Mentor(s): Vinka Craver-Oyanedel, Kayla Kurtz & Sirri Neba Nforsoh, Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Rhode Island Project Location University of Rhode Island – Kingston Project Description Background and hypotheses: Numerous efforts are underway to investigate the integration of marine plastic waste into construction materials. However, implementing this concept has challenges, including issues related to […]

Continue reading "Plastic waste in construction materials: Environmental implications (P19)" →

Mentor(s) Ying Zhang, Jason Vailionis & Cecile Cres, Cell & Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island Project Location University of Rhode Island – Kingston Project Description The prevalence of microplastics is posing increasing concerns due to their negative impacts on ecosystems and human health. Microbial-based degradation of microplastics provides a potential solution to this problem, […]

Continue reading "Identification and analysis of plastic-degrading genes in the Narragansett Bay microbiome (P18)" →

Mentor(s) Lindsay Green-Gavrielidis, Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Salve Regina University Project Location Salve Regina University Project Description Coastal environments are undergoing changes because of human-influenced impacts including excess nutrient loading (eutrophication), increasing sea surface temperature, and the spread of non-native species. In Narragansett Bay, habitat-forming seaweeds including rockweeds and kelp are foundational species that create […]

Continue reading "Examining the response of different marine populations to human-caused stressors (P17)" →

Mentor(s): Anna Schrecengost & Roxanne Beinart Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island Project Location University of Rhode Island – Bay Campus Project Description Student will use cultivation, microscopy, and molecular-based approaches to explore the diversity and functioning of benthic microbes in Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island coastal ponds, with a particular focus on […]

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Mentor(s) Joel Singley, Biology, Roger Williams University Project Location Roger Williams University Project Description Hydrologic conditions in marsh to forest ecotones are interactively controlled by changes in inland hydrologic fluxes as well as mid- to long-term coastal dynamics and events (i.e., storm surges, saltwater intrusion, and sea level rise). This project aims to assess how […]

Continue reading "Assessing tree growth sensitivity to historical hydroclimatic variability and recent management along a marsh-upland gradient (P15)" →

Mentor(s): Joel Singley, Biology, Roger Williams University Project Location Roger Williams University Project Description This project focuses on simulating the impacts of climate change on the thermal structure and ice phenology of lakes and ponds in Rhode Island. Utilizing the General Lake Model in R, the student will explore how rising temperatures interact with physical […]

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Mentor(s): Avelina Espinosa, Biology, Roger Williams University, Allison Marn, Engineering, Roger Williams University, Jennifer Pearce, Physics & Mathematics, Roger Williams University Project Location Roger Williams University Project Description Narragansett Bay and its associated rivers provide spawning ground, nursery, and habitat for more than 60 species of fish and shellfish. Disease-causing bacteria, viruses, fungi, or protists […]

Continue reading "Electrochemical biosensors for detection of pathogenic protists in resident shellfish in Narragansett Bay (P13)" →

Mentor(s) Ahmet Amin Akosman, Engineering, Roger Williams University Project Location Roger Williams University Project Description The development of advanced optical systems, such as dual comb Erbium fiber lasers, plays a pivotal role in various scientific and technological applications, ranging from precision spectroscopy to environmental monitoring. These lasers, with their ability to generate a frequency comb […]

Continue reading "Development of single cavity dual comb Erbium ultrafast fiber lasers for spectroscopic seawater assessment (P12)" →

Mentor(s) Jeffrey Markert, Biology, Providence College, Bryan Clark, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Project Location Providence College Project Description Coastal and marine ecosystems face a number of well documented challenges. Habitat loss, chemical pollution, climate change, and over-harvesting can damage local biological communities. Introduced species pose another kind of threat. When introduced species become invasive, this […]

Continue reading "Who’s there? Environmental DNA techniques for monitoring the health of biological communities (P11)" →

Mentor(s) Andrew Davies & Kristofer Gomes , Oceanography, Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island Project Location University of Rhode Island – Bay Campus Project Description Narragansett Bay represents an important ecological and economic resource within Rhode Island and has been the subject of increased monitoring efforts, including as part of the Rhode Island Coastal Ecology […]

Continue reading "Real-time monitoring of underwater fauna using baited underwater cameras (P10)" →