Dr. Amanda Southwood Williard

I received my BSc (1993) in Marine Biology from Auburn University, and my MSc (1997) and PhD (2002) in Zoology from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.  I conducted post-doctoral research at the NOAA Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, and joined the faculty in the Department of Biology and Marine Biology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2005.  My research interests are broadly defined as energetics and thermal physiology of reptiles.

 

Current Graduate Students

Juan Manuel Rodriguez Baron

Juanma is a marine conservationist with a BSc in Marine Biology from Jorge Tadeo Lozano University (Colombia) and an MSc from the Interdisciplinary Center of Marine Sciences (Mexico). He is the Science Director at the JUSTSEA Foundation (justsea.org) As a Fulbright Scholar, he is conducting his Ph.D. research on understanding the nature and frequency of marine megafauna—sea turtles, elasmobranchs, and seabirds—bycatch in the Pacific coasts of Panama and Colombia. His research combines a bycatch rapid assessment, a multi-year spatial-temporal risk analysis, and a bycatch rate and mortality analysis. Among his leadership and service positions related to the conservation and management of marine megafauna, Juanma serves as a Regional Vice-Chair of the IUCN Marine Turtle Specialist Group (iucn-mtsg.org) in the East Pacific region.

Brett Wilson

Brett received his BSc from Towson University in 2020. He is broadly interested in fisheries biology and applied research that can be directly used to inform fisheries management. His PhD dissertation research focuses on bycatch reduction in the North Carolina commercial blue crab fishery, involving a strong collaborative approach with local fishers.

 

 

Caroline VanDuzer

Caroline received her BSc in Biology from The College of William & Mary in 2023. Her undergraduate research was centered around marine invertebrate developmental and population ecology. With a background in veterinary science, she is interested in organismal physiology and ecology. Her MSc research is focused on aerobic diving metrics such as myoglobin concentration and muscle morphology in juvenile kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) and green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas).  

 

Mara Cobb

Mara received her BSc in Marine Biology from UNCW in 2020. Her undergraduate research largely focused on loggerhead sea turtle nesting biology, and how nest temperature data can be used to predict incubation duration. Before returning to UNCW for graduate school, she worked as a seasonal field technician surveying Mojave desert tortoises, acorn woodpeckers, California condors, and native wildflower populations. For her MSc, she is studying PFAS contamination in the Cape Fear River and potential immune function impacts in brown pelicans. Her research interests include conservation biology and wildlife management, especially projects working with federally listed species. 

Former Graduate Students

Jasmine Pierre

Jasmine received her BSc in Marine Biology and Oceanography from UNCW in 2019. Her primary research interests include biological oceanography and marine biology. Her undergraduate research included a directed independent study focusing on the gut microbiome of pygmy whales. Upon the completion of her master’s program, she hopes to continue her education and begin a Doctorate Program to eventually transition into a role in academia. Her MSc research focuses on the Osmotic Status of Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) under natural conditions.

 

Morgan Whitmer

Morgan received her BSc from York College of Pennsylvania in 2016. Her undergraduate research focused on the movements of juvenile American toads (Anaxarus americanus) at vernal pools in south central PA. She worked with the Great Basin Institute and US Fish and Wildlife Service to monitor endangered Mojave desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii). Her MSc research focuses on habitat use of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) at Masonboro Island, NC.

 

Susan Barco

Sue received her BSc from the College of William and Mary, MSc from James Madison University, and PhD from UNCW in 2018.  She is the Senior Scientist and Research Coordinator at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach.  Sue’s PhD research at UNCW focused on refining estimates of sea turtle seasonal abundance and distribution in Virginia and Maryland using aerial surveys and satellite tracking.  She also used tissue samples to assess health status of sea turtles in this region.

Tiffany Yang

Tiffany received her BSc in Marine Biology from UNCW in 2016. Undergraduate research included a directed independent study on biochemical assays for blood samples collected from diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) and an honors thesis on population dynamics of spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias). Her MSc research focused on establishing reference intervals for blood analytes in North Atlantic loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta).

Leigh Anne Harden

Leigh Anne received a BSc in Biology from Davidson College, and completed her PhD at UNCW in 2013.  Her PhD research at UNCW focused on the spatial ecology and overwintering physiology of diamondback terrapins in southeastern North Carolina.  She is an Assistant Professor at Benedictine University in Lisle, IL.  Please follow this link to Leigh Anne’s website if you would like to read more about her current research.

Stephanie Chavez

Stephanie graduated from UNCW in 2012 with a BS in Biology and BA in Chemistry.  Stephanie developed a special interest in marine and estuarine turtles during her internship at the North Carolina Coastal Reserve at Masonboro Island. Her Master’s research focused on the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin), with an emphasis on physiological and conservation aspects of terrapin interactions with crab pots.

James Casey

James graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2005.  His graduate research combined the use of satellite-linked data recorders and stomach temperature pills to document leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) foraging behavior.  James received his MSc in Spring of 2010, and now teaches Biology at Barnard College in New York.

Lisa Goshe

Lisa received her BSc from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and worked for several years at the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Beaufort Laboratory.  Lisa used skeletochronology to assess age and growth in green sea turtles for her MSc research at UNCW.  She received her MSc in Spring 2009.

 

Jessica Snoddy

Jessica received her BSc from Southampton College of Long Island University.  Jessica investigated the behavior and movements of sea turtles released alive from fishing gear, with the ultimate goal of refining post-release mortality estimates used for fisheries management.  She received her MSc in Spring 2009.