A little about me
I am the Research Manager for the Bates Lab at the University of Victoria, leading the final year of the TraitORS Project. I recently completed my MSc in Biology at UVic. My thesis, Monitoring Deep-Sea MPAs: Functional and Trait-Based Approaches for Adaptive Management in Changing Oceans, explored how species traits and functional groups can support adaptive monitoring of vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems in the face of climate change.
I started my post-secondary journey at Fleming College, earning a diploma in Ecosystem Management. There, I studied ecological restoration, Indigenous and environmental law, and GIS-based habitat monitoring. My early research focused on benthic macroinvertebrates and invasive plants.
After moving to Canada’s west coast, I completed a BSc in Biology with a concentration in Marine Biology at UVic. During this time, I discovered my passion for the deep sea while conducting research on deep-sea sole distribution on Northeast Pacific seamounts. I am an avid educator who loves sharing the wonder of the ocean with diverse audiences.