Ashley Belknap

Hometown: Brea, CA

Home institution: California State University, Monterey Bay

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mulholland

About me: I have my NAUI advanced and rescue certification, I am on track to obtain my research diving certification the Spring. I love everything about the outdoors from camping, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, diving and surfing. I am a huge music gal with a stellar vinyl collection. I love to read, paint and draw as well. My favorite animals are the green sea turtle and tortoises !!! I also love to travel and have been to six different countries.

Research interests: scientific diving, marine ecology, coastal ecology and ocean conservation.

REU summer project: Does the form of dissolved nitrogen available influence phytoplankton community composition in the Chesapeake Bay tributaries.

Ruric Bowman

Hometown: Benton, PA

Home institution: Lycoming College

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dreux Chappell

About me: I enjoy any opportunity that allows me to go outside and experience nature. In my hometown I enjoy going on hikes through the woods by my house with my family and fishing with my father. At Lycoming College I am a member of a research group, the Clean Water Institute, that performs research on Pennsylvania waterways. Finally, I love to travel and experience different cultures. 

Research interests: One of my research interests includes examining how climate change alters predator-prey dynamics in a changing environment. I also have an interest is looking into migratory patterns of large marine organisms and observing if these patterns are being altered by climate change.

REU summer project: How do eddies influence diazotroph diversity and activity at the New England shelf-break front?

Joshua Calderon

Hometown: Sierra Vista, Arizona

Home institution: Cochise College

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alexander Bochdansky

About me: I’m an extrovert engineering student that loves to do field work. I like to work hard so I can get the most out of my experience. I’m an outdoors person, so I like to hike, fish, and do outdoor activities. One of my best qualities is my adaptability to different settings and environments. I am good with mechanics and want to apply my skills to the environmental field.

Research interests: environmental sustainability and environmental engineering research

REU summer project: early stages of marine snow aggregation

Kristina Confesor

Hometown: Tiffin, Ohio

Home institution: Heidelberg University

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dreux Chappell

About me: I am a biology major with chemistry and psychology minors.  I was born in the Philippines, and got my U.S citizenship in 2016.  I am a member of the first mixed-gender Greek society (The Euglossian Society) at Heidelberg University. For my part-time job, I work at a group home for the developmentally disabled. In my free time I like to draw, try new foods, and travel.

Research interests: I was originally interested in becoming a genetic counselor after my undergraduate studies; however, after taking a field biology class, I became more intrigued about the marine biology field.  As of now, I am interested in population genetics and conservation biology. This spring, I did an independent study about analyzing polymorphisms in sugar maple trees with DNAsp. One topic that I would love to research in the future is about climate change and its impact on biodiversity in marine ecosystems, and what we as humans can do to protect marine life. 

REU summer project: “Examining the Niche Separation of Two Primary Trichodesmium Clades along the West Florida Shelf (WFS)”

Ashley Hartman

Hometown: Ayden, NC

Home institution: University of Mount Olive 

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rodger Harvey 

About me: I was born and raised in Eastern NC. I’m a barbecue connoisseur. My university’s in a town where everything is about pickles. Pickle candles, beer, stickers… Everything. I love dogs more than 75% of other things.

Research interests: My prior research interests have been in the field of cosmetic chemistry. I’ve done a research project before on the inhibition of oxidation of cosmetic foundation. However, now I’m trying to branch into environmental aspects of chemistry research. 

REU summer project: My project this summer is centered around identifying a compound that is only produced by certain types of algae in arctic seas. If this compound can be identified, then it can also be used to track sea ice extent. 

Anna Heasley

Hometown: Grove city, PA

Home institution: Slippery Rock University 

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rodger Harvey and Dr. Margaret Mulholland

About me: I am a senior biology major from Slippery Rock University where I am a microbiology and fish lab assistant. I am PADI certified (open water), as well as lifeguard and CPR certified. I genuinely believe that life is FUN and I enjoy the little things like hammock swinging, snorkeling, a good snack, and learning new things.  

Research interests: Invertebrate physiology, Regeneration in Planaria, Nudibranchs

REU summer project: Quantification of Anthropogenic Hydrocarbon Inputs and Bioaccumulation in Eastern Oysters 

Ashley Kosloski

Hometown: Crosslake, Minnesota 

Home institution: The College of Saint Scholastica

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gauthier 

About me: Enjoy the outdoors, love Hockey & run track in college, avid hater of plastic.

Research interests: microplastics, ocean acidification, novel antibiotics. 

REU summer project: Relationship between Myzobdella Lugubris (leeches) and Blue Crabs. Specifically are the leeches using the blue crabs as true or phonetic hosts?

Alexa Leone

Hometown: Hillsborough NJ

Home institution: University of Rhode Island

Faculty Mentor: Navid Tahvildari

About me: If I could, I would travel around the world in 80 days, I love experiencing new cultures. I enjoy yoga and hiking in my free time.

Research interests: Coastal and Environmental Engineering. I’m interested in sediment transportation and coastal erosion, living shoreline solutions, and water quality. 

REU summer project: “Comparison of Living Shoreline Solutions for Attenuating Wave Energy in Shallow Water Regions. “

Troy Parish

Hometown: Yonkers, NY

Home institution: SUNY New Paltz

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Nora Noffke

About me: I am a geology student from New York State interested in stratigraphy for its ability  to both identify strata of economic interest as well as provide the critical data needed to interpret the previous depositional environments of any selected study area. Outside of geology I enjoy swimming only second to perhaps my favorite water sport, one I could literally do for hours, Kayaking! 

Research interests: Stratigraphy / Economic Geology 

REU summer project: Characterization of the Silurian Ocean in Bath and Highland counties, Virginia U.S.A. / Antimony Abundance in Rose Hill Formation, Virginia U.S.A. 

Alison Stouffer

Hometown: Broomfield, Colorado

Home institution: Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alexander Bochdansky

About me: If I was to describe myself as a pizza, I would be a garbage pizza. This is not because I am garbage, but because I have a little taste of everything. Much of my childhood was spent outside, whether it was camping, skiing, hiking, or running around. I think this connection to nature is what inspired me to pursue environmental science. In addition to my love of nature, I have a passion for travel. I have been to all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Morocco, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama. Another interest of mine is photography. How I can combine all of these different toppings into one pizza is what I am currently trying to figure out now. Also, in case you wanted to know (which I’m sure you do) I have been stung by a jellyfish in Hawaii and Africanized Killer Bees in Panama.

Research interests: environmental science, marine ecology, conservation, and still exploring

REU summer project: Microbial Biomass and ATP. Does ATP per cell remain the same under different growth conditions and how does biomass correlate to ATP?