Laura grew up in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, where she developed a lifelong love of the natural world. After earning her Bachelor's Degree in Biology from Kenyon College, she led and developed science-based education programs for both the Audubon Society of Portland and the Oregon Zoo before ultimately choosing to transition back towards her passion for biological research and conservation work. She is now a Ph.D. candidate at Virginia Tech working on pollinator biology and ecology.