CURRENT RESEARCH

Ph.D. Research

Investigating the Impacts of Traditional Ecological Knowledge on Insect Biodiversity with a LandBack Framework

Fire Ecology & TEK

I am investigating and comparing the impacts of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)-Practice Systems and agency-led land management practices on insect biodiversity. Specifically, I am comparing the different knowledge and methods applied in Cultural Fire and agency-led prescribed burns and how that impacts species diversity and richness of our insect kin in oak woodlands and prairies.

Population Genomics of Ants

The impacts of controlled fire on genetic diversity of our more-than-human relations remains largely understudied. Fire may provide favorable conditions for terrestrial insects such as ants, and these differences in knowledge and application of fire may result in disproportional success of ant populations. I will explore this by analyzing population structure and genomics of ant species.

Indigenous Data Sovereignty

Upholding Indigenous self determination through establishing Indigenous data sovereignty in institutional research is critical. This is especially important considering TEK has become a hot topic in the field of ecology and evolution. I am applying critical Indigenous perspectives in this work and developing community-led, field-specific frameworks for research and data sovereignty.

I am collaborating with the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and the Yurok Tribe of Northern California to investigate impacts of Cultural Fire on insect biodiversity.
I will "zoom in" on this biodiversity by further investigating population genetic diversity of ants. Alongside this work, I will investigate and compare the effects of agency fire practices on insect biodiversity via identical sampling, potentially highlighting the benefits of Cultural Fire on insect biodiversity. 

Through my research, I hope to highlight Indigenous-led conservation and land-management through exploring how insects have adapted to TEK-Practice Systems.
Ultimately, I hope to emphasize the need for Indigenous voices in policy-making and management decisions.