Students

If you are a student interested in conducting research with our lab, please explore our pages and see what our current students are working on. We currently have students conducting one-semester DIS projects to Masters students working on capstone or thesis projects.

PhD

Claire Brovold

Claire is a PhD student in Applied Coastal and Ocean Sciences. She previously received her MS in Geology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and her BA in Geology and Environmental Science from Adrian College (Michigan). Her MS research focused on the effects of salt-induced faulting on coastal land loss in Louisiana. Her research on the Louisiana Coast led her to UNCW to continue her interests in coastal wetland research.

Graduate

Sarah Ashley

Sarah is in the MS Marine Science program. They graduated from Salisbury University with a Bachelors in Geography. After graduation, they began working as a Natural Resource Technician for the Department of Natural Resources in Fisheries and Boating Services. Her work was an integral part of the APAIS study sponsored by NOAA to monitor local species populations and ultimately impact finfish regulations. Sarah also has published field research involving the geomorphic evolution of a coastal plain drainage system along the Nanticoke River in Delaware. Currently, Sarah is working with the CES lab on various projects. For personal interests, Sarah has a strong passion for learning about coastal environments and the processes that affect them. She grew up on the Chesapeake Bay Estuary and enjoys living and working on the water.

Danielle Jenkins

Danielle is a masters student in the Marine Science Program. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with a concentration in Marine Science from the University of Georgia. While there, she worked with the Georgia Dolphin Ecology Program and on bioacoustics with the UGA Marine Institute. After graduation, she worked as a field technician with Georgia Coastal Ecosystems (GCE) Long Term Ecological Research Projects (LTER) on Sapelo Island where she assisted with the research for multiple ongoing projects. Her field experience led her to graduate school at UNCW to pursue coastal restoration and conservation. Danielle’s research will focus on carbon sequestration and sediment dynamics at the Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson site.

Taylor Mattioli

Taylor is a graduate student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, working towards her master's in Environmental Studies. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Geology (Environmental Studies concentration) from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in May 2022. Taylor is currently the primary investigator for the Marsh Organ Experiment, which is a joint experiment with the Endriss Lab and CES Lab. This experiment studies the effects of salinity, sea level rise, and management techniques on Phragmites australis in coastal North Carolina. This experiment highlights Taylor’s passion for invasive plant control, problem-solving, and practical environmental conservation efforts. Taylor hopes this research will help coastal land managers make more informed decisions regarding Phragmites australis mitigation in the region.

Mackenzie Taggart

Mackenzie is a Northern California native pursuing a Masters in Marine Science. She holds a Bachelors in Earth Science with a minor in Soil Science from California Polytechnic State University. Mackenzie has a deep appreciation for the North Carolina coastline gained through her work with the North Carolina Coastal Federation, Marine Fisheries, and the Coastal Reserve. Her experience with coastal restoration includes collaboration on construction and monitoring of living shorelines (vegetative and oyster reef) and development of a watershed restoration plan to combat sea level rise. Mackenzie’s research will focus on Blue Carbon dynamics within estuaries which she hopes will influence current and emerging environmental policies to protect estuaries as vital carbon sinks.

Shannon Wick

Shannon is a graduate student pursuing a Masters in Environmental Studies and a Masters in Public Administration. She previously attended Florida Atlantic University and graduated with a Bachelors in Biological Sciences. During undergraduate studies, Shannon found a passion for sea turtle conservation while working in a research lab studying sea turtle hatchling sex ratios and how they respond to climate change. After graduating, she stayed in Florida for three years working with sea turtle husbandry, rehabilitation, and nesting efforts. Her sea turtle experience led her to attend graduate school at the University of North Carolina Wilmington to pursue a masters degree to work towards the goal of policy implementation of sea turtle conservation efforts. Shannon’s research in the CES Lab will focus on beach renourishment projects along North Carolina coasts, how these projects may impact sea turtle nest and false crawl densities.

Undergraduate

Cate Arnold

Cate is an undergraduate senior in the Honors Program at UNCW, pursuing a double major in Environmental Science and International Studies, with minors in Geospatial Technologies and Political Science. She was born and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina, and has always had a passion for the outdoors and her local community. Her work experience includes organizing and officiating clean-ups, participating in environmental restoration projects, water quality testing, offshore buoy monitoring, prescribed burning, and various fellowship work associated with the Rachel Carson Council. Her current research focuses on how flooding from Hurricane Florence has impacted gentrification in New Hanover County, North Carolina. Beyond a Bachelor’s Degree, she hopes to continue her education, working toward a Ph.D., eventually looking for a career in environmental justice, climate change policy, and/or natural resource management.

Gabrielle Pinto

Gabrielle is an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and is a North Carolina native. She is a senior majoring in Coastal Engineering with a minor in Environmental Science. Gabrielle has a passion for understanding coastal processes, renewable offshore energy, and coastal restoration. After graduating, she plans to seek a job implementing nature-based solutions to growing issues such as shoreline erosion and sea level rise.

Diandre’ Richie

Diandre’ is an undergraduate senior majoring in Environmental Science with a concentration in Biological Sciences with a minor in Business at UNCW. He is from Charlotte, North Carolina, and grew up with an overwhelming calling for science, the environment, and the ocean. He is on the Southeast Advisory Committee for North Carolinas Coastal Federation. This advisory committee assists in planning, conducting, and evaluating the federations work for the region. He is very excited and is looking forward to new opportunities in the field and wants to use the new information he has gathered to help with his future studies. Beyond a Bachelor Degree, he hopes to continue his education and obtain a Masters Degree. He plans to continue working in the field to increase efforts of Coastal Resilience and become a Chief Sustainability Officer.