Today was a very special day for several iMESAns: CONGRATULATIONS to our Honor students Taryn and Grace, our DIS Paul, and our new Master Brandon!
We got to celebrate their achievements twice: This morning during the Honors College Medallion Ceremony, and this afternoon, during the Department of Biology and Marine Biology Graduation Ceremony! CONGRATULATIONS iM...SEA HAWKS!

The award recognizes all aspects of excellence in scholarship, research, and creativity including activities that involve colleagues and students.

Susanna was awarded a CSE Curriculum Development award to prepare the new course: "Marine Life in Danger" and Patrick received a Research Momentum award to help develop our next research proposal: "Microbiological Dimensions of Invasion Success: Dynamics and Functional Diversity of Introduced Ascidian Mircobiomes"

Brenna received a 2024 Graduate Student Training Stipend and Jaclyn a CMS Summer Stipend to support their professional development and research efforts, respectively! Well-deserved!

The iMESA Lab was well-represented at the UNCW Undergraduate Research Showcase on Saturday, April 27!
Meagan, Grace, and Taryn presented their research on sea-squirts: from the tinny microbial symbiont that helps them survive in marinas to the mighty invader that is taking over North Carolina shellfish farms and reefs!

Susanna had a blast talking sea-squirts with Centro Acuario members on April 23, 2024!
Visit our Outreach webpage to learn more about those incredible yet understudied animals!

Grace defended her Honors thesis on Ascidian abundance and diversity in shellfish farms of North Carolina on April 23, 2024! Congrats Grace!