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Scyphers Lab at the University of South Alabama
MEET THE LAB
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Steven Scyphers, PhD
Associate Professor
Steven is an Associate Professor in the School of Marine and Environmental Sciences at the University of South Alabama. Steven’s research integrates ecology and sociology to understand and develop strategies to overcome major challenges facing coastal communities. His work focuses on sustainable coastal fisheries, shoreline development, ecosystem restoration, and climate adaptation. He was awarded a Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability (SEES) Fellowship from the National Science Foundation. He received his BS in Marine Biology at Auburn University and his PhD in Marine Sciences at the University of South Alabama and Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Before returning to USA in 2022, Steven was a tenured Associate Professor at Northeastern University in Boston, MA.
Savannah Swinea
PhD Candidate
Savannah (she/her) studies coastlines and oceans through the application of a social-ecological systems (SES) framework. In her thesis, Savannah employs participatory methods and practices to co-produce knowledge amongst stakeholders in Gulf of Mexico coastal social-ecological systems like shorelines and fisheries. Before her graduate work, Savannah received her B.S. in Environmental Sciences from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and worked at UNC’s Institute of Marine Sciences as both an undergraduate honors thesis researcher as well as a research technician.
Sarah Gibbs
PhD Student
Sarah (she/her) studies the adaptive capacity of commercial fisheries. She is co-advised by Dr. Jonathan Grabowski at Northeastern University. Her dissertation research focuses on the social impacts of regulatory changes and the effects of social capital on the resilience of fishing communities. Sarah received her B.S. in Environmental Science from Northeastern University in 2021.
Sophia Corde
PhD Student
Sophia studies human-wildlife interaction mitigation and conservation practices. Her dissertation research focuses on manatee distributions, human-manatee interactions, and the use of citizen science for conservation in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Sophia received her BS in Marine Science and Biology from the University of Miami and her MS in Biology from Western Kentucky University. Sophia is co-advised by Dr. Ruth H. Carmichael.
Emerson Woodhall
PhD Student
Emerson graduated in spring 2023 with her BA in Environmental Studies from Northeastern University. She currently works with the MSU Coastal Research and Extension Center, collaborating on projects to increase resilience in communities along the northern Gulf Coast. She wrote her undergraduate thesis on the social and ecological adaptation capacity of the wine industry to climate change. Emerson is interested in resilience and adaptive measures in underserved coastal communities and incorporating stakeholder engagement into management.
Sarah Wraight
PhD Student
Sarah is a sociologist and GIS analyst interested in studying the meaning-making processes individuals and groups engage in surrounding built and natural environments, and the shapes these negotiations take when there is a shock to the social-ecological system. She is also interested in analyzing the relationships between (1) the misleading ideology behind the nature-nurture dichotomy, and (2) governmental actions that lead to environmental injustice. Sarah received her MA in sociology and her BA in anthropology with a minor in geology, both from the University of South Alabama.
Grace Stringer
PhD Student
Grace (she/her) graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in Spring of 2023 where she got her BS in Ecology and Evolution and a Certificate in Sustainability. She then moved to Alabama to work at Dauphin Island Sea Lab in the Baker Lab. There, she worked on projects related to the nursery estuarine habitats and living shorelines. Grace is interested in coastal accessibility and science communication with coastal communities and policy makers.
Sarah Limer
Research Technologist II & MS Student
Sarah (she/her) graduated with a BS in Biology from Kennesaw State University in 2022, where she studied under Dr. Troy Mutchler researching the effects of urbanization on organic matter inputs and food webs within freshwater streams throughout North Georgia. Sarah is working towards a MS degree in Marine Conservation and Resource Management at the University of South Alabama. She currently works on nature based solutions and natural hazards dimensions in coastal landscapes.
Hailey Smith
Research Technologist II
Hailey holds a BS in Organismal and Marine Biology from Spring Hill College. She’s been employed at the Dauhin Island Sea Lab under Dr. Sean Powers working on his projects that focus on ecology of reef and estuarine fish. She specifically focused her efforts on the ongoing fisheries independent survey in Alabama waters, as well as the Greater Amberjack Gulf and South Atlantic Count. Hailey will be working with Dr. Scyphers in understanding the angler's role in fisheries management and how to better protect the angler in the decisions made to protect our ecosystems.
Katie Waring
GIS Analyst
Katie is currently a third-year undergraduate student at Northeastern University. She is majoring in Environmental and Sustainability Sciences and minoring in International Affairs and Sociology. She takes particular interest in the areas of sustainable development, environmental policy, and climate adaptation/mitigation. Currently, Katie works as our GIS Analyst.
Chloe Rich
Intern
Chloe is a third-year undergraduate transfer student from Coastal Alabama CC. She is majoring in marine science with a minor in biology. Chloe aspires to study sharks, more specifically whale sharks, in the future. She enjoys traveling and going to the beach and hopes to hit all of the National Parks one day.
Emily Changeux
Intern
Emilie is a third-year undergraduate student from Northeastern University, majoring in Environmental Studies and Political Science. She is interested in sustainable development, food systems, and climate strategies. At the lab, Emilie hopes to learn more about Alabama’s coastal ecology and communities.
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Aryah Glover
Intern
Aryah is a third year undergraduate student at the University of South Alabama, majoring in Biomedical Science with a minor in Forensic Science and a concentration in Public and Global health. Aryah aspires to attend Medical School In hopes of pursuing a career in Neuroscience. Aryah will be working in the Scyphers lab on her Honors Thesis project.
ALUMNI
Dr. Kelsi Furman
NSF GRFP Fellow & PhD 2022
Current: Postdoctoral Researcher at Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Kelsi studies the role of social equity and spatial landscape variation in coastal and fisheries management. Her dissertation research is focused on social equity shore-based recreational fisheries. She is an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship recipient and has been awarded an NSF Graduate Internship Program award to intern at NOAA's Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Miami.
Dr. Kiera O'Donnell
PhD, 2022
Current: NSF RCN Postdoc at Duke University
Kiera studies the role of natural, nature-based, and built shorelines in the impacts of hurricanes. Her dissertation research focuses on the landscape and social outcomes of Hurricane Irma in the lower Florida Keys and Hurricane Michael in the Florida Panhandle. Kiera previously worked at NOAA as a data analyst for sea level and storms.
Evan Prasky
MS, 2023
Evan studies the complex socio-ecological interactions between humans and sharks. His research focuses specifically on shark depredation and how it impacts the perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs humans have on shark populations in the Gulf of Mexico. Evan holds BS degrees in both Biology and Environmental Science & Policy from Framingham State University and previously was enlisted in the United States Army where he served for three years.
PAST INTERNS
Charlie Sheldon
Northeastern University
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Charlotte Collins
Northeastern University
Bekah Farmer
University of South Alabama
Mary Margaret Weeks
University of South Alabama
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