I work on problems in smooth 4-manifolds. I find low-dimensional topology (which includes dimension 4) very hands-on because I can construct the objects that I'm interested in directly. In the case of 4-manifolds, this can be done through the use of ``handlebody theory.'' My recent projects involve answering questions about 4-manifolds using handle theory coupled with techniques drawn from symplectic and contact geometry as well as gauge theory.