Hi, hello! I’m a fourth year doctoral candidate in Angela Smilanich’s lab at the University of Nevada, Reno studying plant-insect-natural enemy interactions. As an ecoimmunologist, chemical ecologist, and evolutionary biologist, I am interested in the role chemistry plays in caterpillar immunity as they defend themselves from predators, parasitoids, and viruses. Using this multitrophic perspective, I’m hoping to gain insight into the evolution of virulence and the evolution of specialization. Below is an immersive version of my CV with some bonus content. If you’re looking for the minimalist pdf, here it is: [CV]
Education
University of Nevada, Reno
Doctoral candidate in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology
2023 - present
Coursework: Entomology, Causality, Bayesian Hierarchical Modeling, Computational Biological Genomics, Science Communication & Writing, Chemistry of Biological Interactions
University of Pittsburgh
BA in English Writing, Minors: Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry
2015 - 2019
Coursework: Organic Chemistry, Thermal and Modern Physics, Biochemistry, Intermediate Programming with Java, Discrete Structures, Algorithm and Data Structures, Ecuador Forest Ecology, Ecological Field Studies, Undergraduate Research, Social Justice Literature Seminar, African American Poetry and Poetics, World Literature
Awards
| 2026 | Nevada Women’s Fund Scholarship | $4,500 |
| Lepidopterists’ Society Scholarship (with Clare Dittemore) | $2,000 | |
| Travel Award, GSA, UNR | $750 | |
| 2025 | Scientist Exchange Fellowship, Earthwatch Institute | $6,250 |
| Nevada Women’s Fund Scholarship | $4,500 | |
| Outstanding Graduate Student Service Award, GSA, UNR | $1,000 | |
| 2024 | NSF-NRT: Chemistry of Biological Interactions Fellowship | $75,000 + tuition waiver |
| Diana Hadley-Lynch Scholarship, University of Nevada, Reno | $1,150 | |
| Travel Award, GSA, University of Nevada, Reno | $750 | |
| Program Enhancement Fund, EntSoc. | $500 | |
| Trad Rock Climbing Festival Scholarship, Flash Foxy | $500 | |
| 2023 | Graduate Research Assistantship, University of Nevada, Reno | $22,500 + tuition waiver |
| Nevada Women’s Fund Scholarship | $4,000 | |
| Research & Materials Scholarship, University of Nevada, Reno | $2,500 | |
| Diana Hadley-Lynch Scholarship, University of Nevada, Reno | $1,500 | |
| Outstanding Creative Writer, GSA, University of Nevada, Reno | $500 | |
| Travel Award, GSA, University of Nevada, Reno | $500 | |
| 2019 | Interdisciplinary Humanities Grant, University of Pittsburgh | $5,000 |
| 2017 | Summer Undergraduate Research, University of Pittsburgh | $12,000 |
| 2015 | Full tuition scholarship, University of Pittsburgh | $174,000 |
Publications
Christensen T, Smilanich AM, Carper A, Peechatt V, Bowers MD, Forister ML, Teglas MB, Hurtado P, Dyer LA. (2025) Disease from leaves to landscapes: viral hotspots are determined by spatial arrangement and phytochemistry of host plants in specialist caterpillars. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 292: 20242753. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2024.2753
Experience
City of Asylum, Pittsburgh, PA
Volunteer, Bookseller, Administrative Assistant, Data Analyst
August 2016 – June 2021
I started as a volunteer in 2016 and helped with program logistics. I was later employed as a bookseller in 2017 and helped create social media posts to highlight translated literature and our writers-in-residence. In 2019 after I graduated, I was hired full-time as an administrative assistant and promoted to a data analyst position in 2020. I helped shift our usual in-person events to an online platform. I also analyzed audience metrics to showcase our impact to sponsors and apply to grants when funding was cut.
City of Asylum, Pittsburgh is the largest sanctuary for exiled writers and artists in the world. City of Asylum’s mission is to protect and house exiled writers while also protecting and celebrating freedom of expression by hosting free, multicultural, cross-disciplinary programs at Alphabet City, Pittsburgh.
Dhirana, Pittsburgh, PA
Social Media and Design Committee, Sponsorship Committee, Executive Board
August 2015 – May 2019
In 2016 and 2017, I helped design the logo, merchandise, and social media for our organization to be distributed and marketed. In 2018, I helped raise $50,001 to donate to the Birmingham Free Clinic in Pittsburgh. BFC’s mission is to provide healthcare to the uninsured in Pittsburgh. In 2019, I connected Dhirana with national and international companies and got sponsors to fund our mission.
Dhirana is a student-run non-profit organization whose mission is to 1) bring awareness and appreciation to Indian Classical Dance, 2) provide a platform for collegiate Indian Classical dancers to perform and compete at the national level, 3) give back to the community by donating all ticket sales to Birmingham Free Clinic.
Skills
Languages: English (native), Malayalam (native), Spanish (basic)
Programming Languages: R, Python, Latex, HTML, CSS, Javascript, C++, MATLAB, UNIX
Lab: DNA extractions, quantitative PCR, PCR gel electrophoresis, immune assays (hemocyte counts, phenoloxidase activity, melanization of filaments), chemical analyses: extraction, isolation, and quantification of iridoid glycosides from caterpillar and plant tissue using GC-MS
Practical: Wilderness Training (6/10/2024), First Aid CPR AED (1/15/2025)
Arts + Hobbies: Bharatanatyam (since 2000), volleyball (since 2009), poetry (since 2011)
Uses
Side Quests
Community Science
In September 2025, I received the Earthwatch Scientist Exchange Fellowship and traveled to the Patagonia region of Argentina. I learned how researchers there engage with community scientists to advance their knowledge of Magellan penguins and inform conservation policy.
Climbing
In September 2024, I won a scholarship to attend a trad climbing festival hosted by Flash Foxy in North Conway, New Hampshire. It was an incredible experience - I learned trad climbing and did my first multipitch with the TradDads. I wrote about my experience here.
Volleyball
Growing up, volleyball was my favorite sport to play. All through middle school, high school, and college, I found all the spaces where people played (beach, grass, court) and I kept playing. Recently, my team became champions of the Reno City A League (Spring 2023).
Roadtrip across the continental USA
My sister and I road tripped across the United States in 2021 while I was moving to Reno. It was an awesome drive and we took the opportunity to see as much as we could along the way. I wrote about our trip which you can access below through PolarSteps.
Motion Capture for a Short Film
I joined Ripieno Studios at the Carnegie Mellon Entertainment Technology Center to make this short film. I represented Bharatanatyam, an Indian Classical Dance form that originated over 2000 years ago by choreographing a segment and getting motion captured.
Dance
Four years old until now - that’s how long I’ve been dancing. Classically trained in bharatanatyam - a 2000+ year old Indian dance form, I performed on stages all over the country. In college, I was co-captain of Pitt’s very own Indian Classical Dance team: Nrityamala. We won first place at a competition at George Mason University in 2017, and audience’s choice at Penn State.
