Current Group Members
Below
you will find information about our current group members. Not listed but critical to our work are our undergraduate students. These students typically work with is in the summers as well as the academic year. Each research project usually involves at least 1 undergraduate research student.
| Group Leader | PhD Students | MS Students |
| Dr. Robyn Hannigan | Aaron Honig Christine San Antonio Robert Holmberg Steve Nye Amy Johnston |
Joe Brouillet |
For information about Hannigan Group Alumni click here
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Dr. Robyn Hannigan Founding Dean, School for the Environment Professor of Geochemistry Office Phone: +1.617.287.4857 robyn.hannigan at umb.edu |
Education
B.S. College of New Jersey, Biology
M.A. SUNY-Buffalo, Geology (Paleontology)
M.S. University of Rochester, Earth & Environmental Science (Geochemistry)
Ph.D. University of Rochester, Earth & Environmental Science (Geochemistry)
Post-doc Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Marine Chemistry
Post-doc Old Dominion University, Quantitative Fisheries Ecology
Research Interests
My interests are centered on investigating the climate of the ocean’s in the Earth’s deep past to the inform our understanding of the future impacts of climate change on our oceans. Research in our lab group spans from geochemical research on ancient anoxic muds which we use to reconstruct paleoenvironments to how ocean conditions such as acidification impact the development of biominerals. A current focus is linking the geochemistry of biomineralization to the rock record through new mineralogical and geochemical proxies.
Publications
Rather than try to list all of the papers coming out of my lab group you can click here to see a full listing of those that are linked to the ResearcherID system. Some are missing from that system but it’s close enough. As new papers come out of the lab they will be added under the Research Updates section.
Research Funding
I am always proud to say that my students are the “brains” behind this operation. PhD students in my lab are typically supported by research assistantships or fellowships throughout their studies. MS students in my lab are typically supported as teaching assistants or on research assistantships. In all cases students are working on active externally funded research grants. For a list of active NSF awards (typical funding source although we also have grants from SeaGrant and other generous agencies and foundations) check out http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/ and search for me as PI and Co-PI.
Awards
Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Fellow, Geological Society of America
Fellow, Aldo Leopold Leadership Program
National Awardee, American Chemical Society
Elected Leadership Positions
Chair-Elect, Chair, and Past-Chair, Board of Directors, Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Sciences Inc. 2012-2015.
Board of Directors, Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Sciences Inc. 2010- present.
Executive Committee, Council of Environmental Deans and Directors, 2013-present
Member, Faculty of 1000 Biology, 2004 – present
Member and Past-Chair, National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Leadership Council, 2004 – 2013.
Member, National Academy of Science Board on Earth Sciences and Resources, 2003-2006
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Aaron Honig PhD Candidate, Environmental Biology, Office Phone: +1.617.287.6600 aaron.honig at umb.edu |
Education
B.S. Tufts University, Environmental Science
M.S. Louisiana State University, Marine Biology
Research Interests
I am a PhD student in both the Etter Lab and Hannigan research group studying the impact of ocean acidification on mussel ecology. Using both experimental methods in the lab and field-based analyses my work is developing the basis for understanding how climate change will impact population connectivity of blue mussels as well as their population and community ecology.
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Christine San Antonio PhD Student, Marine Science and Technology, Office Phone: +1.617.287.7440 christine.sananto001 at umb.edu |
Education
B.S. University of Vermont, Integrated Biological Sciences
Research Interests
I am a PhD student and a Coasts and Communities IGERT Fellow. My research interests center on ocean acidification impacts on marine species. More information about my work will appear over time as I am just beginning this journey!
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Robert Holmberg PhD Candidate, Marine Science and Technology Office Phone: +1.617.287.7440 robert.holmberg001 at umb.edu |
Education
B.S. Roger Williams University, Environmental Science
M.S. UMass Boston, Marine Science and Technology
Research Interests
Working on a collaboration between the New England Aquarium, Roger Williams University, and UMass Boston my research will center on extending our knowledge of ocean acidification impacts on calcifying organisms. I work closely with Dr. Andy Rhyne at Roger Williams University and Dr. Michael Tlusty at UMass Boston on larval fish and shellfish rearing and exploring the impact of diet on calcification of otoliths in larval fish.
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Steve Nye PhD Student, Marine Science and Technology Office Phone: +1.617.287.7440 steve.nye001 at umb.edu |
Education
B.S. University of Massachusetts Boston, Environmental Science
Undergraduate Certificate – Geographic Information Technology
Research Interests
My research centers on reconstructing the paleoenvironments of shallow marine systems during the late Permian. My primary interests lie at the intersection of geochemistry and field geology. I travel the globe in search of new sections to study!
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Amy Johnston PhD Candidate, Environmental Science Office Phone: +1.617.287.7440 amy.johnston001 at umb.edu |
Education
B.S. Bates College, Biology (minor Anthropology)
M.S. UMass Boston, Environmental Sciences
Research Interests
I joined the Hannigan research group in Fall 2014 as a Coasts and Communities Associate Fellow. My prior research as an undergraduate focused on growth rate and shell analysis of the common limpet of the Shetland Islands. My PhD research focuses on paleoclimate reconstruction of the Pleistocene Gulf of Maine using scallop and oyster shell chemistry. Specifically I use the stable oxygen isotope composition and trace elemental composition to reconstruct temperature of the coastal waters at the time. Check out my experiment.com site for me info.
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Joe Brouillet MS Student, Environmental Science Office Phone: +1.617.287.7440 joseph.brouillet001 at umb.edu |
Education
B.S. Environmental Science (sum cum laude), UMass Boston
Research Interests
I joined the Hannigan research group as an undergraduate in 2017 and haven’t looked back. Geology has always been a passion and working in the Panthalassa trying to solve the biggest murder in Earth’s history is pretty awesome! As soon as I finished my BS I started my MS. I am lucky that my Honors Thesis forms the foundation of my graduate work allowing me to spend time in the lab and in the field.
Hannigan Group Alumni
| Graduate Student and Post-Doc Alumni |
| Dr. Peter Azah Abanda, PhD 2005. Associate Prof. Houston County Community College Ms. Soma Basek, MS 2011. Bioanalytical Scientist, Pfizer Dr. Nate Bickford, PhD 2004. Associate Prof. U Nebraska-Kearney Dr. Bryanna Broadaway, PhD 2012. Research Chemist, FDA Dr. Yingtao Chai, Post-doc 2004-2006. Senior Scientist, BD Sciences Dr. David Clarke, PhD 2011. Technical Support Director, Cetac-Teledyne Dr. Stephen Coghlan, Jr., Post-doc 2004-2006. Associate Prof. U Maine. Ms. Elizabeth Compton, MS 2007. Field Biologist, AR Game and Fish Commission Ms. Jaime Conrad, MS 2008. Toxicologist, ARCADIS Dr. Leonette Cox, PhD 2008. Assistant Prof. U West Indies Dr. Thomas Darrah, Post-doc 2009-2011. Assistant Prof. Ohio State U Dr. Alex Eisen-Cuadra, Assistant Prof., North Shore Community College Dr. Mai Elobeid, PhD 2006. Assistant Prof., King Saud University Dr. Katie Flanders, PhD 2016. Principal Scientist, NewFields, Inc., Rockland MA Mr. Wat Harden, MS 2004. Assistant Principal, Dallas TX Mr. Matt Horton, MS 2006. Chemist, Future Fuel Chemical Company Dr. Bindu Kaimal, PhD 2008. Chemist, City of Toronto Dr. Christian Krahforst, Post-doc 2010-2012. Research Associate, UMass Boston Ms. Tiffany Moss, MS 2006. Senior Process Engineer, Unilever Dr. Ranjini Murthy, MS 2002. Business Development Manager, Wacker Chemical Dr. Vipin Nair, Post-doc 2008-2009. Chief, Medical Affairs, Boehringer Ingelheim Dr. George Ogendi, PhD 2006. Prof. Egerton University Ms. Felicia Person, MS 2007. Chemist, NuPac Dr. Cascade Sorte, Post-doc 2010-2013. Assistant Prof. UC Irvine Dr. Alan Stebbins, PhD 2018. Research Associate UMass Boston Mr. Jerome Stegall, MS 2008. President, CORE Consulting, LLC Ms. Lynn Stone, MS 2007.Senior Program Manager, ABC Laboratories Dr. Eric Wilcox Freeburg, PhD 2014. Post-doctoral Investigator, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Dr. Jeremy C. Williams, PhD 2014. Assistant Professor, Kent State University Mr. Bret Yount, MS 2009, Lieutenant, US Navy |