I am currently in my freshman year at the University of Utah and this is my first year in the Clayton Lab.  I am learning about host-parasite relationships and co-evolution between lice and their hosts, pigeons. Mostly, I help with a small breeding facility we use to provide us with parasite-free birds we can use in future experiments.  I absolutely love birds and am interested in animal behavior so right now I observe the nesting habits of these birds, overall behavior within the flock, mate pairings, and specific times that eggs are laid and hatched.  Interests include ecology, conservation, and wildlife biology-so basically animals, animals, animals.  I someday hope to graduate with a major in biology and then go on to grad school where I would like to study zoology, working with either birds or marine life.  In my spare time I enjoy writing, drawing, camping, making charms, swimming, dancing, and playing with my cockatiel Manny Calavera.