Research Interests (300 words)
I'm interested in the way that plants defend themselves, specifically the toxins they produce to do it. Things that we take for granted in our food such as capsaicin, which is what makes jalapenos spicy or glucosinolates, which makes horseradish and wasabi taste so strongly. These are meant to defend the plant from herbivores and other pathogens. However, they also have a impact on us too. Too much can be bad for us while just eating a little can also help our health. I think these dynamics are really interesting and fun to learn about.