I am a human ecologist, ecological anthropologist, and archaeologist interested in how people use and manage natural resources — both sustainably and unsustainably. In my research, I explore why people often overuse resources. Is it driven by consumer population size? Inspired by particular economic pressures? Counteracted by deliberate ecosystem management or cultural values of conservation?

To answer these questions, I have conducted fieldwork and research in eastern North America and eastern Europe funded by the National Science Foundation, Smithsonian Institution, and Scientific Exploration Society. My approach is explicitly quantitative, ecological, and evolutionary and seeks to assemble and analyze large datasets to identify ways in which we can more sustainably use natural resources today.