Professional Bio

Although initially trained as a sociologist and demographer, my research is characterized by diverse collaborations across disciplines. This interdisciplinary research on how human and natural systems affect each other spans the social and natural sciences. My research is also international in scope with data collections or field work in the United States, Mexico, Mozambique, China, and Nepal.

To support my research, I use tools to develop apps and conduct statistical analysis. For app development, I use C#, Java, and Xamarin to create mobile apps on Windows, Android and iOS that collect data for my projects. For statistical analysis, I use R and SAS to test hypotheses and visualize data.

Research Interests

My research interests include family, population and environment, new data collection techniques, fertility, and migration.

Current Research Projects

My interdisciplinary research on human and natural systems examines what social and ecological factors enable the rapid spread or control of a fast-moving invasive species. I also test how collectively governed and market-based, non-family organizations facilitate or mitigate the responses of community groups to rapid environmental change. My research on data collection methods explores different approaches to collecting spatial data from respondents, as well as how to use these data to better understand behavior and place.