I am a USDA-NIFA-AFRI Postdoctoral Fellow (Grant No. 2023-67012-39889) studying the role small, sulfated peptides play in facilitating bacterial infection of rice. I have a PhD in Plant Pathology from Colorado State University and a BSc in Microbiology and Botany from Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt). During my PhD, I studied the role the plant hormone cytokinin plays in heat-induced disease susceptibility of plants to bacterial pathogens. The overall goal of my postdoctoral research in the Ronald Lab is to better understand how plants perceive plant- and microbe-derived peptides, to improve crop disease resistance. Besides doing science, I enjoy spending time with my husband and dog outdoors hiking, kayaking, or swimming.