I am a Research Fish Biologist with the USDA-ARS Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit. My research primarily centers on the ecology of snails and other macroinvertebrates in catfish aquaculture ponds and how this subsequently impacts catfish production. My research interests cover a wide breadth of aquatic ecology including macroinvertebrate and fish community structures, species interactions, predator-prey interactions, as well as general ecology and life histories. I also have a strong interest in educational research, particularly in how note-taking effects information retention in the classroom.
PhD Forest Resources (Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture) (Secondary Education Minor)
Mississippi State University
MSc Biology
Murray State University
BSc Fisheries/Aquatic Biology (Chemistry Minor)
Murray State University
Iām a research biologist at the Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit of the USDA Agricultural Research Service. I use a combination of laboratory- and field-based studies to improve the United State catfish aquaculture industry.
My primary research focuses on the monitoring and management of aquatic snails, which play host to numerous parasites detrimental to catfish production. Recent work has also expanded my focus to include snails detrimentally impacting the rice and crawfish industries of the United States, as well.