Research interests:

I am an avian palaeontologist with a focus on functional and ecological morphology. I specialize in computational visualization, manipulation, and simulation of 3D skeletal elements using softwares such as R, VG STUDIOMAX, and Blender. My work aims to expand into the field of conservation palaeobiology by furthering our understanding of avian evolutionary history and their ecomorphological context.

Museum work:

I also have experience working with extinct and extant specimens. Through fossil preparation, museum collection digitization, and outreach initiatives I am also eager to engage in museum work. Natural History museums are such an important gateway for getting communities interested in the natural world and serve as crucial institutions for conservation work.

Skills:

CT scan data segmentation & rendering – Dragonfly, Materialise Mimics & VGSTUDIO MAX.
3D visualization, imaging, & manipulation – Blender, Maya Autodesk, Meshlab.
Programming language – R & MATLAB.
Microsoft office – Word, Powerpoint, Excel.
Scientific & graphic design – Adobe: Illustrator, Lightroom, & Premier Pro.
Fossil preparation – Fieldwork organization, plaster jacketing, B-72 preparation, excavation tools (chisel, air-scribe, paleo bond, pin vice, rock hammer etc.

PhD Work

I'm a PhD student at the University of Cambridge in the Earth Science department with the Field Palaeobiology Research Group.

My thesis:

Chapter 1: Reinvestigating the appendicular skeletal morphology of Confuciusornis using high-resolution µCT scanning and retrodeformation.
Chapter 2: Evolutionary and ecological insight into variation in joint mobility in the hallux of anisodactyl birds and stem avialans.
Chapter 3: Climbing convergence in passerines

My poster presentation at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting in 2025.

Previous Work

I completed my Master's degree at the University of Bristol in their one-year Palaeobiology Msc course in 2022.

I explored elephant bird (Aepyornithidae) neuroanatomy. Using CT data of five skulls, I created endocasts and measured their optic lobes and olfactory bulbs to infer visual and olfaction capabilities. Based on their neuroanatomical differences, I also attempted to distinguish phylogenetic variation among elephant bird species.

Me holding an elephant bird skull.

A cross-section of the CT scan of an elephant bird skull. The blue section is the braincase region that has been segmented.

My poster presentation at the Palass Conference in Cork, Ireland (2022).

I completed my Bachelor of Science degree at the Boston College with a major in environmental geoscience and a minor in film studies in 2020.

Throughout my undergraduate studies, I conducted research at Harvard University. The culmination of my work resulted in an undergraduate thesis collaboration with Harvard and BC.
I segmented the individual cranial elements of a Jurassic tuatara-like specimen. I then described the synapomorphies identifying this specimen as a sphenodontian.
You can read the resulting nature article here. Or check out this summary here.

My pseudo-graduation celebration since we didn't get a graduation in 2020.

The segmented skull of Navajosphenodon sani.

My oral presentation at the Northeast Regional Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology Meeting in Boston, USA.

Awards & Conferences

Conferences:

2026

11th International Meeting of the Society of Avian Palaeontology and Evolution, Christchurch, New Zealand

Talk: Evolutionary and ecological insight into variation in joint mobility in the hallux of anisodactyl birds.

2025

Cambridgeshire Bird Club 100th Anniversary Symposium, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Co-organizer.

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Birmingham, United Kingdom

Poster: Reinvestigating the appendicular skeletal morphology of Confuciusornis using high-resolution µCT scanning.

2024

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, United States of America

Poster: Reinvestigating the appendicular skeletal morphology of Confuciusornis using high-resolution µCT scanning.

Progressive Palaeontology Annual Meeting, Bristol, United Kingdom

Talk: Reinvestigating the appendicular skeletal morphology of Confuciusornis using high-resolution µCT scanning.

Best Presentation runner up.

2022

Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cork, Ireland

Poster: Using elephant bird brains as insights into their diversity and ecology.

2019

Northeast Regional Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology Meeting, Chestnut Hill, United States of America

Talk: Using microCT scanning to reveal the anatomy of an early Jurassic sphenodontian from Arizona.

Awards

2026

Heidemarie Johnson Scholarship - $665

Paleontological Society Student Research Grant.

2025

Darlington Award - £300

Queens’ College travel award.

2025 Chicago Bird Photography Contest Winner & Runner Up - $125

Chicago Park District, Chicago Ornithological Society, and Chicago Bird Alliance.

Wilson Ornithological Society Research Grant - $4,500

2024

Perry Award - £400

Queens’ College travel award.

Darlington Award - £400

Queens' College travel award

Postgraduate Travel Fund - £200

Palaeontological Association.