I am a fifth year PhD student in Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech. I work in the area of biomechanics, where I apply engineering analysis, tool from dynamical system theory, and biology to study animal locomotion. My primary interest is flying snake gliding and landing, which I study with dynamic models and live animal experiments under the guidance of Jake Socha and Shane Ross.

My masters work involved developing laser-based diagnostic tools for bluff-body stabilized flames, as well as applying LDV and shadowgraph in these flows. My senior design project also involved lasers; I used PIV to quantify the flow field in a model lignocelluosic ethanol biorefinery and LIF to investigate flow structures.

In my spare time I enjoy rock climbing with my family.