People
Steven T. Brantley, Ph.D.
Associate Scientist
Emma York Marzolf, M.S.
Research Associate
Emma received her B.S. in Biology from Piedmont College and her M.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. During her master’s she conducted research examining the effects of shoreline erosion on an important breeding area for wading birds in the Lower Cape Fear River. Her career focus thus far has been in plant ecology and conservation, specifically ground cover restoration and rare plant conservation. She has worked in different capacities with GADNR, an earlier stint at the Jones Center (2015), and with the North Carolina Botanical Garden. She is originally from the mountains of Georgia and has spent much of her time working in and exploring the many unique and special ecosystems of the southeast, but the longleaf pine ecosystem continues to be her favorite. She looks forward to expanding her knowledge and skill set through the lens of ecohydrology. When not in the lab, she enjoys being at home tending to and expanding her native plant garden.
Suranjana Chatterjee, M.S.
Ph.D. student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Auburn University
Katy Perkins, B.S.
M.S. student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Auburn University
Katy received her B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering with a minor in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Co-advised by Dr. Frances O’Donnell, Katy’s thesis focuses on the links between the hydrological function of geographically isolated wetlands and surrounding landscape variables. Specifically, her work addresses how longleaf pine cover and restoration affects wetland hydrology using a watershed modeling framework. Katy’s academic interests include restoration ecology, biogeochemistry, and remote sensing. When she is not wading in a wetland, Katy can be found hiking, reading, and listening to podcasts.
Carlie Blackburn, B.S.
M.S. student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Auburn University
Carlie received her B.S. in Coastal Ecology and Environmental Sciences from The College of Coastal Georgia. As an undergraduate, Carlie researched the effects of surrounding vegetation on water quality of residential ponds. After graduating, Carlie studied the restoration of maritime grasslands, including the reestablishment of culturally important sweetgrass populations, along the coast of Jekyll Island, GA. During her time on the coast, she also participated in eastern diamondback rattlesnake tracking, phytoplankton monitoring, and alligator population surveys. Co-advised by Dr. Frances O’Donnell, her graduate thesis project is focused on quantifying productivity, evapotranspiration, and water use efficiency of geographically isolated wetlands in southwestern Georgia. In her spare time, Carlie enjoys exploring the outdoors, reading, and watching Star Wars.
Tess Eichner, B.S.
Seasonal Technician
Tess earned her BS in Water Resources with a minor in Geology from the State University of New York at Brockport. While there, she served as a research assistant in the environmental science department. The work focused on analyzing a swamp ecosystem, assessing the wetland’s filtering capabilities, and working with groundwater and stream data to establish a water balance. Additionally, for her senior seminar she investigated seasonal variations and the correlation between groundwater levels and precipitation in the swamp.
Will Guyette, B.S.
Seasonal Technician
Will earned his BS in Environmental Science with a minor in Wetlands Assessment and Planning from Westfield State University in Westfield, Massachusetts. While there, his coursework focused on wetland science and functions along with natural resource management. For his senior seminar he investigated the potential relationship between stream health and culverts through the utilization of aquatic macroinvertebrate sampling. In his free time, Will enjoys hiking, taking nature photos, and woodworking.
Lab Alumni
Graduate students
Haley Ritger
Ph.D., 2023
Joe Honings
Ph.D., 2022
Phoebe Judge
M.S., 2022
Phoebe Judge, M.S., Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia (2022). Thesis: The impacts of hydraulic redistribution on the physiology and growth of understory plants in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) sandhills.
Benju Baniya
M.S., 2021
Benju Baniya, M.S., School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida (2021). Thesis: Re-assembly of the longleaf pine ecosystem: effects of groundcover seeding on understory characteristics, fire behavior, and soil properties.
Gavin Kenney
M.S., 2021
Coleman Barrie
M.S., 2019
Jill Qi
Postdoctoral Associate, 2017-2019
Michael Belovitch
M.S., 2018
Research Staff
O. Stribling Stuber, Research Associate (2015 - 2024)
Senior Technicians
Sophie Roberts (2023 - 2024)
Dakota Holder (2022 - 2023)
Alex Gordon (2022)
Joshua Scherrer (2021-2022)
Robert Ritger (2016 - 2021)
Stephen W. Golladay, Ph.D.
Scientist
Dr. Golladay’s interests include the ecology of streams and wetlands, the impact of human land use on water quality and aquatic invertebrates, and the impact of variation in hydrology on ecological processes and aquatic communities Recently, he has developed an interest in the ecology and conservation of rare and endangered freshwater mussel species.
Dr. Golladay has served as a technical advisor to the Sand County Foundation, Georgia EPD, DNR and Water Management districts in Florida. He has developed training activities for resource professionals in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Dr. Golladay also has assisted in the development of programs to enhance the
natural resource awareness of regional educators in cooperation with regional Georgia Youth Science and Technology.
