Cathy Verneuil
Undergraduate Research Ambassador Marine Biology and Marine FisheriesMajor: Marine Biology and Marine Fisheries
Class Year: 2026
High School: Seven Lakes High School
Advisor: Lene Peterson, Katie St. Clair
Research Focus: Biology, Metabolism, Physiology, Mollusks
Other Projects and Publications: Impacts of an acute and gradual temperature decrease and increase on eastern oyster (crassostrea virginica).
Organizations and Programs: Undergraduate Research Scholars
Experience: Presentations, Summer & Semester Research, project development, thesis writing
Years Experience: 2.5
Bio: Cathy Verneuil is a first-generation transfer student studying Marine Biology and Marine Fisheries at Texas A&M University at Galveston. She is passionate about advancing sustainable aquaculture through scientific research, with a focus on understanding how environmental changes impact marine organisms. Her current research examines the effects of extreme temperature events on southern oysters, specifically farm-raised oysters, by analyzing oyster physiology and metabolism before, during, and after periods of thermal stress. Through this work, she hopes to better understand how temperature changes impact oyster health and provide data that can help oyster farmers better prepare for and respond to environmental changes.
Beyond the classroom, Cathy has gained hands-on experience at the Texas A&M Sea Life Facility, where she personally cared for the oysters used in her research along with a variety of other marine organisms until they were ready to be transferred to other technicians. This experience has strengthened her understanding of oyster husbandry and reinforced the importance of maintaining healthy aquaculture systems.
After completing her undergraduate degree, Cathy plans to continue her education through graduate study at Texas A&M University at Galveston in Winter 2027, expanding her research on oysters and further exploring the relationship between environmental stress and oyster health. By combining scientific research with the practical needs of oyster farmers, she hopes to help improve aquaculture practices by providing data that can be used to produce healthier, more resilient oysters for the market. At the same time, she hopes her research will contribute to the conservation and restoration of Texas's natural oyster reefs.