About the Researchers

Dr. Eric B. May received his Ph.D from Oregon State University in Biochemistry, Pathology and Microbiology. He also completed his B.S. in Zoology at OSU, with a minor in fisheries. His M.S. from Northern Arizona University was in Cell Biology and Parasitology.  

Dr. May’s research interests are the use of biochemical and metabolic indicators to determine the response of fish to injurious agents or conditions, establishment of clinical methods as a means of non-lethal testing of wild and cultured stocks, the effects of environmental damage on resident aquatic organisms and application of fish health management approaches for use in aquaculture and wild stocks. 

Dr. Maggie Sexton received a B.S. degree in Marine Science and Biology from Coastal Carolina University in 2003 and a Ph.D. in Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Science from the University of Maryland in 2012. Her research interests include the biology and ecology of marine invertebrates in the Maryland Coastal Bays.

Annette Y. Micheli, an undergraduate student from the University of Puerto Rico, participated in the UMES REU in Marine and Estuarine Sciences program in 2017 under the mentorship of Drs. May and Sexton. Her project title was, "Determining advective flow within the dead end canals of the Maryland Coastal Bays."

Colby Bommer, an undergraduate student from Hampton University, participated in the UMES REU in Marine and Estuarine Sciences program in 2018 under the mentorship of Drs. May and Sexton. Her project title was, "An evaluation of the microbial community composition in a dead-end canal."

Raelynn Twohy, an undergraduates student from Missouri University of Science and Technology, participated in the UMES REU in Marine and Estuarine Sciences program in 2018 under the mentorship of Drs. May and Sexton. Her project title was, "Characterization of the physical characteristics of Maryland Coastal Bays dead-end canals."

Antoinette Adams, an undergraduate student from Rust College, participated in the UMES REU in Marine and Estuarine Sciences program in 2018 under the mentorship of Drs. May, Sexton, and Taabodi. Her project title was, "Characterizing bacterial communities within a dead-end canal in the Maryland Coastal Bays."

Mikaela Blackwood, an undergraduate student from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, participated in the UMES REU in Marine and Estuarine Sciences program in 2022 under the mentorship of Drs. May, Sexton, and Weaver. Her project title was, "Water quality and sediment chemistry of dead-end canals."

Renee Thompson, a graduate student from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, participated in the UMES REU in Marine and Estuarine Sciences program in 2022 under the mentorship of Drs. May, Sexton, and Weaver. Her project title was, "Horseshoe crab mortality in dead-end canals: A Survey of Abundance and a Drifter Study." She is a mentor in the 2023 UMES REU program doing further research on the horseshoe crabs in Assawomen Bay.

Sonya Whitaker, an undergraduate student from Albany State University, participated in the UMES REU in Marine and Estuarine Sciences program in 2022 under the mentorship of Drs. May, Sexton, and Weaver. Her project title was, "Water flow in dead-end canals."

Myah Bowie, an undergraduate student at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, is participating in the UMES REU in Marine and Estuarine Sciences program in 2023 under the mentorship of Drs. May, Sexton, and Weaver. Her project title is, "Horseshoe crab proportionality inside dead-end canals."

Gemma Diaz, an undergraduate student from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is participating in the UMES REU in Marine and Estuarine Sciences program in 2023 under the mentorship of Drs. May, Sexton, and Weaver. Her project title was, "Movement of Deceased and living horseshoe crabs outside of dead-end canals."

Esraa Alhassan, an undergraduate student at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore is participating in the UMES REU in Marine and Estuarine Sciences program in 2022 and 2023 under the mentorship of Drs. May, Sexton, and Weaver. Her project title is "Effect of Vibrio on Human Health."