For my M.Sc, I studied the growth, reproduction, and microbiomes of fingernail clams (family Sphaeriidae) residing in waters with chronic heavy metal pollution. My project looked at clam bioenergetic trade-offs made as a response to heavy metal exposure, and began investigating the possibility of a symbiotic relationship between the clams and their associated microbes. As a Ph.D student, I am interested in the relationship between feather mites and their avian hosts and what role the feather and arthropod microbiomes may play in their interaction.