PhD Students
Sarah J. Shainker
PhD student
sjs2@uab.edu
Blazer Fellow (2020-2022)
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow (2022-2025)
@SarahShainker
Bio: I grew up in Atlanta, GA, and earned a B.S. in Marine Biology from the College of Charleston in 2016. At CofC, I worked in a molecular ecology lab studying the invasive history and evolutionary adaptation of the seaweed Agarophyton vermiculophyllum, where I became fascinated with using molecular techniques as a tool for answering ecological and evolutionary questions. After graduating, I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines’ Coastal Resource Management sector, where I worked closely with a local municipal government unit to conduct outreach with local fisherfolk organizations and to organize environmental education programs for citizen and student groups. During this time, I developed strong interests in community organizing, environmental management, outreach, and equity in STEM.
Research: My research focuses on red macroalgae in freshwater streams in the eastern U.S. Macroalgae are important, but understudied members of these systems, with unique life cycles and diverse reproductive strategies. I will use field surveys and population genetics to investigate the evolution and ecology of the life cycle and reproductive systems, and hope to work with community scientists to better understand the diversity and distribution of freshwater red macroalgal species. I am excited to study and engage others in the incredibly diverse freshwater ecosystems of my home region!
PhD student
sjs2@uab.edu
Blazer Fellow (2020-2022)
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow (2022-2025)
@SarahShainker
Bio: I grew up in Atlanta, GA, and earned a B.S. in Marine Biology from the College of Charleston in 2016. At CofC, I worked in a molecular ecology lab studying the invasive history and evolutionary adaptation of the seaweed Agarophyton vermiculophyllum, where I became fascinated with using molecular techniques as a tool for answering ecological and evolutionary questions. After graduating, I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines’ Coastal Resource Management sector, where I worked closely with a local municipal government unit to conduct outreach with local fisherfolk organizations and to organize environmental education programs for citizen and student groups. During this time, I developed strong interests in community organizing, environmental management, outreach, and equity in STEM.
Research: My research focuses on red macroalgae in freshwater streams in the eastern U.S. Macroalgae are important, but understudied members of these systems, with unique life cycles and diverse reproductive strategies. I will use field surveys and population genetics to investigate the evolution and ecology of the life cycle and reproductive systems, and hope to work with community scientists to better understand the diversity and distribution of freshwater red macroalgal species. I am excited to study and engage others in the incredibly diverse freshwater ecosystems of my home region!
Masters Students
Brinkley Thornton
Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Plan II MS student (2021-present)
Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Plan II MS student (2021-present)
Research Assistants
Anna Smith
Bio: I grew up in Carrboro, North Carolina, and I graduated with a B.S. in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May 2019. While at UNC, I took a class which combined molecular biology and marine ecology, became captivated by this field, and decided to pursue a career in research! During my undergraduate career and beyond, I have worked toward resolving the algal taxonomy of the Galapagos archipelago using molecular techniques. Now more than ever with our rapidly changing climate, it is important to understand processes in the natural world on a molecular basis. I will start as a laboratory technician working with Dr. Stacy Krueger-Hadfield and Dr. Edwin Cruz-Rivera studying genotypic diversity and mating system dynamics of Sargassum accumulations in the U.S. Virgin Islands at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Fall 2021.
Bio: I grew up in Carrboro, North Carolina, and I graduated with a B.S. in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May 2019. While at UNC, I took a class which combined molecular biology and marine ecology, became captivated by this field, and decided to pursue a career in research! During my undergraduate career and beyond, I have worked toward resolving the algal taxonomy of the Galapagos archipelago using molecular techniques. Now more than ever with our rapidly changing climate, it is important to understand processes in the natural world on a molecular basis. I will start as a laboratory technician working with Dr. Stacy Krueger-Hadfield and Dr. Edwin Cruz-Rivera studying genotypic diversity and mating system dynamics of Sargassum accumulations in the U.S. Virgin Islands at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Fall 2021.
Alexis Oetterer
Bio: I’m from Washington, Missouri. I will receive my B.S. in Biology and minor in Spanish from Truman State University in May 2021. During my time at Truman, I had the opportunity to study abroad for a semester in Costa Rica, which solidified my interest in marine ecology and research. As an undergraduate, I worked as a research assistant in a maize genetics lab, followed by a molecular modeling lab. Summer 2020 I was fortunate to be an REU student at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences and studied the predator-prey dynamics of Dinophysis spp. and Mesodinium spp. I will begin as a research assistant in Dr. Stacy Krueger-Hadfield’s lab in the fall before pursuing an M.S. in Biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the spring.
Bio: I’m from Washington, Missouri. I will receive my B.S. in Biology and minor in Spanish from Truman State University in May 2021. During my time at Truman, I had the opportunity to study abroad for a semester in Costa Rica, which solidified my interest in marine ecology and research. As an undergraduate, I worked as a research assistant in a maize genetics lab, followed by a molecular modeling lab. Summer 2020 I was fortunate to be an REU student at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences and studied the predator-prey dynamics of Dinophysis spp. and Mesodinium spp. I will begin as a research assistant in Dr. Stacy Krueger-Hadfield’s lab in the fall before pursuing an M.S. in Biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the spring.
Undergraduate Students
Braxton Jeffcoat
Rhodes College, RCN ECS Virtual Lab Meeting Training Program Undergrad (2020-2021)
Rhodes College, RCN ECS Virtual Lab Meeting Training Program Undergrad (2020-2021)
Lab Visitors
PhD student visitors
Sabrina Heiser
PhD candidate, Amsler Lab (2016-present)
heiser@uab.edu
Sabrina's website
Bio: I grew up in Essen, Germany - a big industrial city, far from the ocean. Luckily my parents took me on vacation to Norway every year. I first learned to SCUBA dive when I was 8 years old and I fell in love with the ocean. I earned my B.Sc. (Hons) in Marine Biology at Plymouth University (UK) where I investigated the spread of the non-native kelp Undaria pinnatifida in the local bay. I knew that I enjoyed studying seaweeds not only for their fundamental roles in nearshore marine ecosystems, but the puzzled look on people’s faces when I tell them what I study. After finishing my undergraduate degree, I worked for British Antarctic Survey as a marine research assistant for 2.5 years, living and working at Rothera, a British base on the Western Antarctic Peninsula. When I left Rothera, I was not sure whether I would ever return to Antarctica. On the voyage home, I received the acceptance email into the PhD program at UAB with Dr. Charles Amsler, combining several of my passions: seaweeds, SCUBA diving, and Antarctica. Excited to be returning to Antarctica (this time the American base Palmer Station), I moved to Alabama and dove into the project. I now study the diversity of chemical defenses in seaweeds (more particularly, in the red seaweed Plocamium sp.). I am trying to understand the eco-evolutionary processes driving the patterns of diversity we see in nature. I am also looking at the correlation of genetic and chemical diversity.
PhD candidate, Amsler Lab (2016-present)
heiser@uab.edu
Sabrina's website
Bio: I grew up in Essen, Germany - a big industrial city, far from the ocean. Luckily my parents took me on vacation to Norway every year. I first learned to SCUBA dive when I was 8 years old and I fell in love with the ocean. I earned my B.Sc. (Hons) in Marine Biology at Plymouth University (UK) where I investigated the spread of the non-native kelp Undaria pinnatifida in the local bay. I knew that I enjoyed studying seaweeds not only for their fundamental roles in nearshore marine ecosystems, but the puzzled look on people’s faces when I tell them what I study. After finishing my undergraduate degree, I worked for British Antarctic Survey as a marine research assistant for 2.5 years, living and working at Rothera, a British base on the Western Antarctic Peninsula. When I left Rothera, I was not sure whether I would ever return to Antarctica. On the voyage home, I received the acceptance email into the PhD program at UAB with Dr. Charles Amsler, combining several of my passions: seaweeds, SCUBA diving, and Antarctica. Excited to be returning to Antarctica (this time the American base Palmer Station), I moved to Alabama and dove into the project. I now study the diversity of chemical defenses in seaweeds (more particularly, in the red seaweed Plocamium sp.). I am trying to understand the eco-evolutionary processes driving the patterns of diversity we see in nature. I am also looking at the correlation of genetic and chemical diversity.
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Michelle Curtis
PhD candidate, McClintock Lab (2016-present) curtismi@uab.edu The effects of climate change on echinoderms Michelle is working on developing molecular markers in the Krueger-Hadfield lab as part of doctoral research under the direction of Dr. James McClintock. |
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