Lab Members

Dr. Leila J. Hamdan

Associate Professor and Associate 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 the effects of spill contaminants on microbially-induced corrosion (MIC) and biofilm formation on metal-hulled shipwrecks through field- and lab-based experiments using comparative metagenome analyses.