Research Interests
Host-Virus Coevolution
My current research investigates how the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) coevolves with a specialist viruses and how immune response varies as a result. Fall armyworms are a major agricultural pest that devastate rice and corn crops. Not much is known about using biocontrol methods like viruses on fall armyworms so understanding how they interact is important for better preventing further agricultural damage.
Machine Learning
Machine learning is useful in automating and decreasing handling time on outdated methodology. Currently, I'm working on using object detection algorithms to detect insect immune cells (hemocytes) to understand how changes in virus concentration affect immune response. Current methodology is slow and requires counting by hand while machine learning can complete the task more accurately in a fraction of the time.
