I joined the Entomology and Plant Pathology Department in January of 2014. My research program is focused on solving the bioinformatic challenges of building and integrating large plant genomic datasets, especially those from hardwood trees. I also specialize in comparative genomics, particularly transferring and applying the in-depth knowledge base available for commodity crop plants to understand the evolution and genomic structure of woody tree species. My group builds and maintains the Hardwood Genomics Database, which provides tools for scientists to query, download and explore genomic datasets from forest trees. The website is built on Tripal, an open-source, custom, flexible, modular software package for genetic and genomic database construction, co-developed by the Staton lab and with a number of other plant genomic database groups.

My position also encompasses bioinformatics support for UTIA research programs. I am available to consult or participate on projects with faculty, staff and students with genomic or transcriptomic data sets. Please email if you are interested in learning more about these collaborative opportunities.