Research scientist based in Seattle, WA. Using data to fight for progressive change.
Intro
Originally from the midwest, I’ve called the PNW home since 2016. I live in Seattle with my husband and our golden retriever, and spend my free time cooking, sewing, kayaking, and exploring all that Washington has to offer.
Work
Trained as a neuroscientist, but now using my analytical and research skills in support of progressive change in Washington state and beyond.
I believe in a data-driven approach to research, and understand that data is most impactful when presented in a clear, concise, approachable style. I’m open to working with values-aligned candidates and groups on campaign strategy, voter targeting, data analysis, GIS mapping, large-scale research projects, and more.
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Election research
Washington State does a pretty good job of making election data available to the public, but available does not always mean accessible or intuitive, particularly for first-time candidates and smaller organizations. At Washington Community Alliance, our team has begun working to end these disparities in data accessibility, including: developing dashboards for visualizing election results down to the precinct-level, for both Primary Elections and General Elections; developing a dashboard for visualizing voter turnout during each election; and producing an in-depth, comprehensive report on the electorate, voter turnout, and election results after each election (examples: 2024 General Election, 2024 Primary Election).
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Campaign strategy
Good data can make all the difference in a campaign, especially when working against a narrow margin or against a misleading ballot initiative. I believe in going the extra mile to ensure decisions are being made with the best data possible: my win number calculations use mathematical modeling and municipality-specific variance in voter turnout; my pathway-to-victory analyses incorporate electoral results, turnout trends, and qualitative data about candidates in a race; and my precinct-prioritization calculations overlay voter targets with daily ballot return data, allowing precise GOTV targeting.
04
Addiction research
The opioid crisis is a major public health emergency in the United States, and deaths due to overdoses are one of the leading causes of accidental death across all demographic groups. However, only a subset of individuals who use opioids go on to develop addiction. Using cutting-edge techniques, I identified a precise neural circuit that confers individual sensitivity to heroin-craving, and found that temporary inactivation of that circuit was sufficient to block relapse behavior. In addition to my doctoral thesis, this work led to publications in the journals Frontiers in Neuroscience, Neuropsychopharmacology, and Journal of Neuroscience.
Physiology research
The rise of obesity and obesity-related illnesses in recent years are a global health crisis, contributing to nearly 3 million deaths per year. Working with an international team of researchers, we used a multi-faceted approach to examine the relationship between diet, exercise, and obesity, with a particular focus on how diet and exercise impact decision-making, motivation, and learning. Our work led to breakthroughs in our understanding of how diet and exercise can disrupt reward signaling in the brain, and led to publications in the journals Cell Metabolism, Journal of Neuroscience Methods, Current Biology, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, and Neuropsychopharmacology.
Throughout my career, I’ve used research as a tool to better understand the origin and manifestation of disparities in our society, and to propose novel solutions for them. I take an active role in the entire life cycle of a research project: from conception, funding, and planning to data collection, analysis, and reporting.
For nearly a decade, I worked to understand why certain individuals were more sensitive to psychiatric disorders than others. My work at the National Institutes of Health, University of Washington, and University of Minnesota led to 15 presentations & seminars and 10 peer-reviewed publications, which have been cited more than 700 times.
In 2022, I began working in progressive politics in Washington state, using data and research to help community-based organizations, coalitions, unions, and campaigns with their voter engagement programs. My work has helped defeat statewide ballot initiatives, pass local initiatives, and elect progressive candidates to office throughout Washington.