My research investigates the fundamental principles governing biological complexity and resilience through an integrative approach that spans experimental biology, computational modeling, and deep-time analysis. I specialize in understanding how simple biological units evolve into complex, integrated systems—from cells forming multicellular organisms to species creating resilient ecological networks.
Evolution of multicellularity and cellular specialization. I use sponges and bryozoans as model systems to study how cellular specialization arises and is maintained. I combine lab-based regeneration experiments with energy-based diffusion models to quantify metabolic costs and predict optimal body plans.
Macroecological resilience and extinction. I analyze deep-time fossil records to understand how ecological networks assemble, persist, and collapse across mass extinction events, drawing on both empirical datasets and theoretical models of community dynamics.
AI-assisted trait extraction and scientific inference. I develop and apply AI-driven computational pipelines for extracting biological traits from large datasets—images, text, and occurrence records—while critically examining how methodological choices shape downstream scientific conclusions.
A full list of publications is available on my Google Scholar and ORCID profiles.