In order to investigate how humans have adapted to high altitude, I have conducted fieldwork research in various locations around the world. These expeditions have provided exciting research findings as well as opportunities to engage with local highland populations, oftentimes in demanding environments. I am eternally grateful to the subjects that have participated in these studies. Some of their stories can be found in the section entitled "Stories from the Field" on the left-hand panel. A summary of various field projects can be found below.

In the summer of 2019, I traveled to Mustang, Nepal (13,200 ft) in collaboration with Cynthia Beall to understand how certain physiological and genetic traits may affect evolutionary fitness. I was tasked with conducting hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) measurements in the field with no gas tanks. We utilized a re-breathing circuit with carbon dioxide scrubbing pellets to complete over 400 isocapnic HVR measurements in older women throughout different villages within Mustang. 

The Simonson Laboratory has an ongoing collaboration with researchers within Peru to conduct studies within Cerro de Pasco, Peru (14,200 ft). In the spring of 2019, I traveled to Cerro de Pasco to complete genetic studies along with sample collection.

The Simonson Laboratory has an ongoing collaboration with researchers within the University of Utah, Salt Lake City (4,200 ft) to study the local population of Tibetan genetic ancestry at intermediate altitude. I traveled to Salt Lake City in the spring of 2019 to complete HVR measurements along with genetic studies to compare individuals of Tibetan versus Han Chinese ancestry. 

During my undergraduate research at Duke University (summer 2015) and upon graduation (summer 2016), I conducted fieldwork research within the village of Mandena, Madagascar as part of the Nunn Laboratory. I headed one project to understand how antibacterial soap use affects the skin microbiome in a rural population and assisted in another that aimed to characterize sleep in a traditional population using polysomnography.