Research Interest:
My research focuses on the molecular mechanisms controlling bloom termination in the toxic dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis.   Specifically, I am investigating the role of metacaspases in regulating programmed cell death (PCD).  Characterization of metacaspase function in K. brevis programmed cell death may lead to the development of ecological biomarkers to serve as indicators of bloom progression and will further the understanding of unicellular PCD and the role of metacaspases as an evolutionary core of PCD mediators.