Lab Members

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Dr. Leila J. Hamdan
Associate Vice President Research, Coastal Operations
Professor, School of Ocean Science and Engineering
University of Southern Mississippi
228-818-8011
leila.hamdan@usm.edu

Dr. Hamdan is a molecular microbial ecologist and her studies focus on geomicrobiology and the impact of changing environmental conditions on the structure and function of marine and estuarine communities. Her current studies center on microbial biogeography on continental margins and the impacts of hydrocarbons and chemical dispersants on communities found on artificial reefs (shipwrecks) in the deep biosphere of the Gulf of Mexico. Her work also addresses the microbiology of marine methane seeps and the role of microorganisms in the development of anoxia in the Chesapeake Bay. Prior to joining the University of Southern Mississippi, Dr. Hamdan was an Assistant Professor in the Environmental Science and Policy Department at George Mason University, a Research Microbiologist in the Marine Biogeochemistry Section at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, and a National Research Council Postdoctoral Research Associate.

Staff

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Rachel Moseley
Laboratory Manager, Marine and Estuarine Microbial Ecology Lab
Senior Research Associate, School of Ocean Science and Engineering
Division of Coastal Sciences
University of Southern Mississippi
228-818-8030
rachel.moseley@usm.edu

Rachel completed her MS in Coastal Sciences from USM. Rachel’s research interests focus on microbial biogeography in deep-sea habitats, and the manner in which microbes are dispersed in ocean currents. Rachel also has a background in marine aquaculture and bivalve studies.

Jordan A. Heiman
Post Doctoral Research Scientist
School of Ocean Science and Engineering
Division of Coastal Sciences
University of Southern Mississippi
228-818-8030
jordan.heiman@usm.edu

Dr. Heiman completed her PhD at the University of Mississippi. Her research interests include the biogeography and the function of marine microbial communities. She enjoys investigating ecosystem-scale questions to determine how microbial communities vary over space and with environmental changes. Her current post doc research studies the structure and function of deep-sea microbial communities in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. She also has a M.Ed. in secondary science education, which she leverages in her mentoring and teaching, focusing on ocean literacy in land-locked and under-represented groups.

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Kara E. Davis
Microbial Archaeologist, Research Associate II
School of Ocean Science and Engineering
Division of Coastal Sciences
University of Southern Mississippi
228-818-8030
kara.e.davis@usm.edu

Kara’s research explores the relationships between submerged material culture and microbial dynamics bringing together underwater archaeology, microbial ecology, and spatial and genomic analyses to understand how human-modified technogenic materials (e.g., sheathing, cargo) influences shipwreck preservation pathways. Before joining USM in a staff position, she served as a senior program manager at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) leading underwater archaeology teams in the search, investigation, and recovery of human remains associated with submerged aircraft losses and contributing to the identification of missing U.S. service members from past military conflicts. With fifteen years of cross-disciplinary professional experience, Kara has participated in over 30 oceanographic expeditions across the United States, the Atlantic, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. Currently pursuing a PhD at USM in Microbial Ecology, Kara is interested in how shipwreck preservation bias shapes microbiome patterns to develop robust archaeometric pipelines addressing dating, provenance, depositional history, and manufacturing indicators pursuant to past human behaviors.

Brianna Richardson
Undergraduate Intern
School of Ocean Science and Engineering
Division of Coastal Sciences
University of Southern Mississippi
228-818-8030
brianna.richardson@usm.edu

As a senior at the University of Southern Mississippi, Brianna is studying to obtain her BS in Marine Biology. Her primary research interests lie in the restoration and study of altered or harmed marine microbial communities. In the Hamdan lab, Brianna is researching samples of mesophotic soft sediment microbial communities for the MDBC Restoration Project.

Former Lab Members

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Isabelle Townsend (Graduated 2024)

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Dr. Rachel L. Mugge (Graduated 2022)
NRC Postdoctoral Fellow at Naval Research Laboratory, Stennis Space Center
rachel.mugge.ctr@nrlssc.navy.mil

Dr. Jennifer L. Salerno
Assistant Professor, George Mason University, Environmental Science and Policy Department
AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow

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