Graduate Student Directory    

Advisor(s): Dr. David Hala and Dr. Antonietta Quigg

Committee members: Dr. Karl Kaiser, Dr. Lene Petersen, and Dr. Yina Liu

Alma mater: Colorado College

Website: https://www.tamug.edu/phytoplankton/people.html

Research: My research involves investigating the fate and behavior of legacy and emerging pollutants in Galveston Bay. In particular, my studies focus on the abundance and effects of PFAS compounds in water and biota.

Land Acknowledgement: I acknowledge that Texas A&M University at Galveston is on the traditional land of the Akokisa, Karankawa, Coahuiltecan and Atakapa-Ishak People.

Advisor(s): Dr. David Hala and Dr. Lene Petersen

Committee members: Dr. Karl Kaiser and Dr. Jay Rooker

Alma mater: Texas A&M University-Galveston

Website: https://www.tamug.edu/petersen/

Research: I am researching the physiology (endocrinology, behavior, and development) of cultured Southern flounder in partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).

Land Acknowledgement: I acknowledge that I perform research on Akokisa, Atakapa-Ishak, Coahuiltecan, and Karankawa land.

Advisor(s): Dr. Antonietta Quigg

Committee members: Dr. David Hala, Dr. Ashley Ross, and Dr. Jessica Fitzsimmons. 

Alma mater: Coastal Carolina University

Website: https://www.tamug.edu/phytoplankton/people.html

Research: My current research involves understanding the impact of the persistent organic pollutant, perfluorooctane sulfonate, on phytoplankton productivity and stress.

Land Acknowledgement: I acknowledge that where I perform my research, Texas A&M University at Galveston, is on the traditional land of the Akokisa, Karankawa, Coahuiltecan and Atakapa-Ishak People.

Advisor(s): Dr. Jay Rooker and Dr. Antonietta Quigg

Committee members: Dr. Karl Kaiser and Dr. David Wells

Alma mater: Texas A&M University-Galveston

Research: My research interests focus on the trophic ecology of pelagic fishes in the context of anthropogenic influence and applying Compound Specific Stable Isotope Analysis of Amino Acids for analysis.

Land Acknowledgement: I acknowledge that I perform research on the traditional land of the Akokisa, Atakapa-Ishak, Coahuiltecan, and Karankawa.

Advisor(s): Dr. Anja Schulze

Committee members: Dr. Miglietta, Dr. Bruce Riley, and Dr. Chris Marshall

Alma mater: Humboldt State University

Website: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4821-5639

Research:  My research focuses on marine polychaetes (segmented worms) with a specific interest in two areas of their biology: epitokal reproduction and bioluminescence. I am most interested in morphological adaptations that allow for success in the water column. In my research, I use traditional field studies and taxonomy, histology, μCT, and genetic tools.

Advisor(s): Dr. Ron Eytan

Committee members: Dr. Jessica Labonté, Dr. Luis Hurtado, and Dr. Viashali Katju

Alma mater: Coastal Carolina University (B.S.), College of Charleston (M.S)

Website: https://www.megansporre.com/

Research: My research involves studying the biodiversity, connectivity, evolution, and comparative genomics of cryptobenthic reef fishes, such as blennies. I am particularly interested in studying cryptic species and the drivers of speciation and adaptation within these tiny reef fishes.

Land Acknowledgement: I acknowledge that I perform research on the traditional land of the Akokisa, Atakapa-Ishak, Coahuiltecan, and Karankawa.

Advisor(s): Dr. Maria Miglietta

Committee members: Dr. Jessica Labonté, Dr. David Retchless, and Dr. Anja Schulze

Alma mater: University of California Santa Cruz

Website: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=5iUMW64AAAAJ

Research: Microbial communities associated with Cassiopea, scyphozoan association ecology and development.

Land Acknowledgement: My research is primarily conducted on historic Tequesta and Calusa lands.

Advisor(s): Dr. David Wells

Committee members: Dr. Jay Rooker, Dr. Laura Jurgens, and Dr. Masami Fujiwara

Alma mater: Northeastern University (B.S), University of South Alabama (M.S.)

Website: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=P-sU6DgAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

Research: Ecological connectivity of estuarine and coastal predators.

Advisor(s): Dr. David Wells

Committee members: Dr. Jay Rooker, Dr. Anna Armitage, Dr. Greg Stunz, and Dr. Jennifer Pollack

Alma mater: California State University, Long Beach

Research: Movement ecology, behavioral ecology, food web ecology

Advisor(s): Dr. Anna Armitage

Committee members: Dr. Laura Jurgens, Dr. Micky Eubanks, and Dr. Jennifer Pollack

Alma mater: Abilene Christian University 

Research: Effects of disturbances on black mangroves along their range edge in Texas.

Advisor(s): Dr. Rainer Amon

Alma mater: Texas A&M University at Galveston 

Research: My research interests deal with alterations to carbon cycling in Siberian watershed under warming conditions.

Advisor(s): Dr. David Hala

Alma mater: Purdue Fort Wayne

Website: Asif Mortuza researchgate 

Research: Microplastics, toxicology, and physiology.

Land Acknowledgement: My research is primarily conducted on historic Tequesta and Calusa lands.

Advisor(s): Dr. Iliffe

Committee members: Dr. David Hala and Dr. Ashley Ross

Alma mater: University of Southern Mississippi 

Research: I am interested in cave biology research. I am focusing on biogeochemistry, hydrology, and conservation biology.

Advisor(s): Dr. David Wells

Alma mater: University of West Florida

Website: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=5iUMW64AAAAJ

Research: Conducting spatial and temporal analysis on bottom longline surveys in the Gulf of Mexico.

Advisor(s): Dr. Iliffe

Website: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3181-4280

Research: Ecology and conservation in underwater cave.

Advisor(s): Dr. Figlus

Research: Coastal processes and nature-based solutions to coastal protection/adaptation

Advisor(s): Dr. Jay Rooker

Committee members: Dr. Dave Wells, Dr. David Hala, and Dr. Ana Sirovic, and Dr. Miguel Mora-Zacarias.

Alma mater: Gettysburg College 

Website: https://scholar.google.com/citations?authuser=1&user=MrRHfT0AAAAJ

Research: I study the impact of sound on fish behavior and physiology and how we can use sound as a tool to assess fish population abundance, calling patterns, and diversity.

Land Acknowledgement: I acknowledge that I perform research on the traditional land of the Karankawa people.

Advisor(s): Dr. Anna Armitage

Committee members: Dr. Jennifer Pollack, Dr. Rusty Feagin, and Dr. Laura Jurgens

Alma mater: Eckerd College 

Research: I'm interested in (and researching) the impacts of alteration and restoration on coastal wetlands. I'm also very interested in science communication, as well as environmental education and outreach.

Advisor(s): Dr. Mileski

Alma mater: University of Houston

Research: I’m interestedly in supply chain and it’s correlation with cyber security.

Advisor(s): Dr. Randall Davis

Committee members: Dr. Christopher Marshall, Dr. Bernd Wursig, and Dr. Hui Liu

Alma mater: Butler University

Research: Anatomical, histological, and physiological understanding of adaptation in and evolution of marine mammals; sensory systems; pathology and stranding causes; exercise biology.

Land Acknowledgement: My research is primarily conducted on historic Dënéndeh and Eyak lands.