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November 2025
Field lab members Allyson Ropp (PhD Candidate, ICS) and Mikayla Brueshaber (MS Biology) presented their research on shipwreck environments conducted at the Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary at the American Society for Microbiology's North Carolina Branch Meeting!
Field lab members Allyson Ropp (PhD Candidate, ICS) and Mikayla Brueshaber (MS Biology) presented their research on shipwreck environments conducted at the Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary at the American Society for Microbiology's North Carolina Branch Meeting!
October 2025
Congratulations to IDPBBC student Maggie Shostak on becoming an ECU Water Scholar and receiving an honorable mention for the Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) fellowship, both for her project "Evaluating World War II Wrecks as Artificial Reefs in Saipan through Hydrological and Biological Quality Metrics". See photos below from her recent sampling trip to Saipan this past July along with ECU maritime archaeologists Dr. Jennifer McKinnon and MS students Evan Olinger and Krysta Rogers.
Congratulations to IDPBBC student Maggie Shostak on becoming an ECU Water Scholar and receiving an honorable mention for the Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) fellowship, both for her project "Evaluating World War II Wrecks as Artificial Reefs in Saipan through Hydrological and Biological Quality Metrics". See photos below from her recent sampling trip to Saipan this past July along with ECU maritime archaeologists Dr. Jennifer McKinnon and MS students Evan Olinger and Krysta Rogers.
March 2025
Wonderful week of presentations by ECU students at the Research and Creative Achievement Week! A special congratulations to Field lab presenters Autumn Robinson (IDPBBC), Allyson Ropp (ICS), Colton Rust (BS Biochemistry), and Caroline Pate (BS Biology). Caroline also won the Best UG Poster Award in Natural Sciences!
Wonderful week of presentations by ECU students at the Research and Creative Achievement Week! A special congratulations to Field lab presenters Autumn Robinson (IDPBBC), Allyson Ropp (ICS), Colton Rust (BS Biochemistry), and Caroline Pate (BS Biology). Caroline also won the Best UG Poster Award in Natural Sciences!
January 2025
The new year started off with Maggie Shostak (IDPBBC PhD student) and Dr. Field presenting at the Society for Historical Archaeology conference in the Ecology of Underwater Cultural Heritage session. We had a great time meeting with the biologists and archaeologists!
The new year started off with Maggie Shostak (IDPBBC PhD student) and Dr. Field presenting at the Society for Historical Archaeology conference in the Ecology of Underwater Cultural Heritage session. We had a great time meeting with the biologists and archaeologists!
November 2024
Winter sampling trip to Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary had many things to celebrate. Not only did we get great weather for November but Allyson Ropp (ICS PhD student) wrapped up her two-year sampling effort on the Aowa wreck while Mikayla Watts (MS student) collected her second set of sediment data from Accomac to assess the environmental impacts of wrecks on the surrounding ecology and environment. And to top it all off, Maggie Shostak's first author publication is officially published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology on the microbes associated with the Accomac wreck and how they may contribute to its deterioration (check it out here).
Winter sampling trip to Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary had many things to celebrate. Not only did we get great weather for November but Allyson Ropp (ICS PhD student) wrapped up her two-year sampling effort on the Aowa wreck while Mikayla Watts (MS student) collected her second set of sediment data from Accomac to assess the environmental impacts of wrecks on the surrounding ecology and environment. And to top it all off, Maggie Shostak's first author publication is officially published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology on the microbes associated with the Accomac wreck and how they may contribute to its deterioration (check it out here).
October 2024
What a great time at the American Society for Microbiology North Carolina Branch Meeting held at UNC Wilmington's Center for Marine Science. Field lab IDPBBC students Sarah Kate Childs, Maggie Shostak, and Autumn Robinson all presented on their current research. The great day of microbiology was rounded out with the Best Graduate Student Poster Presentation going to Sarah Kate Childs for her poster on "NC Shipwrecks as habitats and reservoirs of Vibrio spp." Congrats Sarah Kate!
What a great time at the American Society for Microbiology North Carolina Branch Meeting held at UNC Wilmington's Center for Marine Science. Field lab IDPBBC students Sarah Kate Childs, Maggie Shostak, and Autumn Robinson all presented on their current research. The great day of microbiology was rounded out with the Best Graduate Student Poster Presentation going to Sarah Kate Childs for her poster on "NC Shipwrecks as habitats and reservoirs of Vibrio spp." Congrats Sarah Kate!
September 2024
How much longer will the Titanic as we know it be around? Dr. Field gives an interview in USA Today about the tiny microbes that are contributing to the deterioration of the Titanic. Check it out here.
How much longer will the Titanic as we know it be around? Dr. Field gives an interview in USA Today about the tiny microbes that are contributing to the deterioration of the Titanic. Check it out here.
July 2023
Congratulations to Chase Spicer on receiving a 4-year Nature Conservancy Fellowship to conduct his PhD here at ECU co-advised by Dr. Rachel Gittman, an expert in restoration ecology, and myself. In collaboration with The Nature Conservancy he will evaluate the success of barrier removals in the Lower Roanoke River on aquatic species restoration using traditional sampling and eDNA techniques.
Congratulations to Chase Spicer on receiving a 4-year Nature Conservancy Fellowship to conduct his PhD here at ECU co-advised by Dr. Rachel Gittman, an expert in restoration ecology, and myself. In collaboration with The Nature Conservancy he will evaluate the success of barrier removals in the Lower Roanoke River on aquatic species restoration using traditional sampling and eDNA techniques.
June 2023
Congratulations to Allyson Ropp (PhD Candidate, ICS Program) on becoming a 2023 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar! We couldn't be more excited for Allyson to have this support to continue her work at the Mallows Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Learn more about her project and interdisciplinary here.
Congratulations to Allyson Ropp (PhD Candidate, ICS Program) on becoming a 2023 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar! We couldn't be more excited for Allyson to have this support to continue her work at the Mallows Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Learn more about her project and interdisciplinary here.
May 2023
Project success! Time flew by in Saipan. What an amazing group of people to work with these last two weeks. It took a village to collect all of these eDNA samples, but what a great experience. Now we take them home to see what the data looks like! Want to know more about how we're using eDNA as an emerging technology to study the ecosystem health of these artificial reefs? Check it out here: https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/23wwii-battlefields/explorers/explorers.html.
Project success! Time flew by in Saipan. What an amazing group of people to work with these last two weeks. It took a village to collect all of these eDNA samples, but what a great experience. Now we take them home to see what the data looks like! Want to know more about how we're using eDNA as an emerging technology to study the ecosystem health of these artificial reefs? Check it out here: https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/23wwii-battlefields/explorers/explorers.html.
May 2023
We have officially arrived in Saipan and are eager to get started. We begin by meeting the other researchers, Task Force Dagger team members, and visit the historical trail with our project leader Dr. Jen McKinnon (ECU) to learn more about the Battle of Saipan and history of this incredible region.
We have officially arrived in Saipan and are eager to get started. We begin by meeting the other researchers, Task Force Dagger team members, and visit the historical trail with our project leader Dr. Jen McKinnon (ECU) to learn more about the Battle of Saipan and history of this incredible region.
April 2023
A month of presentations from all of our lab's graduates! Congratulations to our graduating seniors Meredith Cox, Opal Moore, and Anna Koirala as well as our graduating MS students Chase Spicer and Maggie Shostak. And a final celebration with everyone before the summer.
A month of presentations from all of our lab's graduates! Congratulations to our graduating seniors Meredith Cox, Opal Moore, and Anna Koirala as well as our graduating MS students Chase Spicer and Maggie Shostak. And a final celebration with everyone before the summer.
March 2023
Water water everywhere! Sampling season has begun in Eastern North Carolina - From eDNA collection from the Roanoke River to the GUC wastewater treatment plant, students are out and about collecting samples for their projects.
Water water everywhere! Sampling season has begun in Eastern North Carolina - From eDNA collection from the Roanoke River to the GUC wastewater treatment plant, students are out and about collecting samples for their projects.
February 2023
Dr. Field speaks at Science Cafe at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences on Shipwreck Microbes as part of the series associated with James Cameron's special exhibit - Challenging the Deep (more info here). If you haven't already checked it out, there's still time. It's open through May!
Dr. Field speaks at Science Cafe at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences on Shipwreck Microbes as part of the series associated with James Cameron's special exhibit - Challenging the Deep (more info here). If you haven't already checked it out, there's still time. It's open through May!
November 2022
ECU Microbiology students including Field Lab members Maggie Shostak (MS Biology) and Meredith Cox (BS Biology) present at the NC ASM Branch Meeting at Appalachian State University.
ECU Microbiology students including Field Lab members Maggie Shostak (MS Biology) and Meredith Cox (BS Biology) present at the NC ASM Branch Meeting at Appalachian State University.
June 2022
New article alert: Congratulations to former Field Lab Member Dr. Cody Garrison on publishing his final dissertation chapter. Check it out here to learn more about how microbial communities are affected by hurricanes off the coast of NC.
New article alert: Congratulations to former Field Lab Member Dr. Cody Garrison on publishing his final dissertation chapter. Check it out here to learn more about how microbial communities are affected by hurricanes off the coast of NC.
June 2022
Congratulations to MS student Chase Spicer for receiving the North Carolina Wildlife Federation Scholarship Grant. Well-deserved!
Congratulations to MS student Chase Spicer for receiving the North Carolina Wildlife Federation Scholarship Grant. Well-deserved!
May 2022
Smithsonian Voices Magazine and the American Museum of Natural History's "How Shipwrecks Shape the Seafloor" is a great article to check out for the latest on how microbes, shipwrecks, and the marine environment interact. Proud to include some of our previous work. Check it out here. (Photo Credit: NOAA)
Smithsonian Voices Magazine and the American Museum of Natural History's "How Shipwrecks Shape the Seafloor" is a great article to check out for the latest on how microbes, shipwrecks, and the marine environment interact. Proud to include some of our previous work. Check it out here. (Photo Credit: NOAA)
May 2022
Sampling begins on the Accomac! Meredith Cox (UG Biology), Maggie Shostak (MS Biology), Allyson Ropp (PhD ICS), and Dr. Nathan Richards head to the field site to collect samples from wooden and steel-hulled wrecks. Can't wait to find out what microbes are there!
Sampling begins on the Accomac! Meredith Cox (UG Biology), Maggie Shostak (MS Biology), Allyson Ropp (PhD ICS), and Dr. Nathan Richards head to the field site to collect samples from wooden and steel-hulled wrecks. Can't wait to find out what microbes are there!
March 2022
Maggie Shostak receives the prestigious American Museum of Natural History Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Research Fund for her work on freshwater microbes associated with the SS Accomac in Mallows Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Maggie Shostak receives the prestigious American Museum of Natural History Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Research Fund for her work on freshwater microbes associated with the SS Accomac in Mallows Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
February 2022
Are bacteria eating the Titanic? Learn more here in Discover Magazine which includes an interview with Dr. Field about how microbes may play a role in biocorrosion of metal wrecks such as the Titanic. (Photo credit: OceanGate Expeditions).
Are bacteria eating the Titanic? Learn more here in Discover Magazine which includes an interview with Dr. Field about how microbes may play a role in biocorrosion of metal wrecks such as the Titanic. (Photo credit: OceanGate Expeditions).
February 2022
Congratulations to MS student Maggie Shostak for receiving Biology's Gerhard Kalmus Scholarship and NS student Chase Spicer for receiving Biology's Evelyn and Joseph Boyette Graduate Fellowship. Keep up the good work!
Congratulations to MS student Maggie Shostak for receiving Biology's Gerhard Kalmus Scholarship and NS student Chase Spicer for receiving Biology's Evelyn and Joseph Boyette Graduate Fellowship. Keep up the good work!
January 2022
We've Moved!! Our lab is now located in the new Life Sciences & Biotechnology Building. (Photo credit: ecu.edu)
We've Moved!! Our lab is now located in the new Life Sciences & Biotechnology Building. (Photo credit: ecu.edu)
May 2021
Congrats to Samantha Gallien graduating today with her BS in Biochemistry and awarded Biology's Outstanding Senior Award for her academic and research accomplishments.
Congrats to Samantha Gallien graduating today with her BS in Biochemistry and awarded Biology's Outstanding Senior Award for her academic and research accomplishments.
May 2021
Back-to-back defense days in the Field lab. Congratulations to Drs. Chequita Brooks and Cody Garrison on successfully defending their dissertations! So proud of all these two amazing scientists have accomplished, they both have bright futures ahead of them!
Back-to-back defense days in the Field lab. Congratulations to Drs. Chequita Brooks and Cody Garrison on successfully defending their dissertations! So proud of all these two amazing scientists have accomplished, they both have bright futures ahead of them!
April 2021
A year ago we were packed up and about to head out to Saipan to collect biofilm samples from the surface of submerged WWII Aircrafts for Dominic Bush's PhD dissertation research. A lot has changed since then, but we are now vaccinated, tested, and approved for travel to complete this research in Maui, HI instead! Happy to report we were able to safely and successfully collect samples from these amazing artificial reefs.
A year ago we were packed up and about to head out to Saipan to collect biofilm samples from the surface of submerged WWII Aircrafts for Dominic Bush's PhD dissertation research. A lot has changed since then, but we are now vaccinated, tested, and approved for travel to complete this research in Maui, HI instead! Happy to report we were able to safely and successfully collect samples from these amazing artificial reefs.
February 2021
The weather is turning warm which only means one thing, water collection time! Undergraduate researcher Sam Gallien stops for a quick photo op in between sites.
The weather is turning warm which only means one thing, water collection time! Undergraduate researcher Sam Gallien stops for a quick photo op in between sites.
January 2021
Our very own Chequita Brooks was featured in "Letters to a Pre-Scientist"! Check out Chequita's letter here which was featured for her exceptional ability to connect with a pre-scientist.
Our very own Chequita Brooks was featured in "Letters to a Pre-Scientist"! Check out Chequita's letter here which was featured for her exceptional ability to connect with a pre-scientist.
January 2021
It's a new year with a new publication! Cody Garrison and Dr. Field introduce a core microbiome associated with steel structures. Want to know which microbes you find on stainless steel and shipwrecks? Check out the FEMS Microbiology Ecology article here.
It's a new year with a new publication! Cody Garrison and Dr. Field introduce a core microbiome associated with steel structures. Want to know which microbes you find on stainless steel and shipwrecks? Check out the FEMS Microbiology Ecology article here.
December 2020
Iron mats are everywhere, but have you ever stopped to think about the organisms that live there and how they interact with each other? Check out the newest Field lab mini-review in mBio from Chequita Brooks & Dr. Field to learn more.
Iron mats are everywhere, but have you ever stopped to think about the organisms that live there and how they interact with each other? Check out the newest Field lab mini-review in mBio from Chequita Brooks & Dr. Field to learn more.
November 2020
Congratulations to Kyra Price on successfully defending her MS thesis "Investigating the microbial communities associated with aluminum alloys 2024 and 7075".
Congratulations to Kyra Price on successfully defending her MS thesis "Investigating the microbial communities associated with aluminum alloys 2024 and 7075".
October 2020
Dr. Field had the amazing opportunity to talk about shipwreck microbes with Ira Flatow on NPR's Science Friday. Watch here!
Dr. Field had the amazing opportunity to talk about shipwreck microbes with Ira Flatow on NPR's Science Friday. Watch here!
August 2020
Want to learn more about shipwreck microbes and our Frontiers in Microbiology paper? Check out these articles in Popular Science, Inverse Magazine, The Scientist, and Chemical & Engineering News.
Want to learn more about shipwreck microbes and our Frontiers in Microbiology paper? Check out these articles in Popular Science, Inverse Magazine, The Scientist, and Chemical & Engineering News.
July 2020
July is publication month again! Congratulations to Field lab members Kyra Price, Cody Garrison and Dr. Field as well as collaborator ECU's Maritime Studies Director Nathan Richards on their publication in Frontiers in Microbiology, link here.
July is publication month again! Congratulations to Field lab members Kyra Price, Cody Garrison and Dr. Field as well as collaborator ECU's Maritime Studies Director Nathan Richards on their publication in Frontiers in Microbiology, link here.
June 2020
Congratulations to Kyle Swanson on his successful Master's Thesis Defense!
Congratulations to Kyle Swanson on his successful Master's Thesis Defense!
April 2020
Congratulations to Seth Gibbons on his successful Master's Thesis Defense and good luck as he begins his PhD at Clemson University.
Congratulations to Seth Gibbons on his successful Master's Thesis Defense and good luck as he begins his PhD at Clemson University.
March 2020
We may be shut down, but we were prepared! Throwback to field sampling last year by Chequita Brooks & Sara Roozbehi
We may be shut down, but we were prepared! Throwback to field sampling last year by Chequita Brooks & Sara Roozbehi
September 2019
Sara Roozbehi and the ECU Microbe team teach prospective biology undergrads how cool microbes are at the annual "What's Up Bio" Expo.
Sara Roozbehi and the ECU Microbe team teach prospective biology undergrads how cool microbes are at the annual "What's Up Bio" Expo.
July 2019
July is publication month in the Field lab. Congrats to Cody Garrison on his new article in Applied and Environmental Microbiology on stainless steel microbes (and cover art image!) and Madison Lamb on her publication in PloS One on microcystin toxicity. Check them out here.
July is publication month in the Field lab. Congrats to Cody Garrison on his new article in Applied and Environmental Microbiology on stainless steel microbes (and cover art image!) and Madison Lamb on her publication in PloS One on microcystin toxicity. Check them out here.
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April 2019
Outreach April continues! Earth Day Expo was a success introducing kids and adults alike about microbial interactions through a cool microbial warfare card game created by our own Chequita Brooks. |
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April 2019
We had a great time representing ECU microbes at the Coastal Studies Institute Open House. Who doesn't like shipwreck microbes? |
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April 2019
Field Lab students doing an awesome job presenting their research at the ECU Research and Creative Achievement Week (RCAW). Nice job representing ECU microbes with 6 posters and 1 talk (some pictured here!). |
March 2019
Spring is here in NC (so are the crabs, crobes, and river herring) so field work has begun!! Special thanks to the Edenton Fish Hatchery for allowing us to conduct our eDNA shedding and decay rate experiments there.
Spring is here in NC (so are the crabs, crobes, and river herring) so field work has begun!! Special thanks to the Edenton Fish Hatchery for allowing us to conduct our eDNA shedding and decay rate experiments there.
March 2019
Celebrating Sara Roozbehi's Undergraduate and Research Creative Activity (URCA) Award to study the role of microbes in zombie crabs (i.e., host-parasite-microbe interactions). Congrats Sara!
Celebrating Sara Roozbehi's Undergraduate and Research Creative Activity (URCA) Award to study the role of microbes in zombie crabs (i.e., host-parasite-microbe interactions). Congrats Sara!
March 2019
Chequita Brooks introducing microbes to the next generation of STEM scientists in 8th grade science classes at Martin Millennium Academy (Tarboro, NC).
Chequita Brooks introducing microbes to the next generation of STEM scientists in 8th grade science classes at Martin Millennium Academy (Tarboro, NC).
December 2018
Had a great time attending and presenting at AGU in Washington, D.C. - lots of interesting work including Chequita Brooks pictured here talking about how benzene interacts with iron mat communities.
Had a great time attending and presenting at AGU in Washington, D.C. - lots of interesting work including Chequita Brooks pictured here talking about how benzene interacts with iron mat communities.
November 2018
ECU's Microbial Biotechnology class sequencing a microbial genome using the Oxford Nanopore's MinION sequencer!
ECU's Microbial Biotechnology class sequencing a microbial genome using the Oxford Nanopore's MinION sequencer!
June 2018
Cody Garrison (IDPBS, pictured here), Gina Bledsoe (IDPBS, Peralta Lab), and Ariane Peralta represent ECU microbiology at the Annual ASM Microbe Meeting in Atlanta, GA.
Cody Garrison (IDPBS, pictured here), Gina Bledsoe (IDPBS, Peralta Lab), and Ariane Peralta represent ECU microbiology at the Annual ASM Microbe Meeting in Atlanta, GA.
May 2018
Our own Kyra Price (BS Biology) receives an American Society for Microbiology Undergraduate Research Fellowship to conduct research this summer on how microbes sense and attach to stainless steel. Congrats Kyra!
Our own Kyra Price (BS Biology) receives an American Society for Microbiology Undergraduate Research Fellowship to conduct research this summer on how microbes sense and attach to stainless steel. Congrats Kyra!
April 2018
Congratulations to Chequita Brooks (IDPBS) & Kyra Price (BS Biology) on their Research and Creative Achievement Week (RCAW) Best Poster Awards! Celebrating here with Dr. Jamie Vernon (Executive Director and CEO of Sigma Xi).
Congratulations to Chequita Brooks (IDPBS) & Kyra Price (BS Biology) on their Research and Creative Achievement Week (RCAW) Best Poster Awards! Celebrating here with Dr. Jamie Vernon (Executive Director and CEO of Sigma Xi).