Aquatic Ecology People

People

Stephen W. Golladay

Scientist

Stephen Golladay is an aquatic biologist with diverse interests. Recently his work has included hydrologic change and its effects on the biota of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River Basin. He and his colleagues have studied diverse biota ranging from aquatic insects to fish. His favorite fauna is freshwater mussels. He aspires to take every resident of the ACF on a snorkeling trip to observe freshwater mussels.

Caitlin Sweeney

Research Associate

Caitlin received her BS in Environmental Science from Auburn University. She then continued to receive her master’s degree at Auburn under Dr. Eve Brantley in the Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences. Her research focused on soil amendments for bioretention cells, a form of green infrastructure for stormwater management. After graduating, Caitlin worked as a Watershed Program Assistant with Alabama Extension where she contributed to presentations and publications for the Alabama Private Well Program and Alabama Watershed Stewards Program. She joined the Jones Center Aquatic Biology Lab as a Research Associate in 2021. She is excited to have the opportunity to learn more about freshwater biology and contribute to research in the Flint River basin. Her favorite mussel is the Sculptured Pigtoe (Cyclonaias infucata).

Natalie Horn

Seasonal Technician

Natalie received her BS from Coastal Carolina University where she majored in Marine Science. Since being at the Jones Center, she has become a Flint River mussel hugger and freshwater enthusiast of the lower Flint River basin. She hopes to continue expanding her knowledge and attend graduate school in the future.

Chelsea Smith

Graduate Student

Chelsea Smith completed her BS in Biology at the University of Alabama in 2011 where she had the opportunity to take many outdoor ecology classes and begin working with stream macroinvertebrates in the lab of Dr. Alex Huryn. The summer following her graduation, she traveled to the Arctic LTER to aid in collecting and tracking arctic grayling and sampling macroinvertebrates as part of a large-scale nutrient addition with Dr. Huryn’s lab. In the fall of 2012, Chelsea began her masters work in conjunction with the University of Georgia under Dr. Alan Covich and The Jones Center at Ichuaway with Dr. Paul McCormick. Her research focused on macroinvertebrate community composition across a gradient of stream permanence. Following the completion of her masters, she worked with both Dr. McCormick and Dr. Golladay and then became the research associate for the Aquatic Biology lab. Chelsea is currently working on a PhD at the University of Alabama under Dr. Carla Atkinson and Dr. Golladay.

Jamie Rogers

Graduate Student

Jamie attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she obtained a BS in Biology. After graduating, she worked in the Jones Center Aquatic Biology Lab as a technician. She is currently a master’s student at Auburn University being co-advised by Dr. Shannon Brewer and Dr. Steve Golladay. Her research aims to provide insight on the habitat needs for spawning and survival of juvenile Shoal Bass (Micropterus cataractae).

Benjamin Webster

Graduate Student

Benjamin attended Valdosta State University. After graduating, he worked with AmeriCorps at Lake Mead in Nevada. Benjamin then went to Auburn University where he obtained a master’s degree under Dr. Matt Waters. Ben’s research focused on nutrient dynamics along sequences of reservoirs in the Chattahoochee River. His passion for studying reservoirs has continued, and he’s now working on his PhD at Auburn University under Dr. Waters and Dr. Golladay.

Stephen W. Golladay, Ph.D.

Scientist
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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.