What I Do I'm currently an Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University. I study ways that we can learn from biological systems (things like food webs or plant-pollinator networks) to improve how we design and study human systems (things like water distribution networks, power grids, and supply chains). I'm particularly interested in supporting resilience and sustainability in these networks. I teach engineering design courses to both undergraduate and graduates students, including a bio-inspired engineering design class.
Why Engineering? I chose engineering because I wanted to do something in between art and math/science. I was fortunate to have a really great physics professor in my freshman year of undergrad as well who made me excited to learn more about how things work.
School Days I went to University of Pittsburgh for undergrad where I got a BS in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Studio Arts. I went to Georgia Institute of Technology for grad school where I got my PhD in Mechanical Engineering.
Best Part I love that I get to solve problems that directly impact people and I can use creative approaches to do it!
Hobbies I love mountain biking, hiking, camping, and whitewater kayaking with my family! I also still love to draw and paint, although I have less time for those activities now than I used to.