RESEARCH TEAM

I am grateful to have a talented and dedicated research team (including many wonderful students and our favorite canine/feline science pawtners)!

MASON TSAGLOS

SHU 2026 | Major - Biology | Minors - Chemistry, Psychology

Team Seagrass!

Mason is studying seed germination and seedling performance of different eelgrass populations in New England. He shared the results of his Spring 2024 research at the Eastern Colleges Science Conference in April 2024 and won an award for Best Poster Presentation! He also presented at Sacred Heart University’s Academic Festival, and received SHU’s Undergraduate Research Award in Spring 2024.

OLIVIA GRIFFIN

SHU 2027 | Major - Biology (Honors)

Team Oyster!

Olivia is studying oyster parasites/diseases across aquaculture sites and methods. She shared the results of her Spring 2024 research at the Benthic Ecology Meeting in April 2024 - her first scientific conference and poster presentation! She also presented at Sacred Heart University’s Academic Festival, and received SHU’s Undergraduate Research Award in Spring 2024.

AMANDA SMENTKOWSKI

SHU 2026 | Major - Biology (Honors) | Minors - Chemistry, Psychology

Team Oyster!

Amanda is studying oyster parasites/diseases across aquaculture sites and methods. She has quickly become a shucking expert (hence her nickname Speed Shucker!) and is leading analysis of SSO disease using DNA extraction, PCR, and gel electrophoresis. Amanda is looking forward to presenting the results of her research in Spring 2025.

KYRA LERNER

SHU 2025 | Major - Biology

Team Seagrass!

Kyra has been instrumental in developing a survey of seagrass restoration practitioners for our NERRS Science Collaborative project. In addition, Kyra is developing a senior research project focused on eelgrass seed germination and seedling performance under different environmental conditions.

LOGAN GRANGER

SHU 2025 | Major - Biology | Minor - Chemistry

Team Daphnia

Logan was a jack of all trades in Fall 2024, helping with oyster DNA extractions and macroparasite analysis, plus lending a hand with Spartina seed processing. In Spring 2025, he is making the jump from saltwater to freshwater and leading a new experiment using Daphnia.

EMMA MURPHY

SHU 2027 | Major - Biology (Honors) | Minors - Chemistry, Psychology

Team Spartina!

Emma is joining the lab in Spring 2025! She is hitting the ground running, leading a Spartina seed germination experiment and aiming to present her research at a scientific conference this year.

MIA MELCHIOR

SHU 2026 | Major - Marketing

Team Spartina!

Mia assisted with multiple seed/seedling projects in Spring 2024, including measurements of Zostera seeds and Spartina seedlings from different populations. She is the reason we have 50+ Spartina genotypes happily growing in the greenhouse currently!

Research Pawtners