top of page

NANCOLLAS LAB
Principle investigator
Dr. Sarah Nancollas

I am a comparative physiologist interested in the mechanisms aquatic animals use to cope with environmental stress in a rapidly changing world. Growing up along the coastlines of the UK, I was fascinated by how intertidal species endure extreme and variable conditions, and why some succeed while others cannot. These questions led me to pursue a BSc (Hons) in Marine Biology at the University of Plymouth in the UK. My love for shellfish came during my MSc in Biology at Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada, where I investigated the effects of environmental stress on the European green crab. From there, I pursued my PhD in Animal Biology at the University of California, Davis, where I delved into the complexity of thermal tolerance in mussels. I stayed on at UC Davis for my postdoc, where I utilized physiology to aide in the conservation and management of endangered fishes. I am now an Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina, where my lab investigates the physiological strategies that underpin resilience and adaptation in aquatic organisms.
Graduate students
PhD
Natalie Simmons

Natalie graduated with her BS in Biology from the University of North Georgia in 2020 and her MS in Biology from the University of West Florida in 2023. Her previous research focused on microplastics contamination in invertebrates inhabiting fjords in the Western Antarctic Peninsula. She is currently a first-year PhD student planning to research the physiological effects of warming water temperatures and hypoxia as a result of diel cycling in estuarine invertebrates. Her other interests include reading, running, and spending time with her family, Luke (husband) and Honey (cat).
Undergraduate students
I am an undergraduate student at the University of South Carolina and expect to graduate with a BS in Marine Science in May 2027. My interest in marine life began while growing up and frequently visiting zoos and aquariums with my family. Over the summer, I completed a six-week internship with the Ocean Alliance Project on Oahu, Hawaii. During my internship, I monitored tissue-loss disease progression in corals over time. I am excited to learn more about the physiological responses of marine animals to environmental stress, especially how shrimp respond to changes in salinity. I also enjoy scuba diving, spending time with my friends and family, and traveling.

Julie Orzechowski
bottom of page