I am pursuing a PhD in the Biomedical Engineering Department of the University of Minnesota in the lab of Professor Kyoko Yoshida. I am interested in modeling and characterizing uterine artery mechanics, function, and material properties at multiple length scales during pregnancy. Many arteries in the maternal body grow, dilate, and soften to decrease resistance and increase blood flow to the placenta and fetus. If this process is interfered with, pathological pregnancy conditions such as intrauterine growth restriction and pre-eclampsia can occur. My work focuses on researching how mechanical and hormonal cues interact to drive these changes, and how we can develop non-invasive computational modeling tools to simulate what happens to tissue during pregnancy.

Maternal mortality is going up in the U.S., and approximately 1/10 pregnancies are affected by pregnancy. Because pregnancy has been so understudied historically, my research will help us understand how arteries grow and remodel and develop tools to predict relevant pregnancy outcomes based on maternal characteristics. Eventually, this research can even help with the development of therapies to treat conditions such as pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction.

My goal is a career in teaching the next generation of scientists on the front lines of medical innovation. I hope to start my own lab centered around engineering topics in reproductive health.

I am originally from Florida’s Space Coast where my wonderful mother, father, and sister currently live. I received a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Florida State University

Outside of the lab I am involved with Graduate Women in BME, Creating Inclusive Cohorts, and DEI Alliance. In my free time I enjoy reading and writing fiction, roller blading, biking, and listening to metal music.