Meet the team
Our team brings together expertise, curiosity, and a commitment to conserving
the species that need us most.
Director
Dr. Greg Cope
My research interests are in aquatic toxicology, ecology, and physiology, as well as in the transport, fate, and effects of aquatic pollutants and other human-mediated stressors such as temperature and climate change. My research often utilizes sentinel aquatic organisms, biomarkers of exposure, effect, or susceptibility, or alternative toxicological models from which linkages to environmental and human health are evaluated. The mission of my research is to deliver high-impact, objective, science-based information to federal and state natural resource management agencies and to other policy or decision makers for effectively informing conservation, management, and recovery of imperiled species of native freshwater mollusks and fish.
Email: greg_cope@ncsu.edu
assistant director & facility manager
Chris Eads
My specialty centers around the biology and propagation of freshwater mussels. My research has focused on their early life history requirements and improving captive rearing techniques. I also assist other staff and students working with mussels themselves.
Email: chris_eads@ncsu.edu
assistant director of research
Sean Buczek
My research interests include aquatic ecology, toxicology, fisheries science, and nutrient dynamics. My work has largely focused on the effects of anthropogenic activity on aquatic ecosystems and resulting implications for freshwater mussel conservation. The goal of this applied work
has been to assist resource managers in the design of adaptive management practices to reduce non-target toxicity while achieving intended project goals.
Email: sbbuczek@ncsu.edu
Conservation aquaculturist
Loretta Lutackas
I am an aquatic biologist with a love for recirculating aquaculture systems that has found a perfect blend of the two at YMACC researching and propagating freshwater mussels and snails. My focus is on improving captive propagation techniques through in vitro propagation research of mussels and optimizing captive rearing techniques of freshwater snails. Before working with freshwater invertebrates, I worked in hydroponics, biofuel engineering, and elasmobranch ecology. I am also a Ph.D. student under Dr. Greg Cope.
Email: lmlutack@ncsu.edu
conservation aquaculturist
Craig Lawson
My role involves support of other staff at YMACC in the propagation and study of our various charter species, as well as providing education/outreach regarding these species and their importance to the public. My specific focus within the lab is on fish and fish holding systems. My specialty is research aquaculture, and I have reared and propagated a variety of both freshwater and marine species for research purposes over the course of my career. Previous research I have worked on has centered around recirculating aquaculture of novel warmwater marine fish species, hatchery impacts on salmonids, and captive grow out strategies for marine invertebrates. I am also a Ph.D. student under Dr. Greg Cope.
Email: dclawson@ncsu.edu
Technician
Hunter Pearson
My interest is in freshwater aquaculture. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in fisheries conservation from North Carolina State University in 2025, I found a passion in aquaculture and propagation of non-game species of North Carolina. I have focused on in-vitro mussel propagation and propagation of the Magnificent Ramshorn snail. I hope to continue on to graduate studies and begin a research project on the Magnificent Ramshorn to better understand their physiology and early development.
Technician
Chloe Pelt
Chloe is a technician at YMACC who specializes in operation design and build out of recirculating aquaculture systems for research purposes. Her interests are in ecology and conservation, with a focus on imperiled freshwater fish. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science with a minor in Applied Ecology. She is also developing a project investigating the morphological distinctions of the Broadtail Madtom, with the goal of contributing to a better understanding of this rare species.
Undergraduate researcher
Uliana Gutierrez
Uliana is assisting with the Water Quality Monitoring Project. Her primary responsibilities include collecting surface and porewater samples and conducting laboratory analyses to measure total suspended solids, ash-free dry weight, hardness, and alkalinity. During the summer field season, she also participates and helps coordinate biological surveys for fish, benthic macroinvertebrates, and, of course, freshwater mussels. Another major aspect of her work is benthic macroinvertebrate taxonomy. She identifies specimens collected from the Tar and Neuse River basins to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Being part of the lab has strengthened her passion for aquatic conservation and inspired her long-term goal of pursuing graduate studies, where she hopes to conduct her own research and contribute to the conservation and management of freshwater ecosystems.
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