Recent Graduate Alumni
Recent Graduate Alumni


Alex Hounshell
2019, PhDHans Paerl
Organic Nitrogen cycling in freshwater and estuarine ecosystems
Postdoctoral Researcher in the Carey Lab at Virgina Tech

Carter Smith
2019, PhDPete Peterson
Coastal ecology
Postdoctoral Researcher in Silliman Lab at Duke University Marine Lab


Jessamin Straub
2019, MSAntonio Rodriguez
Marine Science
2020 Knauss Marine Policy Fellow at the Army Engineer Research and Development Center

Danielle Keller
2018, PhDJoel Fodrie
Landscape, restoration, and community ecology; understanding how structured habitats affect ecological communities at landscape scales

Bryce Van Dam
2018, PhDHans Paerl
Biogeochemical Cycling
Now a: Postdoctoral Researcher at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, FL - Working in Jim Fourqurean’s lab (SERL) studying the carbon biogeochemistry of South Florida seagrass beds

Jie Gao
2018, PhDRick Luettich
Numerical modeling of storm surge under hurricanes using coupled ocean-wave models, physics of the air-sea interface, influence of waves on surface momentum flux

Avery Paxton
2018, PhDPete Peterson
Marine Ecology & Conservation
Postdoctoral fellow with the South-East Zoo Alliance for Reproduction & Conservation (SEZARC) and a visiting scholar at the Duke University Marine Lab


Kelsey Jesser
2018, PhDRachel Noble
Coastal microbial ecology
NIEHS NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow in the Levy Research Group at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health


Maxwell Tice-Lewis
2018, MSJoel Fodrie
Oyster community ecology, estuarine disturbance ecology, invertebrate and fish habitat utilization
Oregon First Nations Oyster Biologist

Olivia Torano
2018, MSMike Piehler
Freshwater ecology, aquatic vegetation, nutrient cycling
Lab Manager and Research Scientist, Marchetti Lab, UNC Chapel Hill

Ian Kroll
2017, PhDJoel Fodrie
Oyster Larval Connectivity
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Fish and Aquatic Conservation

Erika Young
2017, PhDPete Peterson
Influences of shoreline stabilization structures on nekton and birds in salt marshes
Lecturer at UNC Pembroke

Justin Ridge
2017, PhDTony Rodriguez
Oyster reef geoecology
Duke Marine Lab (DUML), Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing Lab

Greg Sorg
2017, MSNiels Lindquist
Alternative Substrates for Oyster Reef Restoration and Bioeroding Sponges in NC Estuaries
Independent Contractor at Sandbar Oyster Company


Justin Hart
2017, MSRachel Noble
Stormwater quality and public health, molecular microbial monitoring methods, coastal recreation

Ethan Theuerkauf
2016, PhDAntonio Rodriguez
Examining the role of framework geology on shoreline response; Quantifying barrier island carbon budgets
Coastal Geologist State of Illinois

Michelle Brodeur
2016, PhDJoel Fodrie
Oyster reef ecology
Communications Specialist at the N.C. Coastal Reserve

Kathleen Onorevole
2016, MSMike Piehler
Coastal nutrient cycling and restoration
Freelance Science Writer

Luke Dodd
2015, PhDMichael Piehler
Oyster Reef Ecology
Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki in the Biosciences Department

Joey Crosswell
2015, PhDHans Paerl
Biogeochemistry, Oceanography
Biogeochemist at Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)

Kellen Laurer
2015, MSRachel Noble
Vibrio pathogen ecology
Environmental Specialist with Environmental Business Specialists