The Aquatic Ecology and Biogeochemistry lab began at UNC in Fall 2022.
Please check the 'Join the Lab' page for any opportunities to join the crew!
Please check the 'Join the Lab' page for any opportunities to join the crew!
Nguyen Tien Anh Quach, Ph.D. Student
Anh is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Geography at UNC. He came to the US in 2016 and received his B.S. in Environmental Science in 2020 from Troy University, where he dove headfirst into the field of freshwater ecology and biology. As a Master’s student at Towson University, he examined the long-term impacts of urban development and climate change on stream water chemistry, hydrology, and benthic macroinvertebrate communities (His favorite bug is the heptageniid mayfly!). In the DelVecchia Lab, Anh is studying the role of macroinvertebrates in stream greenhouse gas processes. |
Chloe Hall, UNC 2024
Chloe is pursing an Environmental Science B.S. with an Ecology and Natural Resource Management concentration and a GIS minor. She is skilled at measuring gas flux, collecting dissolved gas samples, and measuring river discharge. She also assists with preparation of samples for stable isotope analysis. She is passionate about freshwater ecology and hopes to continue to pursue a career in field ecology and hydrology. Shreeya Satis Patel, UNC 2026
Shreeya Patel is pursuing a B.A. in Geography with minors in Data Science and Food Studies. She is experienced in field research, from measuring gas flux to analyzing plant species. She is passionate about wetland restoration and river ecosystems and hopes to enter a career focused on water science, policy, and management. Tayton Alvis, UNC 2025
Tayton is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences with minors in Biology and GIS. He is currently assisting in stable isotope sample analysis and curation of aquatic macroinvertebrate collections. He is primarily interested in aquatic ecology and biodiversity, and hopes to pursue a graduate degree in the natural sciences. Shagun Rai, UNC 2027
Shagun is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience and Environmental Health Sciences with a Chemistry minor. She is interested in the multifaceted impacts of greenhouse gas emissions. Diving into the world of biodiversity, Shagun seeks to explore the interconnectedness of species and ecosystems, recognizing their influence on environmental health. Additionally, she is interested in unraveling the dynamics between aquatic ecosystems and broader ecological challenges, envisioning innovative solutions to safeguard our planet's integral resources. Amelia Loeffler, UNC 2024
Amelia Loeffler is pursuing a B.A. in Geography and English with a minor in GIS. She hopes to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector, with an interest in affordable housing and equitable development. Jadon Wellum, UNC 2027
Jadon Wellum is a sophomore pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Science with a marine science minor. He has always been fascinated with mangroves and other coastal ecosystems and hopes to apply what he learns in the DelVecchia lab to future endeavors. After obtaining his undergraduate degree, Jadon wants to work on coastal ecosystem restoration and conservation. |
Former Lab MEmbers
Nick Marzolf, Postdoctoral Scholar
Nick was a postdoctoral scholar in the Duke BGC lab. He began as a postdoc on our NSF Macrosystems project focused on predicting GHG flux from rivers across the US in January 2023, and began at the Jones Center at Ichauway in January 2024. Nick earned his PhD in 2021 from NCSU working with Dr. Marcelo Ardón studying carbon fluxes, disturbances, and spatiotemporal variability in Neotropical headwater streams. His interests are in the movement of carbon in freshwater ecosystems, from greenhouse gas evasion to uptake and assimilation in food webs. |
Emmy Stewart, UNC 2023
Emmy is pursuing a major in environmental studies with a concentration in ecology and a minor in Spanish. She is currently working on a project regarding salt release in streams and is looking into the feasibility of a UAV project mapping stream surface area. In the future, she is interested in researching agroecology, specifically the impact of agriculture on freshwater systems. Lydia Stranathan, UNC 2026
Lydia is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies. She is currently working on creating an educational webpage to communicate findings from Cement Creek, CO. She hopes to work in urban planning or conservation in the future with interests in topics such as homelessness, climate change, and creating green environments. Hannah Obenaus, UNC 2023
Hannah is pursuing a bachelor's degree in environmental science with a concentration in ecology and natural resources and a minor in GIS. She is working with Colorado bug and salt release projects. She is interested in using her GIS skills to study biotic and abiotic relationships in different ecosystems. She hopes to continue doing environmental science research and explore different topics. |