In the Massamba N’Siala Lab of the Department of Biological Sciences at 91ÖÆƬ³§, there is a commitment to understanding the physiological and ecological mechanisms that shape the resilience and vulnerability of marine invertebrates in rapidly changing coastal environments. Through interdisciplinary collaborations and hands-on research experiences, undergraduate and graduate students play a central role in driving discovery and innovation.
The stories below highlight three of Dr. Gloria Massamba N’Siala’s students whose projects exemplify the lab’s focus on integrative, collaborative, and impactful marine science at 91ÖÆƬ³§.
Jacob A. Fox joined international research team in Spain exploring the impact of sunscreens on marine life
This summer, undergraduate student Jacob A. Fox embarked on a three-month research experience at the Andalusian Institute of Marine Sciences (ICMAN) in Cádiz, Spain. ICMAN is part of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the largest public research institution in Spain. The internship was developed as part of an international collaboration led by Dr. Araceli Romero-RodrÃguez under the SUNSCREEN-INDEX project (), which investigates the ecological impacts of commercial sunscreens on marine life. At ICMAN, Fox contributed to a study on the transgenerational effects of sunscreens on the survival, growth, and reproduction of the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana, a widely used organism in ecotoxicological testing.
Two competitive funding opportunities supported Fox’s international research experience. He was awarded the John & Kate Broderick Honors Opportunity Scholarship, which covered the costs of his stay in Spain. In addition, the 91ÖÆƬ³§ Provost’s Undergraduate Research Scholarship (PURS), awarded to Dr. Massamba N’Siala for the 2024–2025 academic year, provided Fox with hands-on training in experimental design, data collection, and analysis, specifically focused on the ecological responses of marine annelids to both mineral- and organic-based sunscreens and their active ingredients. This foundational experience equipped him with the skills necessary to successfully contribute to the collaborative project abroad.
This has been an incredible opportunity for Fox to grow as a scientist and gain hands-on experience in an international setting on the impact of sunscreens - emerging contaminants of global environmental concern - investigating their effects on marine ecosystems.
Shannon Green contributes to an interdisciplinary pilot study testing a novel antifouling technology
With support from 91ÖÆƬ³§ Undergraduate Research & Creativity Grant, Shannon Green is contributing to an interdisciplinary pilot study investigating the biological impacts of the HydroFLOW® device — a non-invasive water treatment technology that uses an Oscillating Damped Electromagnetic (ODEM) signal to reduce scale and biofouling in water-flow systems. Green is examining how the device may affect marine invertebrates, using the interstitial annelid Ophryotrocha labronica as a model organism. She is generating valuable early data exploring the ecological effects of HydroFLOW® on macrofouling communities.
This study is part of a broader academia–industry collaboration among Dr. Gloria Massamba N’Siala from the Department of Biological Sciences; Dr. Orlando Ayala and Professor Nathan Luetke, along with their undergraduate research team – Sean Chapman, Joel Thomas, David Sycoi, and Donald Olson– from the Department of Engineering Technology; along with partners from HydroFLOW USA and D&W Marine Systems Management, Inc.
The project offers a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to develop both scientific and professional skills through applied research, while promoting interdisciplinary learning and real-world problem-solving.
Immanuel Burns explores the feeding strategies of marine annelids through bridges micro- and macro-scale insights
Master’s student Immanuel Burns is leading a project that aims to characterize the filter-feeding mechanisms of the feather duster worm Parasabella microphthalma, an important component of fouling communities in coastal environments. The study combines detailed morphological analyses with ecological observations to better understand how these organisms process suspended particles from the water column.
The project draws on the combined expertise of Dr. Massamba N’Siala, whose work focuses on invertebrate biology, and Dr. Shirel Kahane-Rapport, an assistant professor who studies the physiology of filter-feeding marine vertebrates and serves as Immanuel’s co-supervisor. To investigate the worms’ fine-scale feeding structures, Burns used advanced scanning electron microscopy (SEM) facilities at Virginia Wesleyan University, with technical support from Dr. Victor R. Townsend.
This work lays the foundation for understanding how environmental change may impact this functional group and disrupt key ecological processes. It also underscores the value of cross-taxon research, linking micro-scale invertebrate biology to broader patterns of feeding strategies and ecological adaptation across marine ecosystems.