I am an insect taxonomist and systematics with a strong interest in tropical biodiversity, measures of diversity, and implications this has for policy. My research has increased my interest in developing metrics and tools to deal with large amounts of rare taxa in surveys that can currently overwhelm popular methods. 

   My current research examines the diversity of 15 fulgoroids families in the canopies of the Amazon Basin in Ecuador.  This research is part of a larger endeavor to explore diversity in the canopies and the material originated from collections done by Dr. Terry Erwin.  Side projects include descriptions of tropical delphacids from Central and South America and revisions of caliscelids from the US.  Regulatory work experience at the PA Dept. of Agriculture includes identifying economically important pests including Emerald Ash Borer and Asian Longhorn Beetle.  My interests outside of my research include updating species for planthoppers and collecting new county and state records.

Please feel free to contact me regarding any type of entomological work or research.  References can be provided upon request.