People
J.B. Moon, Ph.D.
jmoon8@murraystate.edu Research Gate
J.B. Moon's research centers around describing how landscape context and disturbance alter the spatio-temporal dynamics of microbial communities and their processes in wetland ecosystems and downstream waterbodies. See Projects for more details.
She founded Ecoscape Analytics LLC in 2018.
Graduate Students
Marissa Miles, Biology, Watershed Science
Marissa is working towards her M.S. degree in Watershed Science. She received her B.S. in Wildlife and Conservation and her GIS certification at Murray State University in Fall of 2021. Marissa started her research as an undergraduate student, interested in studying the role of wetland easements in trapping sediment and storing carbon. Her current research focuses on understanding the role of tree stems in carbon emissions across hydrogeomorphic settings.
Marissa's home is in Saint Louis, but she also spends time on the Oregon coast. Her companion dog, Milo, has become apart of the Moon lab team.
Skylar Ross, Environmental Science, Watershed Science
Skylar is working towards her M.S. degree in Watershed Science. She received her B.S. through the Honors College studying Environmental Science with a minor in Wildlife and Conservation Biology at Murray State University in the Spring of 2023. As an undergraduate, she was involved in Racer Band, Environmental Science Club, The Wildlife Society, and Four Rivers Watershed Watch. Skylar’s research involves examining the density of cypress knees in relation to methane emissions.
Link to Skylar's 2023 Poster at the Capital.
Undergraduate Research Students
Isaiah Radford, Biology, Wildlife and Conservation Track
Isaiah is a senior in Wildlife and Conservation Biology. He is currently using mesocosms at Hancock Biology Station to investigate how differences in microbial habitat patterning affect ecosystem functioning (i.e., carbon storage and nitrogen removal).
Link to Isaiah's 2022 Kentucky Academy of Sciences Poster.
Emily Freeman, Biology, Fisheries Biology and Aquatic Sciences
Hi! My name is Emily Freeman. I am senior in Fisheries Biology and Aquatic Sciences. I am from Ozark, Missouri which is in between Springfield and Branson. I grew up on the water, fishing and kayaking with my family. I took that passion and started tournament fishing when I was in high school and came to Murray State to fish at the collegiate level. I took that passion and turned it into my field of study. I am currently the treasurer for the Murray State Bass Anglers and a member of Sigma Alpha. In Dr. Moon’s lab I am conducting research on the status of the aquatic vegetation seedbank of Kentucky Lake. Aquatic vegetation has seen a magnitude of environmental and physicochemical disturbances. Including the introduction of asian carp and the hydraulic regime of the lake. This study is to analyze the viability of the aquatic vegetation seedbank and to see if reintroduction methods would be viable back into Kentucky Lake.
Link to Emily's 2023 MEEC Poster.
Rosie Carey, Biology, Wildlife and Conservation Track
Rosie is a senior in the Honors College studying Wildlife and Conservation Biology.
Logan Firkins, Chemistry
Logan is a senior undergraduate student in the Honors College studying Chemistry.