Natural History Collections
I am a passionate museum-based scientist who believes that the strength of the world’s biodiversity libraries lies in their collective and continued growth. Today, we can study historical specimens in new ways that deepen our understanding of evolution, ecology, and resilience in the face of a global extinction crisis. It is therefore essential to continue expanding collections so we can harness emerging technologies to understand biodiversity in a rapidly changing, human-altered world. I have experience in every facet of museum curation and research—from leading international expeditions to facilitating global loans of cryogenically preserved tissues. I also work to connect collections to broader audiences through teaching, exhibitions, public events, and science communication: whether speaking to hundreds of school students at museum events, to policymakers about infrastructural improvements, or to national media about the role of museums in science.
Contributing to collections via specimen preparation. Here, I finish a specimen of a Cassin's Auklet at the San Diego Natural History Museum that I found on a beach in San Diego with my family.
Teaching avian specimen preparation.
I mentor students and lead specimen preparation skills workshops, such as this at the Cincinnati Natural History Museum in July 2025.
Public outreach and scientific engagement
I thrive in face-to-face engagement with the public, communicating why natural history collections matter and how they are used by the scientific community. These efforts range from “behind-the-scenes” open house events at the Museum of Southwestern Biology—developed in the absence of public exhibits and designed to foster direct dialogue between scientists and visitors (left; 2023)—to large-scale outreach events such as “Dino Days,” where I engaged with thousands of attendees about bird evolution (center; 2025), and Collections Revealed at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, a series of presentations introducing hundreds of K–12 students to the science of bird coloration and the specimens used to study it (right; 2025).
Collecting occurrence data and doing biodiversity surveys in the field. I publish natural history observations on breeding biology, behavior, and abundance in tandem with my fieldwork.
Engaging with decision makers to support infrastructure.
In January 2020, a team of UNM biology graduate students and I lobbied the New Mexico Legislature for ~$200,000 to complete renovations on UNM's Natural History Science Center.
Writing specimen-forward popular science articles.
I wrote a viral article that used specimens to highlight causes of a migratory bird die off in 2020, resulting in interviews for NY Times, NPR, and CBS Saturday morning.
Creating exhibitions that highlight specimen-based science
I helped fund and create an exhibit, Kingfishers: through Air and Water, on kingfisher evolution, natural history, and our work on their genomics in the Grainger Science Hub in the Field Museum (displayed June–Dec.2025). ​