Major: Marine Sciences
Minor: Marine Biology
Class Year: 2025
High School: Prosper High School
Advisors: Dr. Antonietta Quigg; Dr. Chen Xu; Dr. Sierra Cagle
URS Thesis Title: Biological Snowfall: Analyzing Marine Snow Microstructure and Composition
Research Focus: Biological Oceanography, Phytoplankton Ecophysiology, Harmful Algal Blooms, Biogeochemistry
Other Projects and Publications: Short-Term Shock Versus Long-Term Gain: Diatom Growth Response to Iron Varies with Temperature; Impact of El Niño Southern Oscillation on Pacific Coastal Primary Productivity and Fisheries; Illuminating Exopolymeric Substances as a Natural Oil Dispersant
Organizations and Programs: Undergraduate Research Scholars, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Writing Lab Consultant, Undergraduate Research Ambassadors, Sprout Gardening Club, Her Campus, Sea Aggie Pride
Awards and Distinctions: Undergraduate Research Scholar, Robert Troy Swetnam Memorial Scholarship, Michael A. '81 and Ann J. Horn Scholarship, Galveston County Aggie Mothers Club Scholarship
Experience: Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) internship funded by the National Science Foundation, Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) conference presenter, Undergraduate Overall Winner at TAMUG Research Poster Symposium
Years Experience: 2
Other Activities: Watercolor painting, Poetry, Playing with my dog at park
Bio: Howdy! My name is Dylan and I am a senior Marine Sciences major with a passion for phytoplankton research. Despite being so small we can’t see them with our eyes alone, phytoplankton contribute about half of our global oxygen! They also play a key role in storing carbon, linking the ocean directly to the climate and our daily lives.
After earning my Associate of Science from Collin Community College in Dallas, I transferred to TAMU Galveston and quickly immersed myself in more than four research projects spanning phytoplankton ecology, chemical oceanography, zooplankton dynamics, and physical oceanography. I enjoy learning new lab techniques like mass spectrometry while diving into scientific literature to optimize methods and creatively explore knowledge gaps.
I completed my undergraduate thesis during the 2024-2025 cycle, focusing on microbial marine snow. In summer 2025, I was honored to participate in a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at Rutgers University, focusing on Southern Ocean phytoplankton ecophysiology.
After graduating with my Bachelor of Science in December 2025, I plan to move directly into graduate school. Then, a career as a research scientist dedicated to advancing our understanding of how phytoplankton drive ocean ecosystems and help us better respond to our planet’s future.