In 2024, Michelle rejoined the Kumar lab as a research data analyst after a two year hiatus. For over 20 years she worked in environmental fields ranging from toxicology to climate change to forest ecology, but is now returning to her educational roots in animal behavior. Michelle will be coordinating a variety of behavior-related projects including an assessment of play in juvenile mice and assisting with development of machine learning assays for rare disease mouse models.
Originally from Maryland, Michelle has been raising her family in Maine for 20 years. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, gardening, baking, knitting, reading and she really loves cats.