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William (Bill) Strosnider is an ecological engineer oriented towards applied biogeochemistry with degrees in environmental engineering (Ph.D., University of Oklahoma), environmental studies (M.S., College of Charleston), and mechanical engineering (B.S., University of Dayton). After 9 years as an environmental engineering professor at Saint Francis University, Bill has been stationed at USC’s Baruch Marine Field Laboratory in Georgetown (SC) since 2019. His research focus has typically been characterizing water quality issues and advancing ecological engineering solutions to restore ecosystems and safeguard human health. This has often entailed creating settings for naturally occurring biogeochemical processes to proceed optimally (e.g., floating treatment wetlands, bioreactors, stormwater wetlands, mine drainage treatment wetlands). Regarding service, Bill has significant international (Nicaragua, Bolivia, Peru, Guatemala) and domestic (Appalachia, Carolina Lowcountry, Tribal lands of Oklahoma) development project experience that has often integrated with public health initiatives.
At the moment, Bill's research focuses on catalyzing non-plastic alternatives for coastal environmental applications (e.g., aquaculture, environmental restoration/protection), and his service centers upon the Gullah communities of the South Carolina Lowcountry.
Current Postdoctoral Researchers, Graduate Students, Technicians, and Interns:
Current Postdoctoral Researchers, Graduate Students, Technicians, and Interns:
Mariah is a postdoctoral researcher at the Baruch Marine Field Laboratory (BMFL) and adjunct faculty in the University of South Carolina’s School of the Earth, Ocean and Environment. She joined the lab in January 2024 after completing a postdoctoral research position at the University of New Hampshire. Her research focuses on the ecology of coastal and estuarine systems, primarily exploring the movements, habitat use patterns, and trophic dynamics of fishes using a wide array of methodologies. At BMFL, she is leading a large collaborative research group investigating the viability of natural alternatives to plastic products in coastal environmental applications (habitat restoration, aquaculture, and water quality protection). She also engages with undergraduate and graduate students through mentorship and advising, in addition to teaching undergraduate courses at USC.
B.S. Environmental Science, Northeastern University, 2015
M.S. Marine Science, University of South Alabama, 2018
Ph.D. Marine Biology, Texas A&M University, 2022
Contact: mariah@baruch.sc.edu
Levi is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina. He joined the Baruch Ecological Engineering Lab (BEEL) in Fall 2021. Levi is a broadly trained environmental scientist with research interests at the intersection of applied ecology and engineering. His previous research efforts focused on designing (and monitoring) a novel water quality treatment strategy which incorporated slow-release lanthanum composites and constructed floating wetlands to remove nutrients from an impaired stormwater retention pond in Lincoln, Nebraska. Levi’s dissertation research is focused on the quantification of habitat value provided by tidally influenced stormwater retention ponds and retrofitted constructed floating wetlands for aquatic and terrestrial taxa.
B.S. Water Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2019
B.S. Environmental Restoration Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2019
M.S. Natural Resource Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2021
Ph.D. Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Expected 2026
Contact: levim@email.sc.edu
Briar Ownby-Connolly
Briar Ownby-Connolly
Through the University of South Carolina, Briar is working out of the Baruch Marine Field Lab (BMFL) where she joined the Baruch Ecological Engineering Lab (BEEL) in 2024. Her research will focus on mechanical and biological aspects of oyster reef restoration and ecology within the intertidal zones of South Carolina. Briar’s research interests are broad and interdisciplinary, ranging from coastal dynamics, civil engineering applications in stormwater management, marine conservation ecology, environmental policy, and applied ecological engineering. Briar also acted as an introductory biology lab instructor during her time at the College of Charleston and plans on teaching while completing her Ph.D. at the University of South Carolina.
B.S. Marine Science, Coastal Carolina University, 2022
M.S. Environmental and Sustainability Studies, College of Charleston, 2024
Pursuing a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of South Carolina
Contact: briar@baruch.sc.edu
Tyler Pyatt
Tyler Pyatt
Tyler is a master’s student in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina. He joined the Baruch Ecological Engineering Lab in January 2025. After earning a B.S. in Biology at Clemson University, Tyler gained experience in a wide range of topics relating to conservation and natural resources, including working for Clemson University as a research technician, the Belle Baruch Foundation as a conservation technician, and the Department of Interior as a wildlife biologist. Currently, Tyler is studying the environmental, social, and economic effects of coastal flooding on the communities of Sandy Island and Saint Helena Island, with an emphasis on the Gullah Geechee communities that reside there.
Contact: PYATTT@email.sc.edu
Anna Privette
Anna Privette
Anna is a master's student in the Earth and Environmental Resource Management Program at the University of South Carolina and joined the Baruch Ecological Engineering Lab (BEEL) in Spring of 2025. After earning a B.S. in Environmental Biology from Wingate University, Anna joined the Carolina Wildlands Foundation as a lead field biologist, where she is responsible for field monitoring and ecological assessments. Her research focuses on designing and implementing a long-term water quality monitoring program for the Thompson Creek Watershed in Chesterfield County, SC, as well as studying Longhorn Beetle diversity across South Carolina's ecoregions. For her master's project, Anna is examining the seasonal and spatial variation in water quality within the Thompson Creek Watershed. Her goal is to build a reliable database of stream quality results that can inform local watershed management and guide future policy decisions.
Contact: ACA13@email.sc.edu
Maggie Pelton
Maggie Pelton
Maggie is a research technician at the Baruch Marine Field Lab (BMFL) and has worked to support ongoing projects in the BEEL Lab since April 2025. A USC graduate (B.S. Marine Science 2022), she has worked in various labs at BMFL since October of 2023, doing a variety of work including coordinating fieldwork, catching and processing estuarine fauna from trawls and seines, analyzing gut contents, and monitoring water quality. She has experience in the marine environment as well as ornithology through research experiences in Alaska and elsewhere on the South Carolina coast. Maggie is also an illustrator, passionate about highlighting the process and beauty of research through art as a means of science communication.
Contact: maggie@baruch.sc.edu
Illustration Website: www.maggiepelton.com
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