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George E
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Expertise
Marine biology, wildlife biology, ecology, estuarine ecology, population ecology, community ecology, landscape ecology
Bio
Hello! My name is George Easterly and I am a PhD student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington where I study marine biology. My research expertise is in the field of marine ecology. I am currently investigating how climate change is impacting critical habitats for blue crabs along the coast of North Carolina. I completed my undergraduate studies in Australia where I double majored in marine biology and wildlife biology. During my undergraduate studies, I was able to conduct research on the Great Barrier Reef where I investigated impacts of seabird guano deposition on coral reef ecosystems. In my free time, I enjoy scuba diving, hiking, camping, and surfing. I have had many experiences mentoring and it is a very rewarding experience for both parties involved. My previous mentoring experiences have opened my eyes to new concepts that I otherwise might not have encountered. I truly believe that we as scientists have the ability to change the world through our research and solutions, regardless of age and education, through collaboration and critical thinking. I look forward to being inspired by ideas of future scientists while helping to develop these ideas into practical projects. Additionally, I look forward to answering any questions regarding studying biological sciences at the university level.Project ideas
Impacts of overfishing on coral reef ecosystems
This project will examine the impacts that overfishing has on coral reef ecosystems, from bottom-up to top-down ecosystem control. This project will allow us to examine the intricacies that exist within marine food webs in more detail.
Climate change predictions on marine habitats worldwide
Climate models allow us to predict the degree to which different consequences of climate change, such as rising sea level or ocean acidification, might occur in the future. This project will use previously established climate models to predict how various marine habitats are expected to be impacted by climate change.
Climate change impacts on species distributions
Climate change is impacting the distribution of species on a global scale. This project has a lot of flexibility and can include but is not limited to implications related to fisheries, ecosystem function, range contractions/expansions, and invasive species.