Lab Members

Dr. Leila J. Hamdan
Professor and Acting Director
School of Ocean Science and Engineering
Division of Coastal Sciences
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
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.

Students

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Rachel Mugge
Graduate Research Assistant – PhD Program
School of Ocean Science and Engineering
Division of Coastal Sciences
University of Southern Mississippi
rachel.mugge@usm.edu

Rachel’s research interests focus on marine biofilm formation near built structures on the seabed. Through field- and lab-based experiments, her dissertation aims to characterize the community structure, diversity, and function of biofilm microbiomes on steel and wood surfaces using bioinformatics approaches.

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Isabelle Townsend
Graduate Research Assistant – MS Program
School of Ocean Science and Engineering
Division of Coastal Sciences
University of Southern Mississippi
isabelle.townsend@usm.edu

Isabelle’s research interests focus on identifying the microbial community, structure, and function in a recirculating artificial seawater Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea Virginica, hatchery production system.

Former Lab Members

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

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