Staff

 TYRA BOOE

Tyra Booe Research Associate, Lab Manager and Masters Student

Galveston Campus
Bldg# 3029, Room 210

Phone: (409) 741-7168
Email 		Project: I work on the Galveston Bay Project which focuses on freshwater inflows from the Trinity and San Jacinto Rivers into Galveston Bay and the effects on phytoplankton communities and surface water quality. For this project we also conduct biannual nutrient limitation assays and collect sediment cores throughout the Bay. I am also pursuing my Masters degree in Marine Resources Management where my research focuses on land use and land changes within the Galveston Bay watershed and how these increases in urbanization have impacted the water quality in the Bay.
 SAMUEL DORADO

Sam Dorado Research Assitant

Galveston Campus
Bldg# 3029, Room 210  

Phone: (409) 741-7168
Email 		Project: My research focuses on understanding the dynamics between phytoplankton and freshwater inflows in Galveston Bay. Bioassays conducted in this estuary have shown that phytoplankton groups respond to increased nutrient levels but it is only suggested that freshwater inflows are important. My goal is to pinpoint freshwater discharge as the underlying mechanism contributing to differences in the biomass and relative abundance of algal groups using multivariate community analysis techniques. I am also interested in how freshwater inputs drive variation between in the abundance of consumer groups such as commercially important shellfish and finfish species as they ultimately rely on the phytoplankton community. Other interests include: Trichodesmium and diazotrophy research, stable isotope research, nitrogen cycle research, statistics, and more recently marine mammal bioacoustic research.
 YUELU JIANG

Yuelu Jiang Post-Doctoral Fellow

Galveston Campus
Bldg# 3029, Office 240

Phone: (409) 740-4542
Email 		Interests: Research includes identifying algal strains with greatest potential for biofuels industry; brackish and marine species are being considered. I am also researching the toxicity of engineered nanoparticles to range of phytoplankton, with focus on quantum dots.
 ERIN KINNEY

Erin Kinney Post-Doctoral Fellow

Galveston Campus
Bldg# 3029, 2nd floor cubicles

Phone: (409) 741-7168
Email 		Interests: I am a coastal ecologist interested in anthropogenic changes to salt marshes and estuarine systems. For my PhD dissertation research, I used stable isotopes and nitrogen loading models to refine methods for identifying land-derived nitrogen sources to salt marshes and estuaries.  I am currently working on the Lower Neches River salt marsh project which is examining the effect of soil source and restoration technique on the restoration of emergent coastal marshes and aquatic habitats.
 RACHEL WINDHAM

Rachel Windham Research Assistant and Masters Student 

Galveston Campus
Bldg# 3029, Room 210

Phone: (409) 741-7168
Email 		Project: I’m currently working on the Swan Lake Project which studies the relationship between phytoplankton and the oysters who eat them, and whether or not that relationship could affect the likelihood of Dermo (Perkinsus marinus) infections in oysters. Knowing the best environmental conditions for oyster growth could lead to the creation of oyster reefs to prevent coastal erosion. I’ve recently started to work along with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department on the Rangia Project which examines the presence or absence of Rangia clams in Trinity Bay. Since Rangia clams only thrive in low salinities, they can be used as bioindicators of freshwater inflows. I also help out with the Galveston Bay Project by  processing water samples and conducting cell counts and identifications.
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