DEI Statement
My goal as a mentor is to provide trainees with all of the necessary research and professional development tools they need to support their evolution as independent scientists. This requires engaging with each learner as an individual, acknowledging their unique identities and abilities, and asking how I can support their development. Enabling trainees to live full and balanced lives during their training period is key to their sustained success and career longevity.
Trainings and Identities
MORE Mentor Training, Implicit Bias Training, Anti-Racism Training, Intercultural Training, Disability Awareness Training, Bystander Training, Gender Bias or Discrimination Training, Koropatkin Lab Book club, mental health advocate
Research Interests
The ability of intestinal bacteria to find and import carbohydrate nutrition is critical to their survival in the host environment. The repertoire of glycans recognized and utilized by these bacteria defines their metabolic niche and dramatically impacts host health. My lab is working towards a molecular-level understanding of how gut bacteria access carbohydrate nutrition to facilitate the development of prebiotics and probiotics to prevent or treat disease.