I am a physiologist and maternal health researcher at Duke University studying energy balance (energy intake & expenditure), physical activity, body composition, and health outcomes during pregnancy. I am interested in how women manage the energy costs of pregnancy under diverse lifestyles and environmental conditions.

I am currently a PhD candidate (ABD) in the Pontzer Lab in the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology. For my dissertation, I am quantifying metabolic limits during pregnancy, examining patterns of gestational weight gain and body composition, and assessing how maternal and fetal health outcomes are impacted by physiological trade-offs within a limited energy budget.

I use a variety of laboratory, field, and survey methods to address my research questions. I have expertise in the doubly labeled water (DLW) method, indirect calorimetry, accelerometry, anthropometric & cardiometabolic assessments, consumer wearable devices, quantitative & statistical methods, survey design, project management, technical writing, and patient-centered communication.

For additional training in biomedical science and public health, I am completing a Graduate Certificate in Global Health at the Duke Global Health Institute and participating in the Duke Scholars in Molecular Medicine Program (Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Disease track) at the Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute.