Former REU Students

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2024 Participants

Whitney Spencer, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University Whitney Spencer, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University Dr. Brandi Kiel Reese, Lydia Hayes "Monitoring fungal growth of subsurface fungi in the south Atlantic transect"
Jon Mai, Gonzaga University Jon Mai, Gonzaga University Dr. Lee Smee, Dr. Ben Belgrade "Drill or no drill? How stramonita haemastoma finds its ideal oyster"
Colin Tang, University of Delaware Colin Tang, University of Delaware Dr. Ken Hoadley "A dive into the color morphology of Fijian Porites cylindrica"
Andrew Clark, Hendrix College Andrew Clark, Hendrix College Dr. Ronald Baker "Dissolved oxygen may limit the suitability of salt marsh as nekton habitat"
Clara Oxford, Eckerd College Clara Oxford, Eckerd College Dr. Brian Dzwonkowski, Josh Goff "Salty surge: Understanding salinity dynamics in upper Mobile Bay, Alabama"
KayLee Ridge, University of Evansville KayLee Ridge, University of Evansville Dr. Ruth Carmichael, Dr. Cat Vendl "Dead dolphins tell no tales, but their necrobiomes do: characterizing the necrobiome of Bottlenose Dolphins"
Nolan Cooper, University of Alabama Huntsville Nolan Cooper, University of Alabama Huntsville Dr. Lee Smee, Dr. Ben Belgrade "Oyster mortality and its causes: a comparison of predators and sunlight"
Chase Schubert, Whitman College Chase Schubert, Whitman College Dr. Alison Robertson "Detection of Ciguatoxin-contaminated tissue by ant species"
Marissa Hall, University of South Alabama Marissa Hall, University of South Alabama Dr. Charlie Martin "Invasive species as a viable habitat?! The response of epifaunal communities to a complex invasive SAV"

2023 Participants

Josh Thrower, Coastal Alabama Community College / University of South Alabama Josh Thrower, Coastal Alabama Community College / University of South Alabama Brian Dzwonkowski "Relationships between dissolved oxygen, water column stratification, and bottom boundary layer dynamics"
Jon Venable, Jacksonville University Jon Venable, Jacksonville University Dr. Jeff Krause, Dr. Shayna Sura "Epiphytic diatom production on the seagrass (Thalassia testudinum) in northern Gulf of Mexico"
Eliza Croom, Talladega College Eliza Croom, Talladega College Dr. Lee Smee "To eat or not to eat: investigating the drilling habits of moon snails (Polinices duplicatus)”
Ilya Sniff, Grinnell College Ilya Sniff, Grinnell College Dr. Havalend Steinmuller "Oyster reef restoration influences local sediment geochemistry prior to introduction of live oysters"
Levette Tucker, University of South Alabama Levette Tucker, University of South Alabama Dr. Ruth Carmichael, Dr. Carl Cloyed "Using isotopic analysis of manatee vibrissae to investigate habitat use in the northern Gulf of Mexico"
Ashten Notz, Roger's State University Ashten Notz, Roger's State University Dr. Ronald Baker "Is temperature, dissolved oxygen, or salinity driving oyster mortality on breakwaters?"
Chelsea Lawrence, Auburn University Chelsea Lawrence, Auburn University Dr. Charlie Martin "Restoring critical habitats: Vallisneria spp. seed germination and seeding growth across estuarine conditions"
Clay Bibby, University of Alabama Huntsville Clay Bibby, University of Alabama Huntsville Dr. Kelly Dorgan "The interstitial behavior of gastrotrichs"

2022 Participants

Claire Legaspi/Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas Ronald Baker, Alex Rodriguez “Do Living Shorelines Enhance Fish Habitats?"
Yasmine Hall/Auburn University, Alabama Jennifer Bloodgood/Brandi Kiel Reese “Characterizing the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Skin Microbiome to Inform Future Sampling Efforts”
Ellie Jata/University of West Florida, Florida Jeffrey Krause/Ryan Roseburrough “The Role of Microbial Activity and Oxygen in Sediment Silica Cycling”
Rebecca Carwithen/University of Santa Cruz, California Brian Dzwonkowski  “Variability in Thermal Response of the Coastal Ocean to Tropical Cyclones: The Quirky Case of Hurricane Nate”
Anika Cho/University of Alabama, Alabama Kelly Dorgan  “Bubbles & Burrows: Characterizing Fracture Behavior in Marine Sediments via Bubble Injection"
Kenneth Murage/Talladega College, Alabama Molly Miller “Bioactivity of Secondary Metabolites Produced by the Benthic Dinoflagellate, Gambierdiscus silvae”
Alexes Cleveland/Alabama State University, Alabama Andrea Tarnecki “Small-Scale Oyster Hatcheries: In Pursuit of Replication”
Evan Marth/Athens State University, Alabama Carl Cloyed “Identifying stable isotopes patterns among taxa, sites, and environmental variables in the eastern Mississippi Sound"
D. Julian Hodges/Barry University, Florida Delbert L. Smee “Analyzing Snail Responses to Potential Predator Chemical Signals”

2021 Participants

Charlie Dvergsten/Carleton College Alison Robertson/Molly Miller “Hemolytic Mechanisms of Toxicity in Six Benthic Dinoflagellates Associated with Ciguatera Poisoning”
Jordan King/SUNY Maritime College Ronald Baker “Digestion Rate Experiments: Helping Identify Foraging Habitats”
Eli Kemp/Lyon College Jeff Krause “Spatial variability of sediment silica and its reactivity in Mobile Bay”
Che'Isha Johnson/Talladega College Carl Cloyed  “The Direct Effects on Isotope Values During Decomposition of Stranded Dolphins and Manatees”
Kahylin Nesbitt/Oakwood University Brandi Kiel Reese/Jennifer Bloodgood  “Source Tracking of Bacterial Sepsis in 2 Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncates)"
Shelby Blair/Rogers State College Kelly Dorgan “Infaunal bioturbation effects on disturbed sediment structure”
Sophie Wong/University of Virginia Kenny Hoadley “Sexy Symbionts: Increased sexual reproduction in Symbiodiniaceae under nutrient limitation”
Mimi Eason/Northern Arizona University Lee Smee “Everything in Moderation: Comparing the Effects of Exposure to Predator Cues in Eastern Oysters (Crassostrea virginica)"
Elexuzz Davis/Alabama State University John Lehrter “The Effects of Increasing Salinity on Deltaic Sediment Organic Matter Remineralization”

2020 Participants

Steve Akin/ Angelo State University Shaun Wang Trace Element Enrichment Found in Plankton Across the Mobile Bay, Alabama
Melanie Ponce/ Martin Methodist College Lee Smee Scared Strong: Using Predator Cues to Enhance Oyster Survival for Reef Restoration
Marco Pastrana/University of Michigan John Lehrter Primary Production and Respiration Patterns Across the Salinity Gradient in Mobile Bay
Joseph Brennan/Florida International University Kenny D. Hoadley Moderate Nutrient Concentrations Reduce Production of reactive Oxygen Species in Anemones During Thermal Stress
Ti-Ara Turner/Judson College Ruth Carmichael Oysters as Bioindicators: Testing Shell as a Proxy for Tissue to Detect Trace Metal Pollution
Trinity Curry/Stillman College Ron Baker, Jeff Krause What Drives Variability in Microphytobenthos Biomass and Carbon Stable Isotope Values?
Sydney Markham/Oklahoma State University Alison Robertson Prevalence of Caribbean Ciguatoxins in Queen Triggerfish
Rylee Malone/SUNY Maritime College Kelly Dorgan Polychaete Burrowing Efficiency

2019 Participants

Steve Akin/ Angelo State University Shaun Wang Trace Element Enrichment Found in Plankton Across the Mobile Bay, Alabama
Melanie Ponce/ Martin Methodist College Lee Smee Scared Strong: Using Predator Cues to Enhance Oyster Survival for Reef Restoration
Marco Pastrana/University of Michigan John Lehrter Primary Production and Respiration Patterns Across the Salinity Gradient in Mobile Bay
Joseph Brennan/Florida International University Kenny D. Hoadley Moderate Nutrient Concentrations Reduce Production of reactive Oxygen Species in Anemones During Thermal Stress
Ti-Ara Turner/Judson College Ruth Carmichael Oysters as Bioindicators: Testing Shell as a Proxy for Tissue to Detect Trace Metal Pollution
Trinity Curry/Stillman College Ron Baker, Jeff Krause What Drives Variability in Microphytobenthos Biomass and Carbon Stable Isotope Values?
Sydney Markham/Oklahoma State University Alison Robertson Prevalence of Caribbean Ciguatoxins in Queen Triggerfish
Rylee Malone/SUNY Maritime College Kelly Dorgan Polychaete Burrowing Efficiency

2017 Participants

Rachel Pugh/ Miss. Gulf Coast Community College Kelly Dorgan
Bill Walton		 Polydora websteri Blisters in Crassotrea virginica: Strength, Area, Color
Jenny Rhee/ University of La., Lafayette Brian Dzwonkowski
Jeff Krause		 Nutrient flux and physical stability drive phytoplankton biomass variability along the Alabama shelf
Marnie Tabor/ Athens State University, AL Jeff Krause
Just Cebrian		 The Contribution of Epiphytic and Sediment Diatoms to Benthic Productivity
Hanae Togami/ Haverford College, PA Ruth Carmichael Chilean mussels reconstruct environmental conditions during two coral die-off events
Harrison Watson/ Jackson State University, MS Bill Walton Observing Polydora websteri Infestation in Crassostrea virginica: Methods in Oyster Farm Planning