in yeasts with flip/flop mating-type switching?

Activities & Interests

When I am not in the lab or the classroom, you will probably find me on a hiking trail, sampling a craft beer, or working on my latest knitting project.

Regular Classes

MB131 Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology

MB201 Laboratory in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Genetics

MB231 Genetics

MB315 Genomics

MB365 Laboratory in Geneomics