In August 2015, I started my PhD under the guidance of Dr. Amy Freestone at Temple University. Research at the Freestone Lab focuses on examining how species interactions influence marine communities across latitudes, and the implications of these interactions for biological invasions. I am interested in exploring whether there is a latitudinal gradient of functional diversity, and the effect of predation on trait distributions across latitudes to infer different community assembly processes. I also plan to study the role of metabolism controlling biotic interactions using Nudibranchs as model systems . I finished my masters degree at Florida International University working with Dr. Jennifer Rehage. My research was centered on looking at behavioral and life-history traits that may have contributed to the successful invasion and rapid range expansion of an Everglades' fish invader.