Patty is a doctor of fungus, a saprotrophic scorpio, and a tinder conk carrying an ember through the anthropocene.

I received my B.A in Biology with a concentration in Environmental Studies in 2013 from Wheaton College, MA. In 2020, I received my Ph.D. in Forest Pathology & Mycology from SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry. My doctoral work was focused on the taxonomy, biodiversity, and ecology of Laboulbeniales (Ascomycota) fungi. I am broadly trained in the taxonomy of macro and micro fungi, with considerable field experience in numerous biodiversity hotspots around the world.

Following my Ph.D I worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the Aime Lab at Purdue University where I served as curator of fungi at the Arthur Fungarium & Kriebel Herbarium. There I focused on taxonomy and barcoding of Rust fungi, a group of plant pathogens. Results from this project are in progress.

In 2021 I accepted a 2 year position as Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology at Bard College. There, I continued research on new species discovery and exploration of the use of certain fungi as potential indicators of ecosystem health. I designed and taught courses on topics such as: Fungal Ecology, Natural History, Evolution & Phylogenetics, Fungal Diversity & Climate Change, and Queer Ecology. This position affirmed my love for teaching, and for sharing the joys of the natural world.

Concurrently, I began as faculty for the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI). Through this program I teach college level courses on ecology and evolution in a maximum security setting.

As of July 2023, I am the Curator of Mycology at the New York State Museum. As a museum scientist, I am responsible for caring for the museums extensive collection of fungal specimens, conducting taxonomic and ecological research on fungi in the region, designing exhibits, and offering public mycological programming. I am thrilled to be starting this new career chapter! I will also continue to be faculty with BPI.

Beyond more traditional scientific work, I also work in the realms of philosophy of science, ecofeminism, queer ecology, and queer theory, exploring how mycology and other scientific disciplines are situated in and informed by our sociopolitical landscape. My publication, The science underground: mycology as a queer discipline, appears in journal Catalyst: Feminism, Theory & Technoscience.

I am a founding member of the International Congress of Armenian Mycologists, a research organization comprised of ethnically Armenian mycologists who seek to simultaneously advance mycological science and Armenian sovereignty and liberation.

My forthcoming book, Forest Euphoria, will be published by Spiegel & Grau.