Experience

I work at the intersection of microbial ecology, environmental data science, and climate solutions, building scalable, reproducible systems that connect biological data to ecosystem and carbon outcomes.

Current Focus

Environmental Genomics & Metagenomics

Leading advanced bioinformatics efforts to analyze soil and environmental microbiomes across observational and experimental datasets. Designing scalable pipelines for genome-resolved metagenomics and community-level analysis to support restoration science and biodiversity assessment.

Environmental Data Science & Machine Learning

Developing data-driven models that integrate microbiome data, geospatial layers, and remote sensing to understand soil biogeochemistry, forest recovery, and carbon cycling. Translating complex, multi-source data into decision-ready insights.

Carbon Dioxide Removal & Climate Science Leadership

Providing scientific leadership at the intersection of microbes, soils, and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR), including organizing and convening AGU Fall Meeting sessions on microbial processes in biogeochemical cycles and CDR pathways.

Professional Experience

Funga PBC — Senior Research Scientist

Remote | 2024 – Present

• Leading biodiversity modeling and data infrastructure for forest restoration projects
• Designing AI-driven systems linking soil microbiome composition to forest growth and carbon outcomes
• Architecting cloud-native pipelines integrating genomics, GIS, and remote sensing data

NSF Earth Science Postdoctoral Research Fellow — Lead Investigator

Remote | 2023 – 2024

• Principal investigator on NSF-funded research integrating subsurface microbial processes across spatial and temporal scales
• Developed reproducible, cloud-based pipelines for large-scale geomicrobiological data synthesis

Independent Contractor — Computational Biology & Cloud Computing

2023

• Built scalable amplicon and metagenomic pipelines for academic partners and published reproducible workflows
• Set up cloud computing environments and led workshops in FAIR data science principles

The University of Arizona — Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Tucson, AZ | 2022 – 2023

• Lead PI on a DOE CSP grant studying trait-based microbial responses to moisture pulses in the Jemez River Basin Critical Zone
• Assembled metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) and linked microbial patterns to seasonality and snowmelt, integrating environmental sensor and stream data

The University of Arizona — NSF Graduate Research Fellow

Tucson, AZ | 2014 – 2021

• Lead microbial ecologist in the Jemez River Basin Critical Zone Observatory, studying responses to precipitation, snowmelt, and fire disturbance
• Combined genomics, organic-matter chemistry, hydrology, and remote sensing to investigate carbon cycling and water quality at the watershed scale

Key Capabilities

Bioinformatics & Data Pipelines

• High-throughput sequencing analysis (16S, ITS, metagenomics)
• Custom, reproducible pipeline development (cloud and HPC)
• Database design and integration of genomic and environmental data

Environmental Modeling & Analytics

• Statistical modeling and machine learning for ecological data
• Integration of raster and vector geospatial datasets
• Model interpretation and uncertainty-aware decision support

Research Strategy & Collaboration

• Study design and experimental planning
• Data analysis strategy and implementation
• Scientific communication and reporting
• Team training and capacity building

Technical Toolkit

• Programming: Python, R, SQL, Bash
• Bioinformatics: QIIME2, DADA2, MEGAHIT, MetaBAT
• Geospatial & Data: Google Earth Engine, ArcGIS, QGIS
• Cloud & Infrastructure: Docker, Git/GitHub, Databricks, AWS, GCP, Databricks

Publications

Selected peer-reviewed publications are available on the Publications page and on Google Scholar.

Let’s Collaborate

If you’re working on environmental genomics, data science, or climate-focused research, I’m always glad to connect — for research collaborations, speaking, and advising.