Jen is a biologist with keen interests in animal behavior, evolutionary biology, population genetics, herpetology, neurobiology, molecular ecology, natural history, thermal physiology, quantitative genetics, and global change biology. Originally from Maryland, she has studied biology in Brazil (gap year), Mississippi (Ph.D.), the Cayman Islands (also Ph.D.), Tasmania (postdoc), Georgia (postdoc), and Illinois (postdoc). She is excited to return to her East Coast/Appalachian mountains roots as an Assistant Professor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Outside the lab, Jen enjoys porch sitting, walks in the woods, running, baking, and embracing life's chaos with her kiddo and two lovable mutts.  ​