Dr. Archer completed her Ph.D. at North Carolina State University where she worked in the Layman Lab studying how sponges alter community composition and ecosystem function in tropical and subtropical nearshore marine ecosystems. She then moved on to work for Fisheries and Oceans Canada in multiple capacities. There she studied species interactions and ecosystem function of Glass Sponge Reefs and worked to develop efficient monitoring methods grounded in a strong understanding of the behavior and ecology of keystone species. She is now an Assistant Professor at LUMCON where she heads a lab focused on coastal Louisiana and Gulf of Mexico sponges, oyster reefs, and other biogenic habitats. Outside of work she has a healthy obsession with University of Georgia football (go Dawgs!), loves to cook and read, and enjoys gardening, wood working, kayaking, and generally being outside.
Ariel completed her undergraduate degree in Biological Science at University of New Orleans where she was a research assistant in Dr. Kelly Boyle’s lab. There she worked on effects of fish calling behavior caused from boat noise using recordings from Dauphin Island, Alabama. She also worked in Dr. Erin Cox’s lab and she did field work in Florida collecting seagrass. She recently finished a non-thesis masters programat Tulane University in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology department with Dr. Hank Bart Jr. as her advisor. They worked on 3D fish modeling from underwater videos using deep learning methods. Ariel was also a Graduate Intern at LUMCON in the Archer Benthic Ecology Lab working on comparing fish calling behavior between sponge reefs and rocky reefs in the Salish Sea in Canada. Ariel is now a graduate student at University of New Orleans working with Dr. Kelly Boyle and as an honorary member of the Archer Lab. Aside from school and science, she is involved in many volunteer positions through Ducks Unlimited. she is a chapter volunteer, Area Greenwing Chairman for our chapter and the chairman for the Greenwing Youth Organization in the state of Louisiana. She also loves to drink coffee, play with my animals, watch movies, hunt and fish and anything to do with the outdoors!
Email: arielnalonso7 at gmail.com
Lily Zhou, Research Assistant I
Lily is a research technician working on the Louisiana Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) project observing oyster reef biodiversity along the Gulf Coast. She earned a BS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Maryland where she studied under Dr. Alexa Bely on the phylogenetic relationships and morphological variation in freshwater annelids. She is interested in genomics/phylogenetics and marine invertebrate ecology. She loves backpacking, kayaking, watercolor painting, and reading..
Tam Ta, Guest Researcher
Tam is about to start her Masters in Ocelot genomics at Texas A&M. She started at LUMCON as an REU Intern where she examined fish calling behaviors in glass sponge reef ecosystems. She has continued to work with us on a passive acoustic research project looking at fish calling behaviors and biodiversity in glass sponge reefs. When she is not working, you can find her hiking, embroidering, and drinking bubble tea.
Former lab members
Although we’re sad not to work with them every day we’re very proud of our former lab members and the amazing things they’re doing now!
Hallie Blondiau, former STEM Prep Student, is finishing her undergraduate degree at University of Louisiana Lafayette
Finella Campanino, former MSc Student, is now at University of Florida pursuing her Ph.D. in Benthic Community Ecology
Haley Crawford, former REU Student, is back at LUMCON working as a Research Assistant in Havalend Steinmuller’s lab
Philina English, former Postdoctoral Researcher, is now a Biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Riley Garcia, former Research Assistant, is now teaching middle school science in Orlando Florida
Grace Hancock, former Collections Assistant, is now pursuing her Ph.D. at Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Granger Hanks, former Research Assistant, is now a Coastal Scientist at Coastal Estuary Services
Matthew Heyer, former Undergraduate Researcher, is continuing his degree at Southeastern Louisiana University
Vance Hoff, former STEM Prep Student, is working at in animal Husbandry at the Shreveport Aquarium
Abigial Host, former Research Assistant, is pursuing her MSc at University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Vanessa Lima, former REU Student, is a research technician in the Habitat Ecology branch of NOAA Fisheries in Galveston, TX
Tithalia Lockett, former REU Student, completed her undergraduate degree at University of New Orleans and is now working outside of science
Lauren McDonald, former REU Student, is getting her Masters degree studying Avian Influenca in Dairy Cattle
Abhi Mohratra, former STEM Prep Student, is continuing their associates degree at Baton Rouge Community College
Yanila Salas-Ortiz, former Ph.D. Student, is now a chemist with Eli Lilly in Puerto Rico.
Kay Schlachter, former Research Associate, is now at University of Florida pursuing her Ph.D. in Benthic Ecology
Samantha Schlegel, former REU Student, recently finished up their undergraduate degree at University of Tampa and is now working in a Deep Sea Benthic Ecology Lab for the USGS in Gainsville.
Makeda Serju, former Intern, has finished her degree at The University of The Bahamas and is working as a Research Assistant with Perry Institute of Marine Science
Mackenzie Plowman, former REU Student, is finishing up their undergraduate degree at Shenandoah University
Mikel Vaughan-Coston, former REU Student, is finishing up their undergraduate degree at University of Michigan
Siyah Yongue, former Masters Student, is currently working in the Reynolds lab at University of Florida.
Summer Zamora, former REU Student, is finishing up their undergraduate degree at Jacksonville State University
