Biology and Marine Science SMP Presentations, Spring 2026

Join us for a day of academic excellence as our students present their St. Mary’s Projects (SMP). These capstone presentations represent intensive research, data collection, and scientific inquiry. Our students have worked closely with faculty mentors to explore diverse topics such as microbiota, species diversity, and science communication.

The day is organized into three thematic sessions. We invite you to attend the full program or drop in for specific presentations of interest. Between the sessions, there will be breaks for refreshments in the Schaefer Hall Lobby. 

Session 1 hosted by Dr. Emerson:

• Morgan Anderson
  • Delivery Mode and the Neonatal Microbiome: Implications for Immune Function and Early-Life Health
  • Mentor: Dr. Beatty
  • 9:00:00 AM
• Ugonna Ejekwu
  • An assessment of different farming practices in the promotion of rhizobia bacteriophages
  • Mentor: Dr. Torres-Martinez
  • 9:20:00 AM
• Georgia Harvey
  • The effects of weight-bearing versus resistance training exercises on menopausal women suffering with osteoporosis
  • Mentor: Dr. Price
  • 9:40:00 AM
• Stella L'Italien
  • Influence of introduced plant species on the diversity of native bees in Southern Maryland
  • Mentor: Dr. Torres-Martinez
  • 10:00:00 AM

Break and Refreshments in Schaefer Lobby - 10:20:00 AM

Session 2 hosted by Dr. Brownlee:

• Danielle Heckart
  • Seasonal changes in the gut microbiome of Equus caballus
  • Mentor: Dr. Beatty
  • 10:40:00 AM
• Emma Shepard
  • Molecular Identification and Salinity Tolerance of Redbay Leaf Endophytes
  • Mentor: Dr. Torres-Martinez
  • 11:00:00 AM
• Sarah Jay
  • Effects of Chemical and Organic Fertilizers on Wolf Spider (Lycosidae) Survival and Behavior
  • Mentor: Dr. Hamman
  • 11:20:00 AM
• Krystal Moore-Nicks
  • Feedbacks Between Snail Grazing and Fungal Endophyte Communities
  • Mentor: Dr. Torres-Martinez
  • 11:40:00 AM

Lunch Break - 12:00 PM

Session 3 hosted by Dr. Breece:

• Ashley Fenwick 
  • Gut Analysis of Blue Catfish in the Potomac and St. Mary's River, MD
  • Mentor: Dr. Breece
  • 1:30:00 PM
• Meredith Nishiura
  • Factors affecting oyster reproduction in the St. Mary's River
  • Mentor: Dr. Gurbisz
  • 1:50:00 PM
• Will Faller 
  • Testing Novel Technology to Monitor Oyster Reef Expansion
  • Mentor: Dr. Breece
  • 2:10:00 PM
• Ryan Cooper 
  • Science Communication in Marine Science: An SMP in Propagating Knowledge
  • Mentor: Dr. Breece 
  • 2:30:00 PM