People 

Abby Bednarski, MSc Student 

I am interested in how fish respond to environmental changes, particularly in the context of climate change. I hope to understand how the changing climate is affecting fish populations, genetically and behaviorally. I am also interested in studying the ecosystems these fish inhabit!

Contact: alb0293(at) auburn.edu

Favorite song: Maine

Antrelle Clark, PhD Student 

I am interested in understanding the relationships between coastal fishes and environmental fluctuations. My research focuses on understanding responses of killifishes to salinity and temperature, focusing on their gene expression and microbiome.  

Contact: adc0064(at) auburn.edu

Favorite song: Autumn Leaves

Logan Turner, PhD Student (2020-2025)

Currently:  Strategic project specialist at KLS Martin

Logan evaluated the responses of cryptobenthic fishes to changing temperatures. Specifically, he evaluated differences in maximum thermal tolerance and oxygen consumption for cryptobenthics with overlapping distribution in the Gulf of Mexico. He also evaluated the main variables influencing thermal tolerance for 200+ species of fishes through a comprehensive meta-analysis. 

Contact: lft0005 (at) auburn.edu

Favorite song: Oversized 

Claire Tracy PhD Student (2021-2025)

Currently: Lecturer, Wallace Community College

During her PhD, Claire evaluated the responses of tropical Damselfishes of the genus Abudefduf, to different temperature conditions. Specifically, she focused on species separated by the formation of the isthmus of Panama, comparing responses to cold water upwellings and heatwaves. As part of this project, she also assemebled and annotated the genomes of A. saxatilis and A. troschelii. She succesfully defended in the Fall of 2025. 

She was co-supervised by Dr. Jamie Oaks.

Contact:  cbt0022 (at) auburn.edu

Favorite song: MMMBop

Katherine Eaton, PhD Student (2020-2025)

Currently: Postdoctoral Researcher at the Kelly lab at LSU

Katie evaluated the responses of the pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) to ocean warming. Her thesis studied the consequences of warming from the perspective of fast acclimation and long-term adaptation. She succesfully defended her PhD in the summer of 2025. 

Contact: kme0038 (at) auburn.edu 

Favorite song: Operator