Ecology &
Evolutionary Biology

I am broadly interested in the molecular ecology of coastal fishes and invertebrates. The central theme of my research program is understanding the patterns, causes, and consequences of dispersal and gene flow in the ocean. Current research topics in my lab include: (1) disentangling historical and contemporary factors that shape the distribution of genetic variation in natural populations; (2) understanding how (and when) kin structure emerges in marine populations; and (3) exploring the usefulness of genomic data to support sustainable fisheries and marine conservation efforts. My group combines theory, field work, and genomics to pursue these topics. Most of our projects focus on coral reef fishes, but we also study temperate fishes, molluscs, and echinoderms.