What is your role in the lab? 

I am a Research Assistant Professor, so my primary role is to conduct research and disseminate findings… but I wear many hats in the lab!

What excites you most about your work?

I love the problem-solving aspect of my work the most. This applies to everything—writing grants, designing studies, writing manuscripts, working with students/staff, and collaborating with colleagues at U-M and other institutions.  

What do you like to do in your free time? Do you have any hobbies?

Other than being a cat lady (see cat photo), I suppose my main hobby is meteorology. I’ve been pretty obsessed with the weather since I was a little kid, and wanted to be a tornado chaser growing up. I’ve also recently taken an interest in birdwatching and am hoping to get a nice set of binoculars soon. I also attend X Files conventions/fan fests (see photos of me with Gillian and David a few years ago, and with the creator of the show Chris Carter earlier this year).

If you could learn one new skill overnight, what would you want it to be?

The first thing that comes to mind is that I would love to be able to sing and to have the confidence to do it in front of others!

Besides the unknowns around stuttering, what’s another scientific mystery that you find interesting?

There are soooo many. Ball lightning! Misophonia! How to predict tornadoes! Serial killers—nurture or nature? Is there intelligent life on other planets? You name it, I’m almost certainly fascinated by it.