I am an insect physiologist who seeks to understand the physiological basis of adaptation of insects to unique niches. Specifically, I seek to address molecular mechanisms evolved by insects to overcome toxic insults in their environments. I have studied physiological adaptation strategies of herbivorous insects to overcome host plant defenses to decipher broad ecological and evolutionary concepts such as invasion biology, nutritional ecology and plant-insect coevolution. At NC State University, I will be working on studying the salivary gland proteomics of western flower thrips in Dr. Dorith Rotenberg’s lab.