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

Kara is an archaeologist and doctoral researcher studying how historic material assemblages associated with shipwrecks influence microbiomes in nearby sediments, and what that can tell us about why some wrecks preserve better than others. Before USM, she was a senior program manager at DPAA leading underwater archaeology teams investigating submerged aircraft losses. She has taken part in 40+ oceanographic expeditions worldwide and is now pursuing a PhD at USM in Microbial Ecology.

Ethan P. Rutledge

Research Associate I

School of Ocean Science and Engineering

Division of Coastal Sciences

University of Southern Mississippi

228-818-8030

Ethan.Rutledge@usm.edu

Ethan joined the Hamdan lab in the Spring of 2026 after having completed his MS in Biology at the USM Hattiesburg campus. While his thesis research focused primarily on plastisphere microbial communities suspended in tropical atmospheres, his interest within the field of microbial ecology extends to both terrestrial and aquatic systems. In particular, Ethan has a keen interest in the wonderful world of fungi and how their role in decomposition contributes not only to the cycling of nutrients within ecosystems, but also in the remediation of toxic waste, including traditional plastic polymers.

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.

Kayla McElveen
Undergraduate Intern
School of Ocean Science and Engineering
Division of Coastal Sciences
University of Southern Mississippi
228-818-8030
kayla.mcelveen@usm.edu

As a senior at the University of Southern Mississippi, Kayla is studying to obtain her BS in Marine Biology. Her research interests include how marine microbial communities influence shark health and disease resistance, shark skin microbiomes, and pathogen exposure. In the Hamdan lab, Kayla is analyzing sediment samples taken near Hudson Canyon.

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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