The Ramirez Lab
The Team
Dr. Matthew D. Ramirez
Assistant Professor of Coastal and Marine Biology (he/him/his)
​Dr. Ramirez is a marine ecologist whose research seeks to elucidate the links between demography, consumer-resource interactions, and ecosystem change, with an emphasis on using ecogeochemical tools (e.g., stable isotopes) to study these processes. He is particularly interested in understanding how multiple stressors interact to influence sea turtle demography and food wed dynamics. Outside the lab you can find him gardening, traveling, and/or spoiling the lab mascots Ruby and Tusc.
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You can learn more about Matt and his career path HERE.
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E-mail: ramirezmd [at] uncw.edu | Twitter: @Matt_D_Ramirez
Graduate Students
Jamie Clark
Ph.D. Student in Integrative, Comparative & Marine Biology
Jamie (she/her) is a Ph.D. researcher who aims to study the detectable biological differences as animals age (e.g. counting growth rings in hard structures [bones, otoliths, teeth, etc.], near-infrared spectral signatures, and DNA-methylation levels). Jamie received her B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of South Carolina in Marine Science, with an emphasis in Biological Oceanography. After earning her Master’s in 2018, she worked at the NOAA Fisheries Beaufort, NC Lab for 5 years. Initially, Jamie researched population ecology and age estimation techniques as a Fisheries Biologist II on the Sea Turtle Team. In 2020, she transitioned to the Fisheries Life History and Biology Team becoming a Senior Research Associate II exploring predictive aging with near-infrared spectroscopy for White Grunt otoliths. During her Ph.D., Jamie is particularly interested in the development, validation, and application of aging techniques on live sea turtles and their significance for sea turtle conservation. Outside the lab, you’ll find Jamie beach combing, building things in the garden, or at the dog park with her pup, Dexter.
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Follow her research journey on various socials below:
Taylor Mannes
Ph.D. Student in Integrative, Comparative & Marine Biology
Taylor (she/her) is a PhD student interested in marine invertebrates (especially sponges) and primary producers. Her dissertation will evaluate how these groups support the larger food web using ecogeochemical tools (e.g., stable isotopes). She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s at Northeastern University as part of their Three Seas program.
Taylor has two cats (Pete and Millie) and enjoys reading and exploring new restaurants in her free time.
Samantha Sanders
M.Sc. Student in Marine Biology
Samantha (she/her) is a M.S. student who graduated in May of 2023 with a B.S. in Biology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Before joining the lab, she spent the last year working with Dr. Michael Polito in his stable isotope lab through the NSF Ramp Program LAGNiAppE, where she built a foundational knowledge stable isotopes and their applications in research. Samantha is eager to expand her understanding of stable isotope biology and apply her work towards coastal conservation and restoration. During her MS program in the Ramirez lab, she looks forward to using stable isotopes to understand the utilization and importance of the Frying Pan Shoal to coastal fishes, through food web dynamics
Outside of the lab Sam enjoys stay active outdoors, walking or running with her roommate’s dog Finn, and discovering her favorite coffee shops and restaurants.
Undergraduate Students
Cole Johnston
DIS Student
Cole is a Senior working on a B.S. in Marine Biology. He joined the lab in summer 2023 as a research assistant, assisting Dr. Ramirez in physically setting up the research lab and working as part of the Sea Turtle Skeleto team. Cole is completing a DIS with Dr. Ramirez using stable isotope techniques to study the trophic of ecology of marine top predators.
Kira Stokoe
Honor's Student
Kira is a Senior working on a B.S. in Marine Biology. She joined the lab in spring 2024 as part of the Turtle Team. Kira is completing her Honor's Thesis with Dr. Ramirez. Her project is investigating factors that influence Kemp's ridley sea turtle growth rates.
Dannette Dunavent
DIS Student
Dannette is a Junior working on a B.S. in Marine Biology and future Honor's student in the lab. She joined the lab in spring 2024, assisting Ph.D. student Taylor Mannes with a sponge community ecology research project. In fall 2024 she shifted to the Fish Team, working with M.Sc. Samantha Sanders on a BOEM-funded project characterizing fish food webs on Frying Pan Shoals via gut content and stable isotope analyses.
Olivia Trahan
Work study student
Olivia is a Junior working on a B.S. in Marine Biology and future Honor's student in the lab. She joined the lab in fall 2024, joining the Turtle Team on a project characterizing loggerhead sea turtle growth rates. Her future Honor's work will use resulting data to assess drivers of somatic growth variation in association with a loggerhead sea turtle mass mortality event.
Hailee Reinke
DIS Student
Hailee is a Junior working on a B.S. in Pre-Veterinary Sciences and a minor in Chemistry andAssistance Dog Training. She joined the lab in fall 2024, joining the Turtle Team on a project characterizing loggerhead sea turtle growth rates.
Lindsey Campbell
DIS Student
Lindsey is a Junior working on a B.S. in Marine Biology. She joined the lab in fall 2024. She is working with M.Sc. Samantha Sanders and the Fish Team on a BOEM-funded project characterizing fish food webs on Frying Pan Shoals via gut content and stable isotope analyses.
Past Students
​2024
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Sierra Hershberger, Honor's student, UNCW, 05/2023–05/2024
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Tanner Murray, Honor's student, UNCW, 08/2023–05/2024 (Current: M.Sc. Marine Bio, UNCW)
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Deedra LaFon, Post-bacc, UNCW, 06/2023–05/2024
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Mary Brandle, DIS student, UNCW, 05/2023–05/2024
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Thao Nguyen, DIS student, UNCW, 08/2023–05/2024
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Christian Richter, DIS student, UNCW, 09/2023–05/2024 (Current: M.Sc. Marine Bio, UNCW)
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​2023
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Justin Jenkins, Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Miami, 06/2023–08/2023 (Current: Ph.D. Biology, Texas A&M-Galveston)
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Ashley Dees, DIS Student, UNCW, 06/2023–09/2023
Elizabeth Grace Norris
DIS Student
Elizabeth Grace is a Senior working on a B.S. in Marine Biology. She joined the lab in fall 2024. She is working with M.Sc. Samantha Sanders and the Fish Team on a BOEM-funded project characterizing fish food webs on Frying Pan Shoals via gut content and stable isotope analyses.
Jessica Hufham
DIS Student
Jessica is a Senior working on a B.S. in Marine Biology. She joined the lab in fall 2024, joining the Turtle Team on a project characterizing loggerhead sea turtle growth rates.
Megan Burke
DIS Student
Megan is a Senior working on a B.S. in Marine Biology. She joined the lab in summer 2024, joining the Turtle Team on a project characterizing loggerhead sea turtle growth rates.
Andrew Horstkamp
Work study student
Andrew is a Junior working on a B.S. in Computer Science. He joined the Turtle Team in fall 2024. Andrew will be taking a lead role on designing, populating, and managing the labs sea turtle database.