Student Theses and Dissertations

37 Completed , 2 in progress

Seven master's students went on to complete PhDs:  Mercedes Pinzon (@UCF in progress); Dr. Alina Spera (UTEP)), Dr. Lynette Malecki (@UF), Dr. Havalend Steinmuller (@UCF), Dr. Christine VanZomeren (@UF), Dr. Lisa Chambers (@UF), Dr. Brian Levine (@ Massey Univ, NZ), and one student, Dr. Jared Theriot received an MD (@LSU).

37) Jacob Cheng, Master's Thesis Title: The Impacts of Nature-Based Sediment Restoration Practices on Coastal Wetland Soil Biogeochemistry, Spring 2024. 

36) Robert Feder, Master's Thesis Title: Effects of Coastal Freshening on Porewater Chemistry and Nutrient Availability in Brackish Marsh Soils: Implications for Biogeochemical Resilience in Barataria Basin, LA. Summer 2023.

35) Mercedes Pinzon, Master's Thesis Title:  Impact of Sediment Diversion For Coastal Restoration on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Biogeochemical Cycling in Coastal Louisiana, USA. Summer 2023.

34) Callie Snow, Master's Thesis Title: Effects of Freshwater Input on Nutrient Loading, Toxic Cyanobacteria Bloom Development and Cyanotoxin Production in Lake Pontchartrain Estuary, Louisiana. LA. Fall 2021.

33) Dr. Yadav Sapkota, PhD Dissertation Title: Soil Organic Matter Accretion, Complexity, and Degradation in Eroding Coastal Wetlands. Fall 2021.

32) Erol Knaus, Master's Thesis Title: Changes in wetland soil processes and ecosystem function Six years after marsh creation in Barataria Bay, LA. Spring 2021.

31) Peter Mates, Master's Thesis Title: Phosphorus Variability in the Area of Influence of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion . Summer 2020.

30) Laura Thompson, Master's Thesis Title: Sediment Biogeochemistry of Dredge Pits in the Northern Gulf of Mexico Shelf. Spring 2020.

29) Alina Spera, Master's Thesis Title: Decadal Changes of Soil Physiochemical Properties in a Freshwater Wetland After Hydrologic Reconnection. Summer 2019.

28) Jessica Vaccare, Master's Thesis Title: Impacts of Anthropogenic Activities on Coastal Wetland Microbes and Microbially-Mediated Processes in Coastal Louisiana. Spring 2019.

27) Katie Bowes, Master's Thesis Title: From the River to the Gulf: An investigation of Biogeochemical Cycling in Wetland Soils and Coastal Shelf Sediments.  Fall 2018.

26) Sarah Wood, Master's Thesis Title: Biogeochemical Processes Linked to Important Ecosystem Services in Restored and Natural Louisiana Wetlands.  Summer 2017.

25) Dr. Brian Levine, Master's Thesis Title: Implications of the Long- term Presence of Crude Oil from the Deepwater Horizon Spill on Salt Marsh Biogeochemistry. Fall 2016.

24) Nia Hurst, Master's Thesis Title: The Effect of Restoration on Nitrate Reduction and Biogeochemical Functioning in Louisiana Wetlands: Bottomland Hardwood Forests and Deltaic Sediments Summer 2016.

23) Dr. Havalend Steinmuller, Master's Thesis Title: Anthropogenic Impacts on Soil Microbial Processes in Coastal Wetlands: Nutrient Loading and Rising CO2 Levels. Summer 2015.

22) Lindsey Green, Master's (Professional) Thesis Title: The effects of a novel dredge material disposal technique on nitrate removal in the Lower Atchafalaya River, Louisiana. Summer 2015.

21) Nhan (Nathan) Nguyen, Master's Thesis Title: Legacy Phosphorus Implications In the Lake Pontchartrain Estuary Sediments Due to the 2011 Bonnet Carre Spillway Opening. Fall 2014.

20) Morgan McKee, Master's Thesis Title: Effect of Storm Surge and Nutrient Loading on Coastal Wetland Soil Processes: Implications for Ecosystem Function. Summer 2014.

19) Jason Pietroski, Master's Thesis Title: Effect of the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Critical Marsh Soil Microbial Functions.  Summer 2014.

18) Dr. Eric Roy, PhD Dissertation Title: A Multi-scale Investigation of Nutrient Dynamics in the Lake Pontchartrain Estuary and Basin.  Fall 2013.

17) Dr. Jacob Berkowitz, PhD Dissertation Title: Incorporating Science – based Approaches into the Rapid Assessment of Wetlands and Streams: Validation, Restoration Trajectory, and Method Development. Summer 2013.

16) Dr. Jared Theriot, Master's Thesis Title: Effects of Carbon and Nitrogen Transformations in Restored Wetland and Wastewater Soils.  Summer 2012.

15) Dr. Christine VanZomeren, Master's Thesis Title: Fate of Diverted Mississippi River Nitrate on Vegetated and Nonvegetated Coastal Marshes of Breton Sound Estuary. Summer 2011.

14) Dr. Jeremy L. Conkle, PhD Dissertation Title: Pharmaceutical Compounds in Treatment Wetlands: Potential Removal and Effects on Microbial Processes. Spring 2010.

13) Brett Marks, Master's Thesis Title: Effects of Salinity on Nitrogen Cycling in Wetland Soils and Sediments of Breton Sound Estuary, LA. Spring 2010.

12) Dhaval Shah, Master's Thesis Title: Phosphorus dynamics in the marshland upwelling system. Summer 2009.

11) Dr. Lisa (Gardner) Chambers, Master's Thesis Title: Denitrification enzyme activity as an indicator of nitrate loading in a wetland receiving diverted Mississippi River water.  Spring 2008.

10) Maj. Hannon Didier, Master's Thesis Title: Biogeomorphic evaluation of Caminada-moreau maritime beach ridges with respect to future restoration initiatives. Summer 2007.

9) Dr. Lynette Malecki-Brown, PhD Dissertation Title: Effects of Alum on Phosphorus Sequestration, Macrophytes, Microbial Community and Mineralogy in a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Wetlands

8) Shannon (Curtis) White, Master's Thesis Title: A characterization of phosphorus removal in STA-1 West Cell 5B. 2005

7) Chakesha S. Martin, Master's Thesis Title: Phosphorus flux from sediments in the Kissimmee River Upper Chain of Lakes. 2004

6) Sue (Simon) Lindstrom, Master's Thesis Title: Phosphorus Retention and Release of Soils in a Constructed Wetland for Wastewater Treatment. 2003

5) Kevin Grace, Master's Thesis Title: Phosphorus removal and soil stability with emergent and submerged vegetation communities in treatment wetlands. 2003

4) Alex Aycrigg, Master's (Professional) Thesis Title: Nitrogen cycling indicators of ecological condition. 2003.

3) Erin (Bostic) Corstanje, Master's Thesis Title: Phosphorus cycling in a nutrient-impacted freshwater wetland: spatial, temporal and hydrologic effects. 2003

2) Dr. Lynette Malecki-Brown, Master's Thesis Title: Temporal and spatial variability of nutrient fluxes from sediment in the lower St. Johns River. 2002

1) Katie Barch, Master's Thesis Title: Spatial and temporal patterns of biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen in a nutrient-impacted subtropical wetland. 2002