She studies microorganisms, living things too tiny to be seen by the naked eye, such as bacteria and fungi.
Some microorganisms are harmful to the body and can cause disease by destroying cells in the body.
Others can contaminate liquids and solid materials and cause them to spoil or decay. As a microbiologist, she develops methods to prevent microorganisms from contaminating the fuel and deteriorating military storage material. Currently, she is developing a fungicide, a chemical which will protect storage materials and not harm the people who use them. She is a native of Minden, Louisiana, but she moved to Detroit, Michigan in her early teens. There she attended Cass Technical High School where her interest in science developed.