I completed my PhD thesis at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) using zebrafish as a model to understand sensory system development and regeneration, specifically in the context of the lateral line. As a postdoc in the Kowalko Lab at Lehigh University, I worked on the mechanisms underlying natural variation in aggression in the blind Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus. Currently, I am an Assistant Professor at the UPR interested in the mechanisms underlying trait evolution in non-traditional animal models, including cavefish. We are working on elucidating how genetic, neural and environmental factors contribute to social behavior adaptation, and how/if these help shape learning and memory in A. mexicanus.

During my free time, I love watching re-runs of Sailor Moon, listening to Ariana Grande, and spending time with my dog. I also enjoy reading and talking about science stories that I find particularly exciting.