Graduate Students
Kayla Beitzel
Advisor: Henning
Kayla Beitzel is a thesis-track Masters student that is investigating how coastal dune ecosystems respond to disturbance and nutrient addition on Dauphin Island. She is hoping to pursue her PhD when she finishes her MS at South. When she is not studying, you can find Kayla working out, playing sports, long boarding, hiking, hanging out with friends, getting burnt at the beach, or even practicing her film photography skills!
Katalina Cunningham
Advisor: Perez
Katalina is a Biology Masters student. She received her B.S. in Biological Sciences from Florida State University. She is interested in animal behavior and species interactions. She will be working with Eastern Bluebirds.
Ayaan Dani
Advisor: McCreadie
Ayaan is a Masters student researching the distribution and relationship of ticks and spotted fever rickettsiosis. He will investigate this by collecting, identifying, and testing ticks from Alabama State Parks in hopes of shedding some light on how people contract these diseases. In the future, he hopes to pursue a PhD in Entomology and instruct as a college professor!
Penny Demetriades
Advisor: Ní Chadhain & Kiel Reese
Penny is utilizing molecular microbial source tracking techniques to investigate sources of pathogens and contaminants to Mobile Bay. She is interested in studying anthropogenic influences in coastal habitats, with the goal of improving community and ecosystem health.
Caitlyn Freeman
Advisor: Mata
Caitlyn is a non-thesis Biology Masters student continuing her education after receiving a B.S. in Biology from Spring Hill College. She has interests in animal behavior and ecology, and plans to work in careers that involve animal husbandry and education- such as zoos and wildlife centers.
Erin Golladay
Advisor: Strickland
Erin is a Masters’ student in Environmental Science studying the timing of gene expression in venomous species. She is interested in understanding the mechanisms that control the prioritization of proteins during venom replenishment. She received her B.S. in Ecology and Organismal Biology from the University of Southern Mississippi and has worked in various roles aimed at the conservation of endangered herpetofauna.
Bailey Hettinger
Advisor: Hermance
Bailey is a Master's student in Biological sciences focusing on vector-borne diseases as a partial member of the microbiology department. In Dr. Hermance's lab she works with ticks and their associated viruses including how these viruses function in a vector for effective transmission. This project includes work with Severe Fever and Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus and Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks. Her career aspirations are to continue her education toward a Ph.D. and eventually work into a public health position. Outside of academia, she enjoys the outdoors by running, snowboarding, kayaking, swimming, or just reading a good book on the beach.
Jennifer Hughes
Advisor: Mata
Jennifer is a non-thesis Master's student in Biological Sciences, holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from Mississippi State University. She is passionate about advancing her education and plans to pursue a Master's in Physician Assistant Studies, with the goal of building a career in healthcare. Outside of her academic endeavors, Jennifer enjoys outdoor activities like tennis and horseback riding, and she values spending quality time with her family and reading.
Maddie Jackson
Advisor: Pérez
Maddie is a first-year Master's student and received her B.S. from Missouri Southern State University. She is working in the Bird Brain'd lab with Dr. Perez, and will focus on avian migration during her time at South. For her research, she will work with white-crowned sparrows to gain an understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying avian migration. In the future for her career, she hopes to continue working with birds.
Jha'Korreghan Johnson
Advisor: Tran
Jha’Korreghan is a first semester MS student that recently graduated from South with a Bachelor in Biology and currently conducting research with Dr. Tuan Tran. We explore the interactions between plant-microbes and pathogens, in order to identify key properties in the plant’s resilience to disease.
Jingwei Lin
Advisor: Mata
Jingwei is a non-thesis Biology Masters student who has been inquisitive about botanical medicine and aquatic creatures from an early age, but recently, has been paying more attention to microbiology. She is always curious about various cuisines from around the world and feel excited to try them out and cook them myself.
Katy Marten
Advisor: Mata
Katy is a Biology Master's student on the non-thesis track. She received her B.S in Biomedical Sciences. She is hopeful to attend medical school after graduation.
Vishva Chhandrakantbhai Patel
Advisor: Mata
Vishva Patel is an international non-thesis Masters student from India. She has completed BSC.in Biochemistry and Post graduation in diploma medical laboratory technology in India. She has worked in a medical laboratory for 2.5 years after graduating. Then I thought I should do master in biological science because I want to focus on another subject in it, which will also helpful for me in the future career path in biotechnology.
Jill Presel
Advisor: Tran
Jill earned her BS in Biology from Spring Hill College and her M. Ed in Secondary Education in General Science from USA. She is currently a Biology grad student, and her research focuses on molecular plant-microbe interactions, specifically Salmonella effector proteins that target the actin-cytoskeleton. She also teaches science at Phillips Preparatory Middle School, where she loves encouraging students to be curious.
Zacc Ramm
Advisor: Frost
Zacc is a Master's student studying how biodiversity is generated and maintained within the Southeastern US. He is interested in determining the role that hybridization plays in these processes, as well as how hybrids can serve as a record of past climate processes.
Md Arafat Rashid
Advisor: Mata
Md. Arafat Rashid is an international student in our Master's thesis track program. He's from Bangladesh and did his BSc. in Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology. His thesis project is endophytic fungal presence in aquatic plants, specifically in one of the native tape grass variants of Alabama. He is looking forward to identifying these species living inside the aquatic plants and in a broader sense how this relationship impacts the coastal/ marine ecosystem.
Schuyler Sandridge
Advisor: Mata
Schuyler is a non-thesis graduate student interested in conservation.
I am a first-year master’s student in the Biology department at South. My interests include ecological restoration and environmental conservation. Currently, I work as an environmental consultant, focusing on applying scientific principles to support sustainable practices and protect natural ecosystems. My studies and professional experience drive my commitment to bridging the gap between intent and action in conservation and sustainability.
Daniel Servos
Advisor: Ní Chadhain & Venkiteshwaran
Daniel is a first year graduate student continuing their education after receiving a Bachelor's degree in Biology from USA. He was instilled with an interest for the world around him from a young age and is part of what drove him to obtain the rank of Eagle Scout. His scientific interests extend to microbiology, enzymes, and cellular proteins. His thesis research is looking into bacterial membrane proteins and their possible uses to remove contaminants such as nitrates and other compounds from polluted water as well as possible ways to recover them for ecosystem health.
A S Parimala Telagathoti
Advisor: Mata
A S Parimala Telagathoti. I belong to the Southern part of India. I have completed my Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery(MBBS) in India. Worked as a general physician for a year and moved to the United States. I wanted to change my field from clinical to non-clinical and started my MS Biology at the University of South Alabama aiming for a Bioinformatic Career path. Along with Dr. Mata, Dr. Sherman and Dr. Jason helped me a lot in finding my career path. As a non-thesis student, I aim to get into a gene sequencing company as a bioinformatician. I want to set an example for many international students who are interested in the sciences.
Matthew Thomley
Advisor: Mata
Matthew is a non-thesis interested in molecular biology and pathogenesis/host defense. Thus far my research has been focused on the dynamics of assembly of thick filaments of myofibrils.
Camille Thompson
Advisor: Henning
Camille is a thesis-track Biology master's student studying the coevolution of Spartina alterniflora and dark septate endophytes (DSE) to determine if DSE helps build salinity tolerance in high salinity conditions. I aim to benefit coastal salt marsh restoration projects by matching projected climatic conditions. I will pursue a doctorate after graduation and become a professor and researcher.
Chelsea Thornton
Advisor: Henning
Chelsea is studying how disturbance and nutrient addition in coastal dunes impacts ghost crab burrowing density and morphometrics. She is interested in studying how coastal habitats and organisms change with growing pressures of climate change and coastal development to use the information to drive coastal conservation and restoration efforts.
Emily Ward
Advisor: Hermance
Emily is a thesis-track Masters student researching the Gulf Coast Tick, Amblyomma maculatum. Her studies will focus on the distribution of this species and its relationship with spotted fever rickettsiosis, specifically Rickettsia parkeri. Once she completes her Masters, she hopes to pursue a PhD in entomological studies.
Yasmine Woods
Advisor: Mata
Yasmine is a dedicated Master’s student pursuing a non-thesis track. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Auburn University at Montgomery. With a strong passion for clinical microbiology and a deep commitment to post-secondary education, Yasmine is eager to advance her expertise and inspire future generations of students.