My research focuses on conservation planning and optimization. I use mathematical modeling and spatial analyses to develop resource allocation tools and meaningfully support on-the-ground decision making. I work directly with conservation organizations and practitioners to help guide conservation practices, using quantitative techniques as a mean to develop practical solutions to complex problems.

For my current Projects at Texas Tech, I developed new species distribution models (SDMs) to update predicted occurrences of freshwater fish species in Texas, especially for those of greatest conservation needs (SGCNs), with an ensemble modeling approach. Individual model fits are performed using occurrence data from the Fishes of Texas biodiversity database, which compiles information on species occurrence from museum collections, fish community field surveys, detailed biodiversity assessments (i.e., Bioblitzes) and citizen-based monitoring. Those results are then examined through the lens of hierarchical spatial prioritizations. In the end, this project guides management decisions within and around an existing conservation network, the Native Fish Conservation Areas (NFCAs), and within the larger context of the 2024 Texas state wildlife action plan (SWAP) update.