Hi! Im Ev :)
pronounced as in "Evelyn"
pronouns: she/they 🏳️⚧️
Who I am
Currently, I am a postdoctoral scholar in the lab of Dr. Samantha Butler at the University of California, Los Angeles. My research focuses on understanding how the spinal cord establishes neural circuitry during development. I am interested in dissecting how neurons physically grow through complex tissues to form functional circuits that control animal behavior. Further, I believe that scientists have a fundamental duty to share our knowledge of the world with others - in formal classrooms and in the public sphere. Given stark inequalities across society and our age of rampant misinformation, this is an ethical imperative. As such, I regularly write a newsletter called Queer Science Lab, making the science on queer health accessible to all regardless of gender identity or sexuality. In the classroom, I have worked to bring the "hidden curriculum" of how to succeed in the academy to the classroom and broaden participation in STEM research. These endeavors highlight my passion for equitable education and increasing the accessibility of STEM for all. Outside of the lab and classroom, I enjoy reading (thanks Mom and Dad!), exploring the built environment, and coffee.
How I got here
I was born and raised in Akron, Ohio to two librarian parents. I first got interested in neuroscience at 4 years old when my brother suffered a traumatic neurological injury during birth. (I was dismayed to learn that the nervous system can't just repair itself!) This interest lay dormant until I went to the University of Notre Dame for my undergrad and joined the lab of Dr. Cody Smith. In the Smith lab, I became enamored with research as a way to understand the world and answer questions like the one that 4 year-old me was interested in. After Notre Dame, I moved to Stanford and joined the lab of Dr. Kang Shen for my PhD. In 2022, I came out as a trans woman. It was a long journey to get to that point, and I am overjoyed that I now fully embrace myself and my queerness. Further, I have come to recognize my neurodivergence and how our current systems clash with my needs as a neurodiverse trans woman. In December 2024, I successfully defended my PhD and moved to Los Angeles. I am currently a postdoctoral scholar in the lab of Dr. Samantha Butler. I hope to use these experiences to help reform educational and scientific systems built on flawed principles.
