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UNC Dept of Earth, Marine & Environmental Sciences
@unc-emes.bsky.social
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Department of Earth, Marine & Environmental Sciences (EMES) at UNC Chapel Hill. Established July 2021 from the Geological Sciences and Marine Sciences departments and the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences.

https://emes.unc.edu/
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Great work, EMES presenters and session organizers!
@flane.bsky.social @zepernickbn.bsky.social
Group photo of several members of the EMES community at ASLO25.
March 31, 2025 at 1:56 PM
unc-emes.bsky.social
Emma Dempsey making EMES proud with her action-oriented research on antimicrobial resistance, coastal storms and wastewater infrastructure in the face of climate change.
PhD student Emma Dempsey giving a talk at ASLO 2025. She is standing behind a podium and the slide next to her has her talk title, antimicrobial resistance and the stress of climate change-driven coastal storms on wastewater systems.
March 31, 2025 at 1:52 PM
unc-emes.bsky.social
Capping off our busy Saturday were seven posters from graduate students Margarita Lankford, Veronica Slevin, Riley Moran and Lillian Cooper and undergraduate students Keshav Srivenkatesh, Eleanor Hennessey and Lauren McShea #ASLO25

@veronicaslevin.bsky.social
Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences Poster Presentations in Exhibit Hall A 6:00 PM Saturday, March 29 The Influence of Physical Processes on Phytoplankton Community Structure in the Galapagos Archipelago (SS09P-9402) Margarita Lankford Graduate Student Modeling Carbon Biogeochemical Cycling in Integrated Lake and River Networks (SS35P-9423) Veronica Slevin Graduate Student Fluorometric Assay for the Detection of Methanol in Aquatic Environments and Bacterial Cultures (SS02P-9502) Keshav Srivenkatesh Undergraduate Student Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences Poster Presentations in Exhibit Hall A 6:00 PM Saturday, March 29 Temperature-Dependent Hydrolytic Activity of Epipelagic Microbial Communities (SS11P-9014) Eleanor Hennessey Undergraduate Student Technique Development: Integrating Drivers of Spatiotemporal Variation of Microplastics in Freshwater Systems (SS12P-9181) Riley Moran Graduate Student Evaluating Methods for Estimating Seagrass Blue Carbon Stocks in Core Sound, North Carolina (SS04P-9182) Lillian Cooper Graduate Student Impact of Changing Environmental Conditions on Desorption of PFAS from Sediments in Lacustrine Environments (SS16P-9183) Lauren McShea Undergraduate Student
March 31, 2025 at 1:46 PM
unc-emes.bsky.social
Later on Saturday, postdoc Dr. Raquel Flynn and graduate student Emily Speciale presented talks on how microscopic marine organisms - eukaryotic phytoplankton and mixotrophs - respond to nutrients like nitrogen and iron #ASLO25
@marchettilab.bsky.social
Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences Oral Presentations Saturday, March 29 10:15 AM W207CD Physiological Response of Small Eukaryotic Phytoplankton to Differing Nitrogen Regimes in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (SS18A-9050) Dr. Raquel Flynn Postdoctoral Scholar 3:45 PM W205CD Battling Trophic Modes: How Do Mixotrophs Respond to Iron Limitation in Upwelling Zones? (SS19A-8988) Emily Speciale Graduate Student
March 31, 2025 at 1:46 PM
unc-emes.bsky.social
#ASLO25 weekend recap!

On Saturday morning, graduate students Emma Dempsey and Yubeen Jeong gave talks in SS45: North Carolina’s coast at the doorstep of climate change. This session, organized in part by by Drs. Hans Paerl and Rachel Noble, also featured a talk by Dr. Paerl.

@aslo.org
Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences Oral Presentations Saturday, March 29 9:00 AM W205CD Biogeochemical and ecological impacts of ~30 years of elevated tropical cyclone activity on North Carolina’s estuarine and coastal waters (SS45-9143) Dr. Hans Paerl Professor 9:45 AM W205CD Antimicrobial Resistance and the Stress of Climate Change-Driven Coastal Flooding on Wastewater Systems (SS45-9257) Emma Dempsey Graduate Student 10:15 AM W205CD Long-Term Analysis of Gulf Stream Variability at Cape Hatteras Using High-Frequency Radar Surface Current Observations (SS45-9459) Yubeen Jeong Graduate Student Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences Organized Sessions Saturday, March 29 9:00-10:30 AM W205CD North Carolina’s coast at the doorstep of climate change (SS45P) Lead Organizer: Dr. Hans Paerl, Co-Organizer: Dr. Rachel Nobel Professors 6:00 PM Exhibit Hall A Integrating and Developing ‘Omics Technologies in Aquatic Community Ecology (SS08P) Co-Organizer: Dr. Adrian Marchetti Professor 6:00 PM Exhibit Hall A Reducing Nutrient Inputs to Coastal and Inland Waters: How Hard Can It Be? (SS34P) Co-Organizer: Dr. Nathan Hall Research Assistant Professor 6:00 PM Exhibit Hall A North Carolina’s coast at the doorstep of climate change (SS45P) Lead Organizer: Dr. Hans Paerl, Co-Organizer: Dr. Rachel Nobel Professors
March 31, 2025 at 1:46 PM
unc-emes.bsky.social
This afternoon, postdoctoral researchers Chad Lloyd and Mingying Chuo will present their research on the effects of pressure on polysaccharide update by bacteria and how light limitation during salinity intrusions impact phytoplankton.
Flyer highlighting presentations from members of UNC EMES at the ASLO meeting. The text reads: Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences Oral Presentations Friday, March 28 2:30 PM W201ABCD Selfish Uptake of Polysaccharides by Marine Heterotrophic Bacteria at Elevated Hydrostatic Pressure (SS10B-9105) Dr. Chad Lloyd Postdoctoral Scholar 3:00 PM W208 Alleviation of Phytoplankton Light Limitation by Salinity Intrusion in a CDOM Rich, Oligohaline Estuary (CS09-8766) Dr. Mingying Chuo Postdoctoral Scholar
March 28, 2025 at 3:06 PM
unc-emes.bsky.social
We are at #ASLO25!

Yesterday morning, graduate student Mary Kate Rinderle kicked of the EMES presentations with her talk, characterizing a cyanobacteria-driven regime shift within Lake Mattamuskeet, NC using long-term monitoring datasets, in session SS42A.

@aslo.org
Logo for the 2025 ASLO Meeting. On top of a background image of an ocean wave, the text reads Taking the Aquatic Pulse Aquatic Sciences Meeting 26-31 March 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
March 28, 2025 at 3:06 PM
unc-emes.bsky.social
Please join us tomorrow morning to celebrate Aundre Jackson as he defends his Master's thesis! While at UNC, Aundre's research has focused on the question, to what extent does V. fischeri use T6SS weapons to invade an already colonized territory?

See you at 10:30 am tomorrow in Murray Hall or Zoom!
Dark blue flyer with a picture of MS student Aundre Jackson and the following text - "MS Thesis Defense of Aundre Jackson Wednesday March 26 at 10:30 am Murray 3204 and Zoom. To what extent does V. fischeri use T6SS weapons to invade an already colonized territory?"
March 25, 2025 at 6:59 PM
unc-emes.bsky.social
It's giving...Earth! Marine Science! Environment!

Happy #GiveUNC Day! Your donation supports the incredible work of students and faculty across disciplines in EMES, from funding research travel to awarding outstanding student accomplishments. Share your love for #UNC, share your love for Earth💙🌎
Flyer that says Give UNC 3-25-25 and lists three department names - Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Marine Sciences, and Environment, Ecology and Energy Program. There is a donation box in the bottom right corner with a pink heart Collage of photos showing EMES researchers at work in the field as well as photos of lab work and the new mural on the Institute of Marine Sciences building.
March 25, 2025 at 6:36 PM
unc-emes.bsky.social
To celebrate Orange County Creek Week and World Water Day, members of the UNC Global Hydrology Lab participated in the 35th annual Haw River Clean-Up-A-Thon on Saturday!

In 1.5 hours, the UNC team pulled 14 bags of trash from Booker Creek in Chapel Hill.
@globalhydro.bsky.social @iarauz.bsky.social
Member of the UNC Global Hydrology Lab, Jack Dechow, standing in a parking lot with 8 orange bags of trash. He is smiling and giving two thumbs up. Lexi Henny and Alayna Smith, members of the UNC Global Hydrology Lab, are standing behind vines where they have been picking up trash. Alayna is holding an orange bag of trash. Isabela Arauz, member of the UNC Global Hydrology Lab, leans down to pick up trash from among some ivy. She is holding an orange trash bag and smiling. Group selfie of members of the UNC Global Hydrology Lab. From left to right are Lexi Henny, Maks Fuks, Jack Dechow, Tamlin Pavelsky, Isabela Arauz, Alayna Smith and Julianne Davis.
March 24, 2025 at 1:48 PM
unc-emes.bsky.social
We are thrilled to wish Aliyah Griffith a very happy (belated) Ph.D. defense day! 🪸🎉

On Monday March 17, Aliyah defended her dissertation on coral reef structure, community composition shifts, and the complexities of coral reef management across three regions in the Greater Caribbean and Florida.
Dark blue flyer with a picture of PhD candidate Aliyah Griffith and the following text - "Congratulations to our newest doctor Aliyah Griffith on the successful defense of her dissertation, coral reef structure, community composition shifts, and the complexities of coral reef management across three regions in the Greater Caribbean and Florida, on March 17!
March 21, 2025 at 8:28 PM
unc-emes.bsky.social
It's a double defense day! Join us at 12 pm in Murray Hall or on Zoom for the MS thesis defense of Jack Baer! Jack will be sharing his research on how design storms underestimate flood hazard and risk derived from stochastic storm transposition.
Dark blue flyer with a picture of MS student Jack Baer and the following text - "MS Thesis Defense of Jack Baer Friday March 21 at 12:00 pm Murray 3204 and Zoom. Design storms underestimate flood hazard and risk derived from stochastic storm transposition."
March 21, 2025 at 2:04 PM
unc-emes.bsky.social
Set the coffee pot up tonight so you'll be on time for some great science in the morning! At 9 am tomorrow, please join us at the Institute of Marine Sciences or on Zoom for Nick Funnell's PhD defense.

@nickfunnell.bsky.social
Dark blue flyer with a picture of PhD candidate Nicholas Funnell and the following text - "Ph.D. Dissertation Defense of Nicholas Funnell Friday March 21 at 9:00 am IMS 222 and Zoom. The Influence of Ecological Interactions and Environmental Context on Shellfish Mariculture and Restoration Outcomes in North Carolina"
March 20, 2025 at 7:57 PM
unc-emes.bsky.social
There is a new doctor in the EMES family! 🌧️🌊🌀

Congratulations to Lauren Grimley on the excellent defense of her dissertation research, characterizing the role of compound processes on tropical cyclone floods.

@uncgradschool.bsky.social
Blue flyer with a headshot of Lauren Grimley and the following text - "Congratulations to our newest doctor, Lauren Grimley, on the successful defense of her dissertation, characterizing the role of compound processes on tropical cyclone floods, on March 3!
March 5, 2025 at 2:36 PM
unc-emes.bsky.social
Congratulations to PhD candidate Lauren Grimley on her recently published paper, Climate change exacerbates compound flooding from recent tropical cyclones, in NPJ Natural Hazards!
doi.org/10.1038/s443...

@natureportfolio.nature.com
Screenshot of Figure 6 from Grimley et al. (2025). Fig. 6 The maximum extent of compound flooding for Hurricanes Florence, Floyd, and Matthew (left column) and the frequency of an area experiencing compound flooding across the future ensemble simulations (right column).Areas flooded by individual processes (e.g., rainfall, coastal) are not plotted. The entire domain is shown in the top panel and the black rectangle highlights the location of the Wilmington metropolitan area which is shown in the bottom panel. Present-only is in pink, future-only is the maximum extent of compound flooding across the full ensemble in orange, and both present and future is in blue. Darker red colors indicate a higher probability of compound flooding occurring in the future across all ensemble members. In the future, the model results show an expansion of compound areas further inland and a widening of the floodplain for all three storms.
February 12, 2025 at 7:11 PM
unc-emes.bsky.social
Hard to believe it's already been two months since #AGU24. We had an incredible time at our alumni reception with 42 current and past EMES members in attendance!

Thank you to our administrative staff for all your hard work in organizing this great reunion!
Group photo from the 2024 EMES AGU reception. There is a full room of people smiling. Small group photo of students standing behind the white AGU sign and in front of the blue and white AGU photo backdrop.
February 11, 2025 at 2:39 PM
unc-emes.bsky.social
PhD student Aliyah Griffith will share her expertise in coral reefs, climate change and community engagement in a North Star of GIS panel at 3 pm EST today!

Thank you to the organizers, panelists and moderators for creating this conversation series to celebrate Black History Month!
Screenshot of a post by North Star of GIS: People of African-Descent in GIS highlighting a panel. Text above the flyer reads "📅 Mark your calendars! We’re kicking off Black History Month 2025 with a powerful series of conversations as we amplify voices, advance equity, and build connections to reshape industries and drive impactful change. 🔗 Register here: https://northstarofgis.org/BHM/ #BHM2025." The flyer has a black background with red, green and yellow accents. There are photos of the two panelists, Aliyah Griffith and Jeanelle Brisbane, and the moderator Clinton Johnson. Text on the flyer reads "North Star of GIS Standing on Business Mapping and Exploring Black Impacts on Industries. Thursday February 6, 2025 3-4 pm EST. Exploring Futures - Marine Ecosystems and Community Innovation. Speakers: Aliyah Griffith and Jeanelle Brisbane. Moderator: Clinton G. Johnson."
February 6, 2025 at 3:13 PM
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This past fall, students at the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences field site conducted research on how the Rachel Carson Reserve in Beaufort responds to change. Senior field site student Rachel Geyer writes about the experience in this NC DEQ blog post!

deq.nc.gov/blog/2025/01...
Kate Leonard, Caroline Maxon and Avalon Rosenberger, senior undergraduate field site students, are dividing a sediment core on the beach of Carrot Island. They are looking for peat, a carbon rich layer of sediment they can use to quantify the carbon stock of the island. Caroline Maxon, a senior undergraduate field site student, knee deep in mud at a Carrot Island salt marsh. Maxon and her group mates, Kate Leonard and Avalon Rosenberger quantified the carbon stock of the island using sediment cores. Molly Zolotor, a junior undergraduate field site student, collecting horse feces from a maritime forest. She and Nora Wood, another junior undergraduate field site student, tested the viability of saltmarsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) seeds found in the feces to determine if horses could facilitate the dispersal of marsh vegetation. Cohort group photo of the students who participated in the Fall 2024 IMS Field Site.
February 4, 2025 at 3:27 PM
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In summer 2022, 2 EMES PhD students - Julianne Davis and Wayana Dolan (PhD 2023) traveled to the Peace-Athabasca Delta in Canada to study carbon dioxide production in wetland lakes.

www.instagram.com/p/Ch5fdsiAdU...
View of a flooded river channel entering a lake. Green wetlands surround the river channel, which is full of brown water. The photo is taken from a low-flying plane and there are sparse clouds over some of the landcape. PhD student Julianne Davis sets up scientific equipment in a boat with brown water, green reeds, and blue sky visible behind her.
February 2, 2025 at 6:26 PM
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Happy World Wetlands Day! From NC's Crystal Coast to the subarctic, Carolina researchers strive to understand these critical ecosystems, the habitats they provide, and how they transport water, sediment and nutrients.

Learn more about wetlands research being done in EMES below!

📸 Josh Himmelstein
Drone image of a white boat and 5 researchers out in a coastal wetland.
February 2, 2025 at 6:26 PM
unc-emes.bsky.social
Eve is a coastal geomorphologist. As a
member of the Rodriguez Lab, she
examines patterns in and drivers of
change across barrier islands and oyster
reefs in NC.

sites.google.com/view/eve-eis...
Four people stand on an oyster reef on a sunny day. They are setting up a tall GPS pole.
January 24, 2025 at 10:20 PM
unc-emes.bsky.social
PhD candidate Eve Eisemann is the 2025 recipient of the Deborah M. Dexter Institute of Marine Sciences Scholarship!

This award recognizes accomplished PhD students at the Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City.

Congratulations, Eve!
Eve is smiling on a windy beach.
January 24, 2025 at 10:20 PM
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We are thrilled for our own Dr. Kennet Flores on winning an NSF CAREER award!

With this grant, he and his lab will continue working on fluid migration and fluid-rock interactions at subduction interfaces.

@drchikitoo.bsky.social
Dark blue background with a photo of Kennet E. Flores, his name, the NSF logo, and the text "NSF CAREER award 2025-2030 Award # 2442046"
January 23, 2025 at 2:16 PM
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Sharing on behalf of our friends at SciREN!(sciren.org)

From classroom-ready lesson plans 📔to sandbox simulations of hurricane impacts on barrier islands 🏝️ to conversations with frontline educators 👩🏽‍🏫, SciREN Coast 2025 will have something for all.
Info flyer for SciREN 2025 Coast Networking event
January 22, 2025 at 6:12 PM
unc-emes.bsky.social
Congratulations to distinguished professor Dr. Hans Paerl, one of @clarivate.com's Highly Cited Researchers in 2024!

This honor recognizes Dr. Paerl's tremendous contributions to microbiology and water quality with his published work in the top 1% by citations over the last decade.
Photo of Dr. Hans Paerl standing in front of a blue sky, green trees, and blue water. He is smiling and wearing a green shirt that says "got nitrogen?"
January 21, 2025 at 3:27 PM