Project: Evaluating Immunocell Morphological Responses to Environmental Variation in Freshwater Mussels 

I discovered my passion for freshwater conservation and propagation while interning at YMACC during my bachelor’s degree program at NC State. I continue to work closely with the lab for my master’s thesis. My research focuses on broadening the understanding of how to measure freshwater mussels’ immune systems as biological markers of health status. I am measuring the response of immunocell morphological characteristics to the dynamic factors that mussels face, such as water quality, time of year, and environment. I intend for my findings to help create guidelines for biologists to measure and assess freshwater mussel health in both propagation and wild settings.