About
I am a scientist studying how health begins, which often means before birth.
My work focuses on how early development, especially during pregnancy, shapes lifelong metabolic health. I am particularly interested in how early biological signals influence the risk of conditions like obesity and diabetes decades later.
I lead the Molecular Health Lab, where we study how prenatal environments shape the biology of the developing child.
Our work centers on stem and progenitor cells: the early cell populations that help build tissues and regulate metabolism across the lifespan. We investigate how environmental factors during pregnancy become embedded in these cells, influencing how the body stores and uses energy over time.
My Approach to Science
My research is driven by a simple but important question: when does disease really begin?
Many chronic conditions are studied after they appear, often in adulthood. But increasing evidence suggests that risk may be established much earlier, during development itself. Understanding these early origins allows us to rethink when, and how, we can intervene.
My lab uses primary human stem cell models to study how early-life exposures influence metabolic function at a cellular level. This approach allows us to connect clinical observations with underlying biological mechanisms. By linking what happens during pregnancy to measurable changes in cells, we aim to better understand how disease risk is established long before symptoms appear.
I’m also deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists: I co-lead an NIH‑funded postdoctoral training program and mentor graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in my lab. I also serve as a certified CIMER mentor-training facilitator, where I help faculty build stronger mentoring skills.
Training & Background
I trained in exercise physiology, metabolism, and developmental biology, with a focus on how the body regulates energy use in health and disease. My early work examined metabolic inflexibility in skeletal muscle and the role of mitochondrial function in obesity and insulin resistance.
During my postdoctoral training, I began studying metabolism in pregnancy, focusing on how maternal metabolic health influences fetal development. This work led to my current research program, where I use primary human stem cell models, derived from umbilical cord tissue, to investigate how early-life exposures shape long-term metabolic health.
Writing & Ideas
Alongside my research, I write about science: how we study it, how we interpret it, and how we can decide what to trust. Science is inherently uncertain, and part of my goal is to explore and make sense of that uncertainty—so we can better understand what knowledge is solid, what is still evolving, and how to navigate both.
This writing is a space to explore ideas that extend beyond individual experiments, including how early-life biology shapes broader questions about health, prevention, and society.
Outside the Lab
I’m raising two incredible kids who remind me daily why early-life health matters.
I’m also a maker at heart. I sew clothes, bake. Lately, I’ve been trying to perfect macarons. I really love to create things that are both useful and beautiful. I’ve always been a tinkerer. I like understanding how things work, whether it’s inside a metabolic pathway or my dishwasher.
I also enjoy long bike rides and rowing, though these days most of my miles happen in small, indoor snippets. This movement keeps be grounded and shapes how I show up as a scientist and a writer. Reminding me that even small beginnings, in biology or life, can grow into something meaningful.