I was born and raised in Southeast Los Angeles. I received my B.S. in Physics from Cal Poly Pomona in 2017, then earned my M.S. in 2019 and my Ph.D. in 2023 in Physics from UC Irvine.

I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Southern California. Before USC, I was an NSF MPS-Ascend Postdoctoral Fellow at Pomona College (2023–2026). I use cosmological simulations to understand how internal feedback (nature) and environment (nurture) shape low-mass galaxies: their structure, star formation histories, chemical makeup, and dark matter content. I am especially interested in bursty star formation, including the temporarily quiescent galaxies that JWST now observes. I lead WildFIRE, a FIRE collaboration campaign of ~300 high resolution zoom-in simulations designed to reveal the physical origins of the diversity of low-mass galaxies.

Teaching and mentoring are central to my work. I have taught various courses in physics, astronomy, and mathematics, including as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Pomona College. I have advised numerous student researchers, most of them from backgrounds that are marginalized in science, and I am committed to building pathways for them into the scientific community.

I also founded Cosmos & Coffee, an NSF-supported public astronomy program that brings science conversations to libraries, community centers, and public spaces across Southern California. Our partners include the Santa Fe Springs, Whittier, Downey, and City of Commerce libraries and the Columbia Memorial Space Center. Astronomers share their work in welcoming, informal settings, and we partner with local small businesses to build community-centered events. I never met a working scientist until college. At our recent events, more than half of the attendees we surveyed said the same.

In my spare time, I enjoy playing video games, working out, and reading science fiction and epic fantasy novels.