Graduate Student Poster Award

During the Seventh Annual Graduate Student Research Poster Session, Leslie Wickes received an award for her poster, “Growth and Distribution of Lophelia pertusa Under ‘Acidified’ Conditions in the Southern California Bight.” Wickes was one of three presenters that received honors from the four judges. At least 250 people turned out to view the 22 projects in the session. Read more at the Graduate School blog.

Art to Teach and Inspire

Amanda McLennonGrad Program in Marine Biology alum, Amanda McLenon (2010), was named the Griffith/Reyburn Lowcountry Artist of the Year and will receive a $5,000 grant to produce 20 new pieces. McLenon’s paintings highlight marine life images on glass window sashes and antique picture frames. You can view images of her art at her website Circle the Stream.  “My hope is that my artwork will bring a greater appreciation for both the history and natural beauty of the Lowcountry, as well as inspire active participation in their preservation.” In addition to art, McLenon works part-time for the DiTullio Lab. She will be assisting in the research cruise to Antarctica this spring. Read more…

2011 Colloquium

The 15th annual Marine Biology Student Research Colloquium was held on September 23 and 24, 2011. The colloquium featured keynote speaker Dr. John Bruno, a marine ecologist and Associate Professor at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Bruno’s research focuses on marine biodiversity, coral reef ecology and conservation, and the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems. Thirteen marine biology and environmental studies students gave oral presentations of their research at the colloquium. Kristin Stover received the best oral presentation award for her talk “Performance changes when exposed to varying oxygen levels in the Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun.”  Additionally, seventeen students presented posters of their thesis research this year. Timothy O’Donnell received the best poster presentation award for his research “Characterizing the genetic population structure and genetic influences of winter-kill events in spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) in South Carolina.” The colloquium concluded with a cookout and Lowcountry Boil for students, professors, and attendees at the SCDNR outdoor classroom.

Robin Garcia Published in MarSci Online Journal

College of Charleston’s summer research experience for undergraduates (REU) program yields promising results. Robin Garcia published her summer undergraduate research work in the Fall 2010 edition of MarSci. This on-line journal specilizes in publishing undergraduate research manuscripts pertaining to the
marine and aquatic sciences. Students interested in writing a manuscript based on their undergraduate research experience and engaging in the process of submission and publication can do this via MarSci. This is a unique learning experience that is not typically available to most undergraduate scientists.

Grice, Where Research Thrives

College of Charleston’s graduate students in marine biology began the New Year presenting their research at various conferences around the country.  Mark Stratton recently presented his research at the Southern Division American Fisheries Society meeting in Tampa, Florida from January 13-16, 2011.  This year’s meeting was titled “Fisheries Connectivity: Headwaters to Oceans”.  Mark’s poster, “Application of community indicators to the snapper grouper complex in southeastern U.S. Atlantic continental shelf waters” was a part of a special symposium titled “Southeast Reef Fishes”.

On January 20, 2011 the 5th annual Graduate Student Research Poster Session took place on the downtown campus.  The following marine biology graduate students presented posters:  Jenn Bennett, Walter Blair, Casey Darling, Cameron Doll, Anna Manyak, David Shiffman, Sammi Smoot, Mark Stratton and Kristen Stover.  David Shiffman won an award for the best marine biology poster.  This poster session highlights the graduate research of multiple disciplines. This year there were 29 entries from Communication, Education, English, Environmental Studies, History, Marine Biology, and Public Administration.

Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SCIB)

The Grice Marine Lab had a high profile at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB), held January 3 – 7, 2011, in chilly Salt Lake City, UT.  Fourteen faculty members, postdocs, grad and undergrad students presented their research findings and mingled with more than 1400 other conferees at the Salt Palace Convention Center.  New faculty member Dr. Andrew Clark chaired a well-attended afternoon session on “Adhesion and Locomotor Substrate Effects.”  In other sessions, Dr. Alison Welch reported on body condition in gray tree frogs, while Dr. Agnes Ayme-Southgate linked molecular biology to the biomechanics of insect flight muscle and Dr. Eric McElroy revealed the impacts of tail autonomy on locomotion in grass lizards.  Dr. Bob Podolsky, graduate student Sammi Smoot, and undergraduates Diego Castro and Gabe Segarra presented their data on antimicrobial and antipredator defenses and tether strength in molluscan egg masses.  Graduate students Nat Johnson, Kris Stover and Casey Darling discussed their work with Drs. Lou and Karen Burnett on antimicrobial and antioxidant defenses and on locomotion in crustaceans. Burnett lab postodoctoral fellow Dr. Kristin Hardy summarized recent studies on molecular adaptations to hypoxia in blue crabs.  Outside the formal sessions, the Grice group took advantage of opportunities to network and discuss the research with their peers and enjoy some of the local sites and even, for some, a little skiing.

Congratulations Fall 2010 GPMB Graduates!

GPMB word mark

On Saturday December 18, 2010 the College of Charleston held its Graduate School Commencement Ceremony.  Congratulations to Melanie Hedgespeth and Tucker Williamson for the completion of their Masters of Science degrees in the following areas:

Melanie Hedgespeth – An Assessment of the Presence and Fate of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) Found in Treated Wastewater Discharges into Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.  (Advisor: Ed Wirth – NOAA/HML).

Tucker Williamson – Molecular Ecology of the Barnacle Megabalanus coccopomaOver Its Introduced Range in the Southeastern U.S. (Advisor: John Zardus –Citadel)

2010 Graduate Student Colloquium

The Marine Biology Graduate Student Colloquium was held on September 24-25, 2010. This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Win Watson from the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Watson’s studies include neurophysiology, ecology and behavior of marine organisms. His keynote address was on Friday, September 24 followed by a poster session and social. Student oral presentations took place on Saturday, September 25 followed by Dr. Watson’s closing address. Additionally on Saturday, there was a Colloquium Social featuring Lowcountry Boil held at the Outdoor Classroom during which the new students were introduced. Many graduate students in Marine Biology presented their research. The 2010 Marine Biology Graduate Student Colloquium showcased the student’s hard work and dedication to the marine science field. Thank you for joining us in support of the students and the exciting research conducted in the Fort Johnson community. Follow the 2010 Colloquium link above for a detailed event schedule and to review the poster and presentation abstracts.

GPMB Student David Shiffman is a “Cool Scientist”

webShiffman&SandbarThe marine conservation organization “Dive Into Your Imagination” has listed David Shiffman as a “Cool Scientist You Should Know.”  David Shiffman is a Master’s candidate in the College of Charleston’s Graduate Program of Marine Biology.  David’s pictures and interview are featured on the website.  To read what he has to say about his current research at the Grice Marine Laboratory and his views on shark conservation please click here.