My research has focused on two areas in evolutionary genetics: 1. Reconstructing the history of populations representing different stages of speciation and 2. Using DNA sequence data in combination with other data to provide a robust historical framework for examining evolutionary processes. In my research, I have tried to apply innovative tests of phylogenetic patterns to molecular data in order to make reliable inferences of history. I have studied the evolutionary histories of both salamanders and lizards.

Current research in my lab focuses on finding and applying rapidly evolving nuclear exons for phylogenetic and phylogeographic ananlysis.

In the past, my studies of western species of Plethodontid salamanders includes recent introductions of species, measures of gene flow between populations and the effects of combining morphological and molecular data for systematic studies.