Fall 2024 CCEDS NRT Cohort

MEET THE 2024 CCEDS NRT TRAINEE SCHOLARS!

Alexandra Stevenson is a PhD student in the Integrated Coastal Sciences (ICS) program within the Department of Coastal Studies. She holds a BS and MS in anthropology from University of North Carolina Wilmington and East Carolina University, respectively. Her dissertation focuses on community-based participatory research related to coral reef restoration as a nature-based solution for shoreline erosion, sea-level rise, and other coastal hazards. Her research aims to integrate ecological and anthropological methods to examine the impact of community engagement and hopes to promote ecological stewardship and environmental justice for those affected by restoration policies.

Garrett Morris is a PhD student in the Interdisciplinary Biology, Biochemistry, and Chemistry program at East Carolina University. He earned his BS degree in biology from Wheaton College in Massachusetts and his MS degree in Environmental Science from FAU Harbor Oceanographic Institute in Florida. He cultivated a lifelong interest in diamondback terrapins from growing up in Massachusetts and studying them for his thesis on terrapins’ trematode parasite Pleurogonius malaclemys, and attempted to use the population genetics of the parasite to make inferences about terrapin dispersal. Through this project, he landed at East Carolina University in the IDPBBC PhD program. His current research studies terrapins and their fluke to use methods to study other host species through their parasites.

Autumn Robinson is a PhD student in the Interdisciplinary Biology, Biochemistry, and Chemistry (IDPBBC) program at East Carolina University. She originally hails from Missoula, Montana where she earned her MS in microbiology and geology from the University of Montana. She moved to North Carolina to study in Dr. Erin Field’s lab to study microbes/ role in wastewater treatment. She currently researches the environmental factors that cause disruptions to the polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) at a local wastewater treatment plant. Using sequencing techniques to identify which PAOs are present and how they respond to stabe-state and disrupted conditions, will illuminate potential strategies to prevent disruptions to the PAO community or help recover from the faster so phosphorus removal remains efficient.

Sarah Radel is a PhD student in the Integrated Coastal Studies program (ICS) within the Coastal Studies Institute (CSI) at East Carolina University. She is a native of Pennsylvania and graduated from North Carolina Central University in 2023 with a Master of Sciences in Earth Sciences. Her background is in Environmental, Earth, and Geospatial Sciences. Her research has addressed critical issues such as sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, water quality education, and climate change. Sarah’s current research focuses on Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Environmental Justice. She is committed to sharing knowledge, teaching effective research practices, and advocating for environmental justice. Sarah’s hobbies include hiking, kayaking, and surfing.

Precious Esong Sone is an MBA student in the Thomas D. Arthur Graduate School of Business at East Carolina University. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sustainability at the Pan African Institute for Development in Cameroon. His interest in public health and administration guides his research in addressing bias in healthcare Artificial Intelligence (AI).