I am a PhD student in the Integrated Anthropological Sciences part of the Anthropology department at UCSB. I have broad interests in evolutionary medicine, life-history theory, pathogen-host interactions, and population genetics. My current work is focused on looking at telomere dynamics through a life-history framework to better understand how continuous or chronic infection can affect aging of the immune system, and how this “immune aging” can contribute to future susceptibility to infection and overall health status. I earned my B.A in Biological Anthropology with a minor in Psychology from Boston University, where I first became interested in the complex interactions between our biology, our adaptations, and the environment.