Research
Environmental DNA and Genomics
Much of our research leverages cutting-edge techniques like DNA metabarcoding, metagenomics, quantitative digital PCR, and qPCR to assess community composition as well as to detect and estimate the relative abundance of target species across various ecosystems using non-destructive sampling. Using these methods, along with morphological and stable isotope analyses, we also seek to understand trophic dynamics in coastal ecosystems. In addition, we use shallow whole genome sequencing to assemble complete mitogenome sequences that are used to develop species-specific assays and to generate comparative genomic databases to support biodiversity studies and phylogenomic research.
Marine Monitoring, Autonomy, and AI
In collaboration with colleagues at Jackson State University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering & Computer Science and The University of Southern Mississippi’s Marine Research Center, our work combines low-cost autonomous monitoring systems with AI-driven analytics to advance marine environmental research. Furthermore we seek automating large-scale data workflows with deep learning and reinforcement learning, we streamline genomic analyses and gain rapid insights into how changing environmental conditions affect ecosystem stability, ultimately informing sustainable resource management.