THE GOWNARIS LAB
Natasha (Tasha) Gownaris is an Assistant Professor in the Environmental Studies Department at Gettysburg College. Tasha has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies and Biology (Gettysburg), a PhD in Marine Sciences (Stony Brook University), and a post-doc in Biology from the University of Washington. Tasha's research focuses on the foraging ecology of fishes and seabirds.
In addition to her research, Tasha is passionate about conservation, open science, promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in science and academia, and teaching students data literacy skills. She is currently the co-lead of the Global Young Academy Open Science Working Group, a member of the Lake Turkana Advisory Group, an Associate Editor of the open access journal Ecological Solutions and Evidence, and a member of the Education and Outreach Committee of the Society for Open, Reproducible, and Transparent Research in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
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Tasha is also really into hanging out with her adopted dusky conures, cooking, reading fiction, and hiking.
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Email: ngownari@gettysburg.edu
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Current Students
Amy Delgado is a senior at Gettysburg College, majoring in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Wildlife and Conservation Biology. She joined the Gownaris Lab in Fall 2024 to help with stable isotope sample processing. Amy says “I have a deep appreciation for the meticulous work involved in laboratory research and find the experience both stimulating and rewarding. I am enthusiastic about learning more about the project and am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with fellow students and professor.”
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Outside of the lab, Amy is a board member on the DEIBJ Advisory Board and works with other students to improve the Environmental Studies department. She enjoys spending time with friends, watching movies, cooking, and loves animals.
Elizabeth Li is currently a senior at Gettysburg College majoring in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Marine and Freshwater Ecology and Conservation Biology and a Classics Major. She chose to join the Gownaris lab because it is a fantastic opportunity to get lab experience in the marine field and understand stable isotopes and what they can tell us about the environment. Elizabeth is currently helping to process stable isotope samples.
Outside of school, Elizabeth is a viola player in the Sunderman Conservatory Orchestra, an intern at the Gettysburg Connection, and teaches volunteer swimming lessons. She also loves hiking, reading, and doing art.
Thanh Duong is a senior studying Computer Science and Mathematics at Gettysburg College. He will join the Gownaris lab in Fall 2024, working on collating spatial environmental data on Kenyan lakes. He joins the lab hoping to develop skills in processing spatial data and explore the natural world.
Outside of lab work, he enjoys watching movies (particularly horror and detective films, despite being easily scared) and singing, drawing from his experience in Concert Choir. He also works as a PLA in the Math department, helping students use statistical software in their coursework.
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Sumaiya Parvin Kaniz is a first-year student at Gettysburg College who is double majoring in Environmental Studies and Physics. Sumaiya joined the Gownaris lab as a data scientist in Fall 2024, where she is helping to collate citizen science data on waterbirds in Kenya.
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Sumaiya loves to learn about Earth Science System, Rocks, Minerals and Volcanoes. She loves to read books and listen to music during her free time.
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Alexis Berkey is a junior at Gettysburg college, majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in Mathematics. She joined the Gownaris Lab in Spring 2024 and has since been helping with stable isotope sample processing and data analysis.
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Outside of lab, Alexis is part of the rock climbing club on campus and is the the Safety Officer for Pan Fried Funk, Gettysburg’s Ultimate Frisbee team. She also enjoys spending time with her friends, hanging out with her cat, and going thrifting.
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Jesse Osborn Watara is a sophomore from Ghana. His is pursuing a major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a minor in Data Science. Jesse recently joined the Gownaris lab to help with stable isotope sample processing. Jesse says "My fondness for laboratory work stems from the desire to enhance my skill set for future career prospects. I'm particularly drawn to research involving nature, spanning from bird studies to plant biology. Collaborating with a diverse group of peers and experienced professors further fuels my enthusiasm, enriching my academic journey."
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Outside of academics, Jesse cherishes spending quality time with friends, engaging in games like chess, and participating in ambassadorial activities. Soccer holds a special place in his heart, and he is proud to be a member of the Gettysburg soccer club. He actively participates in the biosphere and skeptical chemists club, nurturing his passion for scientific inquiry.
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Leah Nath is a junior Environmental Studies major at Gettysburg College. She has been working with the Gownaris Lab since the fall of 2023 to edit and improve the accessibility of the Ecology for All! textbook. Leah also spent eight weeks on Petit Manan Island over the summer of 2024, where she played two roles: one as seabird researcher and one as science communicator.
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Outside of the lab, Leah sings in the Sunderman Conservatory of Music’s College Choir and works at Gettysburg College’s Campus Safety. She also will be working as an Environmental Journalist intern with the Gettysburg Connection in the spring of 2024. Leah enjoys reading, writing, playing piano, spending time outside, and playing with her kitten.
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Read Leah's Brilliant Poem About her Time on Petit Manan Island.
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Ninh (Naomi) Nguyen is a senior majoring in Health Sciences with Business and Data Science minors. She has been with the lab since Spring 2024 and her main role is to manage and analyze data of seabirds in the Gulf of Maine and waterbirds of Kenya. In the lab, she has also been excited to learn more about birds and their interesting lifestyle.
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Outside of lab, Naomi loves to binge watch movies, doing the daily Wordle, cooking and going to concerts. On campus, she is a barista, a board member for Asian Student Alliance, and a dedicated member to Vietnamese Student Association who loves their food events.
Huy Ngo is a junior majoring in Computer Science and has been working in the Gownaris Lab to develop a field data collection app for seabirds in the Gulf of Maine since Spring 2023. Huy: "Witnessing the intriguing behaviours of seabirds during this project really makes me more curious about the natural world. I'm excited to stay with the team and be able to help the researchers collect data faster and more efficiently than ever before."
Aside from the technical information, Huy really likes playing video games and cooking. He mostly cooks Vietnamese dishes at home but often like to go out and enjoy other cuisines. He also have a love for movies and finds that catching up on them during lunch or dinner adds a touch of leisure and enjoyment to my day.
Jocelyn Little is a senior at Gettysburg College pursuing an Environmental Studies major and Biology minor. Jocie spent eight weeks on Petit Manan Island over the summers of 2023 and 2024, and is now working on her Senior Honors Thesis. Jocie's thesis focuses on developing approaches to track the breeding phenology of black guillemots on Petit Manan Island.
Outside of the lab, Jocie works as a tour guide in the Admissions Office and sings in the Sunderman Conservatory of Music’s College Choir. Other on-campus activities include acting on stage with the Owl and Nightingale Theater Club, volunteering through the Center for Public Service, and participating as an active member of the music fraternity Sigma Alpha Iota. Jocelyn also enjoys hiking, watching baseball and soccer, and spending time with her two dogs.
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Logan Becker is a senior at Gettysburg College and is pursuing an Environmental Studies major along with a Biology and a Data Science Minor. In the lab, Logan helps with stable isotope sample processing and oversees care of the two teaching aquaria (including the always hungry anenomes, "David" and "Bowie"). Logan spent the summers of 2023 and 2024 living and working on Petit Manan Island. His Honors Thesis focuses on using common tern foraging behavior to better understand early-stage Atlantic herring distribution.
Outside of the lab Logan enjoys horseback riding, hanging out with animals, exploring nature, and gardening.
Fledged Students
Janhi Ong majored in Mathematical Economics and Data Science at Gettysburg College. As a lab data scientist, Janhi helped to sort through complex data as a detective, often from the past. She chose to join the lab because she saw it as an excellent opportunity to learn from a diverse group of people. Moreover, growing up in Da Nang, a city surrounded by nature, inspired her to contribute to environmental causes even during her high school years.
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During the weekend, Janhi loves cooking Vietnamese dishes and baking while calling my parents to update on her life. She also spends around 15 minutes every day to reading, because she finds it incredibly relaxing. Additionally, she enjoy capturing moments with friends through photography to cherish those memories.
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Linh Dam completed a major in Computer Science and a minor in Data Science at Gettysburg College ('24) and worked in the Gownaris lab from Spring 2023 to Spring 2024. In the lab, Linh helped to develop field data collection systems for the Gulf of Maine. The resulting app will allow researchers to quickly and efficiently input seabirds' feeding habits while on islands.
Despite having limited knowledge of ES, Linh finds the seabirds really cute, although their complicated feeding behaviors have posed a challenge when coding the app. Outside of class, Linh enjoys reading books recommended by TikTok, despite not having an account yet.
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Michael McCarty completed a Biology major and minors in Chemistry and Environmental Studies at Gettysburg College ('24). In the Gownaris lab, Michael helped to process and package eggshell membrane, fish, and invertebrate samples for stable isotope analysis. The resulting data help us in understanding how seabirds are responding to changing climate in the Gulf of Maine. Michael also completed an independent research project looking at changes in extreme weather events in the Gulf of Maine and their impact on tern breeding success. Michael presented this work at the 2024 NEAFWA conference. Michael is now working as a research technician at the Metabolic Screening Lab at the University of Pennsylvania.
Outside of lab, Michael enjoys running, hiking, and rock climbing as well as gaming or watching shows with friends.
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Jamie Dinella completed an Environmental Studies (B.S) major along with a data science and biology minor at Gettysburg College ('24). Her Honors Thesis in the Gownaris lab focused on phenological shifts in the Gulf of Maine and its effects on tern diet, breeding synchrony, and reproductive success. Jamie presented this work at the Gulf of Maine Seabird Working Group meeting and at the 2024 NEAFWA conference.
Outside of the lab, Jamie enjoys crocheting everything from hats to stuffed animals, and going for walks.
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Kaiulani Sund completed an Environmental Studies major with a Data Science minor at Gettysburg College ('23). Her Honors Thesis in the Gownaris lab focused on diet flexibility of common and Arctic terns in the Gulf of Maine. The aim of this project is to examine if terns with a higher diet flexibility will have higher reproductive success which will be determined by chick growth and fledge status. Kaili presented this work at the Gulf of Maine Seabird Working Group meeting and at the 2023 Pacific Seabird Group Annual Meeting, for which she won a travel award. Kaili is continuing fieldwork with seabirds, most recently working with piping plovers, and is pursuing a PhD.
Outside of lab, Kaiulani enjoys horseback riding, reading and movie nights with friends.
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Read More About Kaili's Experiences Working on Petit Manan
Read Kaili's Thesis on Diet Plasticity in Terns
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Jehan Mody completed an Environmental Studies and Biology double major at Gettysburg College ('23). Jehan spent eight weeks on Petit Manan Island in the Gulf of Maine over the summer of 2022 and helped with eggshell sample processing in Fall 2022. Jehan has since become interested in cell biology and now works in cancer cell research at the University of Pennsylvania.
Jehan is also an avid soccer fan and enjoys hiking and producing music on his computer.
Hayden Dubniczki graduated from Gettysburg College in 2022 with a major in Environmental Studies and a minor in East Asian Studies. She acted as assistant to Dr. Natasha Gownaris and Dr. Andy Wilson, who received a grant from PA GOAL to develop an open textbook for intermediate-level ecology courses. In this role, Hayden developed spotlights on diverse scientists to include as case studies in the OER. She also provided a student’s perspective in reviewing textbook materials. Hayden is now pursuing a Master in Environmental Management at Duke University.
Outside of the lab, Hayden enjoys tending to her succulents, learning new languages, and painting.
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Read Hayden's Research into the Impacts of Climate Change on Masked Booby
Julia Sharapi graduated from Gettysburg College in 2022 with a major in Environmental Studies and Chemistry. Her research at Gettysburg focused on the food web of Lake Turkana, which is located in northern Kenya. The aim of this project was to use stable isotope data to model the current structure of Lake Turkana’s food web in R, and to compare these results to previously constructed food web models to determine how the system has changed due to hydrological development in the region. Julia recently her MS at the University of Georgia and is now pursuing her PhD at Stanford - for which she won an NSF GRFP!
Outside of lab, Julia loves finding new places to hike, reading, and staring new art projects.
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Alexandros Economou-Garcia graduated from Gettysburg College in 2022 with a double major in Environmental Studies and Public Policy. His research at Gettysburg focused on analyzing trends of parachute science in field work. Parachute Science is the practice of non-local scientists “dropping-in” and conducting research without including and/or crediting local scientists and communities. The aim of this project was to use demographic data of published authors to further analyze collaboration between international and local scientists. Alex now works as a Sustainability Analyst at Komatsu.
Outside of lab, Alex enjoys traveling, trying new foods, and – most importantly – Greek dancing.
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Read Alex's Thesis on Parachute Science in Field Ecology
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Megan Keene graduated from Gettysburg College in 2021 with a major in Environmental Studies and a minor in Biology. Her honors thesis focused on quantifying ecosystem service trade-offs within marine priority areas using spatial analysis in GIS and statistical analysis in R. Megan aimed to understand the impacts of ecosystems services on coral reefs and their tourism value.
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Since graduating, Megan has started an environmental consulting position with Eastern Research Group, Inc.
In her free time, Megan enjoys scuba diving, traveling, and underwater photography.
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Read Megan's Thesis on Trade-Offs in Marine Priority Areas
Read More About Megan's Experiences at Gettysburg
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