Howdy! My name is Mattie Ward, I am a junior honors student studying marine biology at Texas A&M University at Galveston. I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas (Go Stars!), and spent time living in College Station as well. Under the guidance of Dr. Christopher Hemingson, I have the pleasure of working as an undergraduate research assistant in the Trait Ecology and Adaptation Lab, where I am currently working on a project investigating how diet, and therefore feeding habits, evolutionarily impacts the physical expression of both eye size and positioning in coral reef fishes. The project is in its early stages, but I am eager to take my findings to the 2027 Undergraduate Research Symposium.
I consider myself an “untraditional student”, as I graduated high school in the Spring of 2021 and didn’t begin my career at TAMUG until the Fall of 2025. I am passionate about following your own path, whether that being deemed traditional or not, as I firmly believe that higher education is for anyone, when they're ready. I am eager to serve TAMUG as an Undergraduate Research Ambassador, and represent those that may fit into the “untraditional” role, in any way that may present! I strive to make any undergraduate student feel that there is room for their scientific questions (grand or small!) in the world of research. If I could share one piece of advice with anyone, it is that “ready” is not a feeling, it's a decision! Leap first, the path will follow.
