Welcome to the Coastal Community Ecology Lab!

Our group researches the role of biodiversity, species interactions, and human dimensions on coastal ecosystems.

Principle Investigator:

Dr. Stacy Zhang

I am an Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University within the College of Sciences Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.

My research spans basic ecology to social drivers of coastal resource use. I investigate questions related to how global change affects community structure and identify ecological properties/interactions that may enhance restoration outcomes.

My approach to teaching takes a strong experiential education strategy where I employ a diverse array of tools, discussions, and hands-on activities to help students learn both basic and complex scientific and social issues as they relate to ecology and conservation. I am a strong proponent of scientific outreach and communication, and welcome opportunities to discuss science across all settings.

I obtained my PhD in Marine Science and Conservation from Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment in 2019 and a BS in Biology from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2012. I was also a postdoctoral researcher at the UNC Institute of Marine Science in Morehead City, North Carolina, USA.

Postdoctoral Researchers:

Dr. Trevyn Toone

Trevyn is a marine biologist and postdoctoral researcher broadly interested in harnessing ecological principles to restore coastal ecosystems. He received his BS from Duke University and his Ph.D. from the University of Auckland focusing on the restoration of New Zealand's mussel reefs. Trevyn's current research looks at experimental techniques to improve salt marsh, seagrass, and oyster restoration through the use of secondary foundation species.

Graduate Students:

Lindsay Curl

Lindsay is a PhD student broadly interested in restoration, biodiversity, and understanding how humans alter the environment. She received B.S. in Biology from Kansas State University in 2017 and an MS from the University of West Florida focused assessing microplastic contamination in unviable loggerhead sea turtle eggs. She served in Zambia as a Peace Corps Volunteer for two years, is a PADI Scuba Divemaster and has interned with the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation comparing microplastic accumulation in native and invasive sea urchins in Greece.

Trip Brooks

Trip is a PhD student with a focus on marine community ecology and conservation through a genetic lens, including connectivity, diversity, and the dynamics of marine species. He was an NCSU Genetics & Genomics Scholar 2024-25. Trip graduated from East Carolina University in 2024 with a B.S. in Cellular Biology and a B.A. in Psychology and worked in labs focusing on a variety of topics including marine parasitology, sessile settlement, and wetland plant community ecology.

Research Technicians

Gianna Newton

Gianna graduated from NC State in 2026 with a B.S in Marine Science and a B.S. in Biology. Her undergraduate research focused on marine ecology and conservation, including seagrass restoration projects and assessing sea turtle nesting in North Carolina. She is passionate about pursuing research that informs restoration and conservation practices of marine benthic ecosystems.

Michaela Henninger

Undergraduate Students:

Georgia Atcheson

Former Members

Savannah Paliotti (MS)
Sam Stanforth (Undergrad)
Thomas Galavotti (Undergrad)
Emerson Thomas (Undergrad)
Camryn Trapp (Undergrad)
Ben Kreiser (Undergrad)
Libby Ivory (Undergrad)

Inclusion and Belonging

I am committed to creating a welcoming and respectful environment for individuals of all backgrounds within science and academia. It is of utmost importance that our lab fosters an inclusive community that values and inspires personal, academic and professional excellence.