As a conservation paleobiologist, my research focuses on understanding metacommunity dynamics and the factors influencing biodiversity across different spatial and temporal scales. I am particularly intrigued by how these patterns vary with scale, with a primary emphasis on reef ecosystems and the complex roles of corals and sponges. My work explores the evolutionary functionality of sponges and how it has evolved through time. At the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), I am committed to revitalizing aspects of the Paleontological Database Project (PPP), leveraging this robust resource to explore community-level dynamics, such as the processes of community reassembly following disturbances caused by the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama.