Current Graduate Students
Major Advisor - Dr. Ronald Baker (rbaker@disl.org)
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Name: Aaron Bland Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: Ecological assessments of living shoreline restoration projects.
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Academic training: BS in Biology from The College of William and Mary MS in Marine Biology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Email: abland@disl.org
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Name: Hannah Ehrmann Program of Study: Ph.D.
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Academic training: BS Environmental Studies from Gettysburg College MS Environmental Science from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Email: hehrmann@disl.org
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Name: Sarah Ramsden Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: Integrating movement & trophic ecology to assess the functional values of red drum habitats through ontogeny.
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Academic training: BS in Environmental Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University MS in Marine Sciences from Savannah State University Email: sramsden@disl.org
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Major Advisor - Dr. Ruth H. Carmichael (rcarmichael@disl.org)
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Name: Ania Brown Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: Effects of water quality on dolphin health and the implications for human health in a changing climate.
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Academic training: BS in Animal BioScience from Pennsylvania State University MA in Animal Behavior and Conservation from CUNY Hunter College Email: abrown@disl.org |
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Name: Lauren Clance Program of Study: MS Thesis or Dissertation title: Differences in Stable Isotopes and Trace Elements among groups of Bottlenose Dolphins in Mobile Bay.
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Academic training: BS in Biology from UNC Chapel Hill Email: lclance@disl.org |
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Name: Matthew R. Hodanbosi Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: Influence of freshwater influx on the diet and body condition of the common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, in Mobile Bay, Alabama, United States.
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Academic training: BS in Evolution and Ecology from The Ohio State University MS in Marine Biology from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Email: mhodanbosi@disl.org |
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Name: Joe Hansen Program of Study: MS Thesis or Dissertation title: The impacts of environmental variations on the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) microbiome.
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Academic training: BS in Marine Biology with a Marine Conservation option and Computer Science minor from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington Email: jhansen@disl.org |
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Name: Joclyn Villegas Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: Dolphin positive effect behavior and communication.
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Academic training: BS in Marine Biology from Texas A&M University – Galveston MPS in Marine Mammal Behavior from University of Miami – RSMAS |
Major Advisor - Dr. Kelly Drogan (kdorgan@disl.org)
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Name: William Ballentine Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: The biophysical interactions between meiofauna and sand habitats.
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Academic training: BS in Biology from Florida State University Email: wballentine@disl.edu |
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Name: Chesna Cox Program of Study: MS Thesis or Dissertation title: An assessment of the geotechnical properties and biology of sediment near unexploded ordinances.
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Academic training: BS in Marine Biology from Troy University Email: ccox@disl.org |
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Name: Cy Clemo Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: Relating physical disturbance, sediment geotechnical properties, and infaunal succession.
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Academic training: BS in Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia |
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Name: Kara Gadeken Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: Coastal sediment response to the diel oxygen cycle.
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Academic training: BS in Biology and minor in Marine Science from the College of William and Mary Email: kgadeken@disl.org |
Major Advisor - Dr. Brian Dzwonkowski (bdzwonkowski@disl.org)
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Name: Devanarayana Mohan Rao Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: Investigation of the intensification of landfalling storms over coastal shelves and its potential association with marine heatwaves.
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Academic Training: BS in Physics from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, India MS in Earth and Space Science from York University, Toronto, Canada MS in Oceanography from Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, India Email: drao@disl.org
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Name: Harikrishnan Sreeshylam Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: Coupled Physical-Biogeochemical processes in the coastal and estuarine environment of Mobile Bay.
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Academic Training: BS in Physics from Mahatma Gandhi University, India MS in Oceanography from Cochin University of Science and Technology, India Email: hsreeshylam@disl.org
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Major Advisor - Dr. Jeffrey W. Krause (jkrause@disl.org)
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Name: Alison Rellinger Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: A comparison of DMSP cycling in Phaeocystis spp.
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Academic training: BA Biology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland M.S. Marine Sciences from University of South Alabama Email: arellinger@asms.net
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Name: Ryan Roseburrough Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: Silicon and Lithium Isotopes in Reverse Weathering Products.
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Academic training: BS in Marine Biology from Spring Hill College Email: rrr2021@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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Name: Alexandra Smith Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: On the Origins and Degradation of Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (This title is tentative-my prospectus has not yet been finalized).
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Academic training: BE in Chemical Engineering from Vanderbilt University Email: asmith@disl.org
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Major Advisor - Dr. John Lehrter (jlehrter@disl.org)
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Name: Jennifer Doan Program of Study: MS
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Academic training: BS in Biology with concentration in Marine Biology from the University of South Alabama with a minor in Geology |
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Name: Greg Feister Program of Study: MS
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Academic training: BS in Forensic Science from the University of South Mississippi with minors in Chemistry and Criminal Justice |
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Name: Allison Fletcher Program of Study: Ph.D.
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Academic training: BS in Marine Biology from the MS in Marine Conservation and Resource Email: afletcher@disl.org |
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Name: Mai Fung Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: Effects of multiple drivers on eutrophication expressions and subsequent impacts on mercury cycling. |
Academic training: BA Molecular and Cell Biology from UC Berkeley MPH Public Health from UC Berkeley Email: mfung@disl.org |
Major Advisor - Dr. Sean P. Powers (spowers@disl.org)
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Name: Laia Juliana Muñoz Abril Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: Laying the foundations for the conservation and management of coastal spawning areas of yellowfin tuna in Galápagos and continental Ecuador.
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Academic training: BS in Biology from Universidad Industrial de Santander MS in Applied Ecology from Universidad San Francisco de Quito |
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Name: Dakota Bilbrey Program of Study: MS
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Academic training: BS in Biology with a concentration in Marine Biology and minor in Instrumental Music from University of South Alabama |
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Name: Pearce Cooper Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: Assessing patterns of population structure, environmental selection, and estuarine use in sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus, using population genomics and otolith chemistry.
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Academic training: BS in Fisheries Sciences from Virginia Tech Email: pcooper@disl.org |
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Name: Dylan Kiene Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: Impacts of Climate Change on Flatfish.
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Academic training: BS in Health Science from Spring Hill College Email: dkiene@disl.org
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Name: Edward Kim Program of Study: MS Thesis or Dissertation title: Age, growth, abundance, and distribution of Gray Snapper in coastal and offshore Alabama waters.
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Academic training: BA in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania, 2016 Email: ekim@disl.org
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Major Advisor - Dr. Alison Robertson (arobertson@disl.org)
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Name: Clayton Bennett Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: Toxicokinetics of Caribbean ciguatoxin in mid-trophic level fish.
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Academic training: BS in Marine Biology from Troy University Email: cbennett@disl.org
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Name: Sean Collins Program of Study: MS Thesis or Dissertation title: Effects of Phycotoxins on Endocrine Nuclear Receptor Response in Gulf Killifish (Fundulus grandis).
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Academic training: BS in Biology from University of South Alabama Email: scollins@disl.org
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Name: Alex Leynse Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: Understanding the functional role of the meta-metabolome of benthic dinoflagellates in reef ecosystems
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Academic training: BS and MS in Marine and Environmental Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University Email: aleynse@disl.org
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Name: Caleb M. Wilson Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: Toxin transport mechanisms and cellular response of marine toxins in fish and mammals
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Academic training: H.BS in Science and Engineering (Biology and Biomedical Sciences) from Idaho State University Email: cwilson@disl.org |
Major Advisor - Dr. Lee Smee (lsmee@disl.org)
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Name: Randi Cannon Program of Study: Ph.D.
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Academic training: BS in Biology (with an emphasis in Marine) from Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi Email: rcannon@disl.org |
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Name: Carter Lin Program of Study: MS
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Academic training: BA in Biology from New York University (minor in Public Policy and Management) Email: clin@disl.org |
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Name: William Knudson, Jr Program of Study: MS Thesis or Dissertation title: Impacts of Black Mangrove Expansion in Salt Marshes on Sensory Ecology and Predator-Prey Interactions.
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Academic training: BS in Marine Biology from the University of California Santa Cruz |
Major Advisor - Dr. John Valentine (jvalentine@disl.org)
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Name: Dorothy Byron David Program of Study: Ph.D.
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Academic training: BS in Biology from University of Central Florida MS in Biological Sciences from Florida International University |
Major Advisor - Dr. Xiangli Wang (xwang@southalabama.edu)
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Name: Debbrota Mallick Program of Study: Ph.D. Thesis or Dissertation title: Species-specific fractionation of chromium isotopes in sea water.
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Academic training: BS and MS in Marine Science from Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, |
Major Advisor - Dr. John Lehrter / Dr. Sean P. Powers (Professional Master's)
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Name: Kristine Alford Program of Study: MS
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Academic training: BS in Biology with a minor in Geology from University of South Alabama |
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Name: Alyssa Bourne Program of Study: MS
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Name: Ashley Hild Program of Study: MS
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Name: Jessica Nash Program of Study: MS
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Academic training: BS in Marine Biology from the University of Southern Mississippi |
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Name: Emily Pepple Program of Study: MS
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Academic training: BS in Freshwater and Marine Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Gannon University |
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Name: Katie Wells Program of Study: MS
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Academic training: BS in Biology with a minor in Wildlife and Fisheries Science, and a concentration in Marine Biology from Tennessee Technological University Email: kcw2123@jagmail.southalabma.edu
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Name: Brittany Williams Program of Study: MS
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Academic training: Experience in assisting necropsies with marine mammals, PCRs, aquaculture, fin photography of dolphins, insect capture and identification. Email: bnw1523@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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Master Student in Environmental Toxicology
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Name: Emilie Berge Program of Study: MS Major Advisor: Dr. Sinéad Ní Chadhain Thesis or Dissertation title: Characterization of Naphthalene Degrading Bacteria. |
Academic training: BS in Biology with a minor in Marine Biology at the University of South Alabama. |
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Name: Christopher Mikolaitis Program of Study: MS Major Advisor: Dr. John Lehrter Thesis or Dissertation title: Cadmium and Salinity Stressor Synergy On Vallisneria neotropicalis.
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Academic training: BS in Marine Science with minor in Geospatial Science from Stony Brook University Email: cmikolaitis@disl.org
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Name: Joseph John Pavelites II Program of Study: MS Major Advisor: Dr. Ruth Carmichael Thesis or Dissertation title: Cadmium Fractionation in Eastern Oyster Shells
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Academic training: BS in Biology and BS in Chemistry from the University of Alabama Email: jjp2024@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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