Our lab values diverse experiences and backgrounds and is committed to creating a working environment where everyone feels supported, included, and respected. The knowledge, experience, and skills found in a diverse team elevates our ability to perform science and our capacity to understand, conserve, and restore our valuable ecosystems. Our lab believes we have an obligation create a comfortable and equitable place where we can ask exciting research questions, get our feet muddy, celebrate the exchange of ideas, and lift one another up to achieve our best. Our responsibility to diversity, equity, and inclusion is a living commitment. 

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Taylor M. Sloey, PhD

Lab Principal Investigator
Dr. Sloey is an Assistant Professor in ODU's Department of Biological Sciences. Her research investigates wetland plant ecology and ecophysiology to understand ecosystem response to changes in ecological drivers and inform restoration. Her lab uses a combination of field work, greenhouse/mesocosm study, and remote sensing to address questions in a variety of wetland ecosystems, including freshwater forested swamps, coastal marshes, mangroves, and tidal estuaries.​

Kori carr

Doctoral Student: 
Kori is interested in wetland restoration and ecology and long term research.  Kori is working on understanding how diverse plant communities may shift towards homogenization following disturbances in freshwater forested wetlands, along with what role germination conditions  play in this phenomenon. She's a recipient of the prestigious 2022 SWaMMP award, a 2023 participant in the ESA SEEDS program, and an awardee of the prestigious 2024 NSF GRFP.

etinosa igunbor

Doctoral Student
Etinosa  holds a B.S. in soil science from the University of Benin and a Master of Environmental Management from Western CO University. He joined ODU's PhD program in Fall 2024 where he was awarded a competitive recruitment fellowship from the College of Sciences. Etinosa's research focuses on ecological restoration trajectories and soil development in living shorelines and coastal wetlands.

KAITLYN POUNDERS

Masters Student: 
​Kaitlyn  joined the MS program in Spring 2025 after completing her  B.S. in Biology at ODU. She was a 2023 TREEBUD Undergraduate Research Scholar and remained in the lab since. She is interested in coastal wetland restoration, plant ecology, and invasive species management. She has been a VASG intern, worked with VT extension greenhouse, and founded ODU's birding club. She is currently studying marsh response to changing environmental conditions. Kaitlyn received an Honorable Mention on her 2025 NSF GRFP application

Eric liu

Masters Student:
Eric joined the MS program in Spring 2025. He is interested in plant and aquatic life. At ODU, he is working with the Elizabeth River Project Seed Keepers Project to investigate germination traits in foundation salt marsh species. Prior to ODU, Eric was an intern at Archbold Biological Station where he did an independent project exploring the microhabitat of Hypericum edisonianum, a rare plant. Eric graduated with a B.S. from Cornell University in 2022, where he completed an Honors Thesis attempting to identify correlations between wood anatomy and growth habit in the genus Alnus.

GIGI CLAUDE

TREEBUD Researcher: Gigi is a Senior at Old Dominion University pursuing a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and was a 2024 TREEBUD Undergraduate Research Scholar.  She has since served as a research assistant at Blackwater Ecological Preserve. Her research interests are ecology, botany, restoration of different environments, and biodiversity. In the future, she plans to pursue an M.S. in Botany. ​

KAYLEE DAHMEN

TREEBUD Researcher: Kaylee joined the lab in Summer 2025 as a TREEBUD researcher where she studied light and forest community composition in a post-disturbance early successional forested wetland. She was awarded the Paul W. Kirk undergraduate researcher award in 2026 which will support continuation of her research.

galen june

Volunteer:  Galen is a Sophomore at Old Dominion University pursuing a B.S. in Marine Biology with a minor in Statistics. His research interests are wetland ecology, coastal birds, and environmental statistics. He is also a talented wildlife photographer. Check out his gallery here. He is a recipient of the prestigious Hollings scholarship through the USGS.

LAB ALUMNI

Graduate Student Alumni

sierra hildebrandt, PhD

Doctoral Graduate
Sierra graduated with her doctorate in December 2025. Her doctoral research investigated the efficacy of oyster-based devices to protect shorelines, sustain oyster habitat, and increase salt marsh resilience. She received a B.S. in Biology from ODU in 2018 and an M.S. in Biology/Environmental Science from Hampton University in 2021 where her  research focused on alternative oyster restoration techniques. Sierra was a recipient of the prestigious 2022 Virginia Sea Grant Graduate Fellowship. In 2024-2025 she  served as a marine scientist for NOAA Oxford lab.

VICTORIA SMITH

Master's Graduate
Victoria graduated with her MS in summer 2023. Her research focused on physiological requirements of bald cypress seedlings and enhancing swamp restoration practice. She was a recipient of the Kirk Wetland Foundation Fellowship and recipient of the department's outstanding thesis award. She's now working at SERC Global Change Ecology Lab. 

undergraduate student alumni

HOLLY JACKSON

TREEBUD Researcher:​ Holly Jackson was a lab member in summer 2025 and graduated with a B.S. in Biology from ODU in December 2025. She was a 2025 TREEBUD Undergraduate Research Scholar where she investigated feedbacks between swamp forest composition and light dynamics. 

KYLIE GIESER

TREEBUD Researcher: Kylie was a lab member from 2024-2025. She graduated with a B.S. in Biology at ODU in December 2025. She was a 2024 TREEBUD Undergraduate Research Scholar. She published her undergrad research and spearheaded additional research on restoration of longleaf pine understory species.  In the future, she plans on pursuing an MS in Environmental Sciences.

Amanda pysher

Volunteer Researcher: Amanda earned a B.S. in Ocean & Earth Science at ODU with a concentration in Biological Oceanography and a minor in Biology. Her research interests are in ecology, restoration, and conservation with professional goals of working in the field and in academia. She is now a M.S. student at Coastal Carolina University.

Tori Hudsputh

Undergraduate Researcher:
Tori graduated in spring 2024 with a major in Marine Biology at Old Dominion University. She completed undergraduate research on living shorelines. She is interested in restoring damaged ecosystems caused by human activities such as pollution, climate change, and overnutrition to a healthier state. She is currently in the MS program at George Mason University. 

Janice Yohannan

Research Mentee: Janice is a senior in high school in Nyack, NY and is hoping to study environmental biology in college. Her research interests include wetland and estuarine ecology, as well as botany. Through examining mangrove growth under various conditions, her research intends to contribute to wetland conservation efforts. 

XAVIER OZOWARA

Undergraduate Independent Researcher:  Xavier earned his B.S. in Biology from ODU in 2021.   As a member of this lab, Xavier worked on understanding community shifts following disturbances in forested wetlands. He is currently a Ph.D. student at VA Polytechnic Institute where his research focuses on chemical ecology in sustainable agriculture. 

GEORGE SPELLMAN

TREEBUD Researcher: George obtained his BS in biology with a focus on plants and plant ecology in 2023. He was a recipient of the prestigious 2023 SWaMMP award through the Society of Wetland Scientists and was a 2023 TREEBUD Undergraduate Research Scholar. He is now employed with environmental consulting.

NAADIA STEPHENS

Undergraduate Research Assistant: Naadia was a valuable undergraduate lab assistant from 2021-2022 while pursuing an undergraduate degree in marine biology. 

JEFF LYSKO

Lab Technician: Jeff obtained an ecology-focused undergraduate Biology major with a minor in Ocean, Earth, and Atmospheric Science. He endeavors to foster a perspective of interdependence regarding the living and non-living aspects of nature, emphasizing the importance of in-situ observations and assessment of subtle interactions. 

CHANDLER SLATER

Undergraduate Student
Research Interests:  Chandler joined the lab as a student researcher in 2021 assisting on the Swamp to Satellite project at the Great Dismal Swamp. He is now pursuing a MS degree in ODU's Oceanic and Earth Sciences Department.

Expectations for the lab:

This lab is dedicated to creating a welcoming and respectful research & learning environment for all.
All members are expected to:
  • treat one another with dignity and respect
  • demonstrate personal motivation, curiosity, and enthusiasm for learning
  • work well independently and in a team setting. Lab members are expected to help one another with field campaigns
  • follow lab safety, cleanliness, and organization protocols
  • communicate regularly with Dr. Sloey
  • participate in weekly lab meetings
  • familiarize yourself with ODU's graduate program requirements and manage your program progress
  • make progress toward finishing your research / program of study 
  • meet your funding requirements (for example TA expectations)