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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.
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Sarah Gibbs

PhD Student

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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. 
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Sophia Corde

PhD Student

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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.
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Sarah Wraight

PhD Student

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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 degradation. Sarah received her MA in sociology and her BA in anthropology with a minor in geology, both from the University of South Alabama.  
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Grace Stringer

PhD Student

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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.
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Sarah Limer

PhD Student

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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 has finished a MS degree in Marine Conservation and Resource Management at the University of South Alabama, and is now working towards her PhD. She currently works on nature based solutions and natural hazards dimensions in coastal landscapes

Gracie Chouinard

Intern

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Gracie is a first-year undergraduate student at the University of South Alabama. She is majoring in Marine Sciences and is interested in pursuing environmental sustainability. Her parents are Wildlife Biologists which sparked her interest in Marine Sciences. As a first-year undergraduate, Gracie is excited to learn and gain experience from the research at the Scyphers Lab.

Edward Sullivan

Intern

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Edward is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of South Alabama, majoring in Marine Science and minoring in Environmental Sciences and Geographic Information Technology (GIT). Being a coastal native, Edward aspires to contribute to coastal rehabilitation here on the Gulf using GIT. Edward looks forward to achieving such and learning useful skills from the Scyphers lab.

Faith Stewart

Intern

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Faith is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of South Alabama majoring in Marine Science and double minoring in Environmental science and Uteach at the University of South Alabama. Having lived on the gulf coast her entire life, she is extremely passionate about all things Mobile marine life and sustainability. She is super excited to begin working and learning in the Scyphers Lab!

Meg Custard

Intern

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Meg Custard is a senior at the University of South Alabama studying environmental science with a sustainability concentration, and a minor in composite sciences. She is interested in
writing about climate science and conservation, and hopes to have a career in environmental consulting when she graduates. Meg enjoys learning about the projects and efforts that work
towards a more sustainable future in the Scyphers lab.

Xander Swain

Intern

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Xander Swain is a recent graduate from the University of Montevallo. He finished his degrees in Political Science, Sociology and Environmental Studies. Xander is interested in pursuing a PhD at the University of South Alabama where he hopes to focus on community participatory research and disaster management along the coast. He's excited to dive in  and work alongside the varying projects at the Scyphers Lab. 

ALUMNI

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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.

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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.
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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.

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Dr. Savannah Swinea

PhD, 2024

Current: Postdoctoral Researcher at NC State University 

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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.

PAST LAB MEMBERS

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Charlie Sheldon

Northeastern University

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Charlotte Collins

Northeastern University

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Bekah Farmer

University of South Alabama

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Mary Margaret Weeks

University of South Alabama

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Chloe Rich

University of South Alabama

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Katie Waring

Northeastern University

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Emilie Changeux

Northeastern University

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Emerson Woodhall

University of South Alabama

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Hailey Smith

Spring Hill College

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Aryah Glover

University of South Alabama

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Grace Arents

Northeastern University

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Mary-Everett Toombs

University of St. Andrews

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