Dr. Keisha Bahr Principal Investigator

2019 - present | She/her

Dr. Keisha Bahr is an Assistant Professor of Marine Biology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. She completed her B.Sc. in Marine Biology and Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She is a classically trained marine ecologist with a specialized focus on the physiological response of calcifying organisms to multiple stressors. She has over a decade of experience collaborating with academic, government, and non-governmental institutions to develop the knowledge and tools to restore, preserve, and manage our marine ecosystems.

Dr. Bahr is a first-generation student and understands the importance of community. Therefore, she is committed to cultivating a productive and supportive environment where her team can work collaboratively to solve the problems facing our valuable marine ecosystems.

RESEARCH STAFF

Dr. Conall McNicholl
Research Scientist

2021 - present | he/him

Conall is a Research Scientist based at the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology. His research interests lie in organismal physiology and investigating the underlying mechanisms that drive organismal response to environmental change. He received a B.Sc. in Biology at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA and a Ph.D. in Integrative Biology at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL. Prior to joining the Bahr Lab, Conall was a Postdoctoral Researcher at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Monaco, France where he used radioisotopes to determine how climate change stressors affect heavy metal bioaccumulation in seafood. In his spare time, Conall loves eating tacos and making sweet, funky soundtracks for the lab to listen to.

dr. Abby Cannon
postdoctoral researcher

2024 - Present

Abby’s research focuses on the ecology of biogenic benthic habitats. Her first research experience in this topic was volunteering to help Dr. Levi Lewis (then a PhD student in Dr. Jen Smith’s lab at Scripps Institution of Oceanography) study coral reef ecology on Maui’s leeward coast. Abby later received the NSF GRFP and joined the Smith lab as a PhD student where her research focused on the impact of animal disturbances on Caribbean seagrass beds and the impacts of commercial seaweed farms on tropical marine habitats. Since completing her PhD, she has studied seagrass ecology in California and the Tropical Eastern Pacific. Her research in the Bahr lab will focus on the impacts of natural and human-caused turbidity on corals. When not studying corals and seagrasses or teaching inside or outside of the classroom, Abby enjoys surfing, SCUBA diving, hiking, and sleeping late.

Robert Bretzing, M.SC.
RESEARCH SPECIALIST

2023 - present | HE/HIM

Robert Bretzing completed his Associate of Science in Illinois before transferring to TAMUCC to finish his B.Sc. in Biology with a concentration in Marine Biology in 2020. After which he continued on with a Master’s of Science in Fisheries and is projected to graduate with his degree in Fall 2023. Robert loves anything marine science-related but has a soft spot for freshwater and saltwater fishes.

In his free time, Robert enjoys nothing more than relaxing at home with his dog Bubba.

Contact: robert.bretzing-tungate@tamucc.edu

Twitter: @robert_bretzing

BRIANA MATTHEWS, B.SC.
RESEARCH TECHNICIAN

2023 - present | SHE/HER

Briana Matthews earned her B.Sc. in Marine Biology from Eckerd College in 2020. After graduation she interned with Mote Marine Lab working with their Coral Reproduction team to learn the ins and outs of Caribbean coral spawning and husbandry. Her goal is to pursue a master's degree in coral conservation and ecology, and hopes to continue with research into coral larvae and reproduction. Briana is an avid SCUBA diver and has dove in FL, the Keys, Cuba, and Belize and hopes to add more places to the list! Originally from Virginia, Briana has lived all up and down the east coast from Maine to the Florida Keys. Her favorite National Park is Acadia in Bar Harbor, ME, which she tries to visit at least once a year.

Contact: briana.matthews@tamucc.edu Twitter: brimatthews98

Eleanor Tenbrink, B.Sc.
RESEARCH TECHNICIAN

2021 - present | She/her

El completed her B.Sc. in Environmental Science with a concentration in Marine and Coastal Resources. She is currently taking a year to work as a research technician before pursuing her Ph.D. in Marine Biology.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Alexandra Good, M.sc. Ph.D. Candidate

2020 - present | she/her

Alex is a Ph.D. student, originally from Cape Cod, MA. She received a B.Sc. in Marine Science in 2017 and a M.Sc. in Marine Studies in 2020 from the University of Delaware. Between these degrees, Alex taught 8th grade science at Roxbury Prep Charter School in Boston, MA where she discovered a passion for teaching and science communication. She has dreamed of becoming a marine biologist since she was 8 years old and fell in love with the coral reef ecosystem while earning her SCUBA certification at 12 years old. In her free time, she is a die-hard Boston sports fan and enjoys traveling to scuba dive, snowboard, hike, or just relax with a good book and enjoy mother nature.

Contact: agood1@islander.tamucc.edu Twitter: @sciencegal_al
Blue Sky: @sciencegalal.bsky.social
Website: Science Gal Al

David Armstrong ph.d. Student

2022 - present | he/him

David is originally from Buford, Georgia. David completed his B.Sc. in biological sciences (minor in environmental science) from the College of Coastal Georgia. David has extensive experience in fabricating aquatic life support systems for research and commercial-grade artificial aquatic ecosystems. From this unique experience, he developed a love for the complex environmental interactions surrounding coral reefs. With family roots in Hawaiʻi, David’s research goals include progressing on impactful hypotheses focused on the preservation and understanding of coral species. In his free time, David enjoys surfing, wildlife photography, backpacking, mechanics, guitar, and sports with his colleagues.

Contact: davidxstrong@gmail.com
Instagram: @alexarmstrong._

Kelley Savage, M.Sc. Ph.D. Student

2022 - present | she/her

Kelley Savage is a PhD student in the Coastal and Marine System Science program working with Dr. Jennifer Pollack, Dr. Keisha Bahr, and Dr. Xinping Hu. She earned a B.Sc. in Geography from the University of Texas at Austin and a M.Sc. in Marine Biology from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Her Master’s thesis focused on salinity recommendations needed to regulate Perkinsus marinus in Texas oyster reefs. From 2017 to 2022, Kelley worked at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute as a Research Associate with NOAA’s National Estuarine Research Reserve program. For her dissertation research, she is assessing carbon sequestration in oyster reefs.

Kelley was born and raised in Texas. When Kelley is not researching oysters, she loves being outdoors, camping, traveling, and eating great food. Fun fact - for about six years she kept honeybees in Blanco, Texas, and in the last few years has taken up an interest in fly fishing.

Contact: ksavage1@islander.tamucc.edu
Twitter: sealevelsavage

daphne white, b.sc.
Ph.d Student

2022-present | she/her

Daphne currently works as a Laboratory Technician at the Coastal Conservation and Restoration lab at Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and plans to start her Ph.D. in the Marine Biology program at TAMUCC in the Spring of 2024. She completed her B.Sc. in Biology with a marine concentration at TAMUCC in 2022. Her first research experience was working as an undergraduate researcher for Dr. Jennifer Pollack studying oyster reefs. Here, she completed her first research project involving oyster reef restoration with biodegradable aquaculture bags. Next, she studied the impacts of dredging on Caribbean reef-building corals for her undergraduate honors thesis under the mentorship of Dr. Keisha Bahr. Her research in the Bahr lab will focus on monitoring oyster reef calcification to help inform management to keep areas closed or open to harvest.

Daphne is from New Braunfels, TX, where she developed her appreciation for the outdoors. In her free time she enjoys camping, cooking, swimming, and traveling.

Casey Gallagher, B.sc. M.Sc. Student

2023 - present | she/her

Casey Gallagher is a native Houstonian who graduated from TAMUCC with a B.Sc. in Biology and a Minor in Studio Art. She has a deep connection to the aquatic world, as she is a swimmer, SCUBA diver, sailor, and hobby aquarium keeper. She plans to pursue a career in marine aquaculture and conservation. Currently, her research project is focused on developing a coral color card to help us understand how coral calorimetry is linked to the health of Caribbean corals. The end goal is to create an in-field color card to engage end-users and citizen scientists in monitoring bleaching events on Caribbean coral reefs.

Click HERE to learn more!

kate gomez-rangel, b.sc. M.sc. student

2023 - present | she/her

Kate is originally from Corpus Christi, TX. She started as a master’s student in the Fisheries and Mariculture program at TAMU-CC in Fall 2023. Her career goal is to conduct research to make new discoveries and spread awareness about life in the ocean. In her free time, Kate enjoys surfing, kayaking, traveling, watching Harry Potter movies, and attending sports games - Especially baseball games!

VISITING RESEARCHERS AND FELLOWS

Ikelau Ruci Otto
Research Fellow
Palau International Coral Reef Center

Summer 2022 | she/her

McQuinnley Florencio Mesengei
Research Fellow
Palau International Coral Reef Center

Summer 2022 | he/him

2024 NSF POST-BAC TRAINEES