7/10/2026
Our paper, "Multi-Year Continuous Lateral Fluxes of Dissolved Carbon From a Microtidal Saltmarsh," has been published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences. For more information about this and our other publications, please visit our Publications page.
6/16-19/2026
The USM Coastal Ecosystem Biogeochemistry Lab attended the Society of Wetland Scientists Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. Graduate student Vivian Tidd gave an oral presentation and received a $100 Student Presentation Award from the SWS Biogeochemistry Section, one of three awards presented to graduate students. Frank Driscoll gave both an oral presentation and a poster presentation. Dr. Songjie He gave an oral presentation and co-moderated three scientific sessions with Dr. Anthony Mirabito from the University of Central Florida.
5/21/2026
Graduate student Frank Driscoll received the Society of Wetland Scientist Biogeochemistry Section Student Research Grant award ($1000)
5/14/2026
Graduate student Vivian Tidd received the Society of Wetland Scientist Student Research Grant award ($1000)
5/12/2026
Dr. Songjie He, Dr. Kim de Mutsert, and Dr. Zachary Darnell received $31,370 from the Jimmy A. Payne Foundation to acquire a water quality data sonde that will strengthen teaching, research, and student training within the School of Ocean Science and Engineering. The new instrument will enhance hands-on instruction while supporting field-based research and experiential learning opportunities for students.
5/5-7/2026
The USM Coastal Ecosystem Biogeochemistry Lab attended the Gulf Conference in Mobile, Alabama. Graduate students Vivian Tidd and Frank Driscoll each gave an oral presentation and volunteered at the conference, which qualified them for a waiver of the $300 registration fee. Dr. Songjie He also gave two oral presentations.
4/27/2026
Graduate student Frank Driscoll was awarded the University of Southern Mississippi Division of Coastal Sciences Doctoral Fellowship, which provides $114,000 in support over four years. This fellowship will allow him to pursue a Ph.D. in our lab.
4/23/2026
Graduate student Vivian Tidd gave a presentation titled "Spatiotemporal Variability in Marsh Biogeochemistry of the Barataria Basin, Louisiana" at the local brewery Hops and Growlers.
4/2/2026
Dr. Songjie He and Dr. Patrick Biber received the Spring 2026 Advancing Teaching Excellence Grant ($2,000) from the Office of the Provost at the University of Southern Mississippi. The grant supports the development of innovative teaching practices and enhanced student learning experiences.
3/26/2026
Dr. Songjie He gave a presentation titled "Invisible Workhorses of the Coast: How Marshes Protect Us, Feed Us, and Store Carbon" at the local brewery Hops and Growlers.
3/19-20/2026
Graduate students Vivian Tidd and Frank Driscoll attended the 90th Annual Mississippi Academy of Science Annual Meeting, where each gave an oral presentation. Their presentations were recognized with first and third place, respectively, in the Graduate Oral Presentation competition for the Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Division.
12/15-19/2025
Dr. Songjie He attended and presented at the AGU annual meeting in New Orleans.
12/9/2025
Graduate student Frank Driscoll was awarded a $500 from the Southern Association of Marine Laboratories (SAML) Student Support Program!
11/22/2025
Graduate student Vivian Tidd was awarded a $500 USM Division of Coastal Sciences travel award to attend the Gulf of Mexico Conference in 2026!
11/21/2025
Graduate student Frank Driscoll was awarded a $500 USM Graduate School’s Travel Award to attend the Gulf of Mexico Conference in 2026!
10/31/2025
The USM Coastal Ecosystem Biogeochemistry Lab boat has a new name — Marsh Princess! She may not be the tallest or the toughest, but she is the prettiest!
10/30/2025
Graduate student Frank Driscoll gave a presentation on methane fluxes from Mississippi salt marshes at the local brewery Hops and Growlers.
10/30/2025
Graduate student Frank Driscoll was awarded a $500 USM Division of Coastal Sciences travel award to attend the Society of Wetland Scientists Annual Meeting in 2026!
10/18/2025
The USM Coastal Ecosystem Biogeochemistry Lab participated in the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Open House, sharing fun chemistry demonstrations with the community!
10/17/2025
Dr. Songjie He and her student Vivian Tidd visited Tulane University, and Dr. Songjie He gave a seminar at the department of Earth & Environmental Sciences.
10/15/2025
The USM Coastal Ecosystem Biogeochemistry Lab participated in the Grand Bay NERR Research Symposium, where graduate student Frank Driscoll delivered an oral presentation on vertical carbon fluxes in the salt marsh at Grand Bay NERR.
8/26/2025
Dr. Songjie He has been selected to receive a $1,200 award to support her attendance at the CERF 2025 Conference — $700 for the needs-based award and $500 for the caregiver award.
8/18/2025
Graduate student Vivian Tidd joined the Coastal Ecosystem Biogeochemistry Lab at USM!
6/29-7/4/2025
Dr. Songjie He attended the 12th INTECOL Wetland Conference & 20th Annual Meeting of SWS Europe, where she delivered both an oral and a poster presentation and participated in several conference field trips.
6/2/2025
Frank Driscoll received $1,000 for the Society of Wetland Scientists Student Research Grant!
6/2-4/2025
Dr. Songjie He and her student Frank Driscoll attended the 14th International Symposium on Biogeochemistry of Wetlands & Aquatic Systems. Dr. He organized a session and gave an oral presentation, while Frank Driscoll presented a poster.
5/20-22/2025
Dr. Songjie He and her student Frank Driscoll attended the 2025 State of the Coast Conference, where each gave an oral presentation and a poster presentation. Frank Driscoll also served as a student volunteer, which waived his conference registration fee.
3/24/2025
The USM Coastal Ecosystem Biogeochemistry Lab visited the Stennis Space Center, and Dr. Songjie He gave a seminar at the Division of Marine Sciences titled "Where Did the Carbon Go? Lateral and Vertical Carbon Fluxes from Marshes."
2/15/2025
Dr. Songjie He published a paper titled "Carbonate and Nutrient Dynamics in a Mississippi River-Influenced Eutrophic Estuary" as the lead author.
1/24/2025
Graduate student Frank Driscoll was awarded a $500 USM Division of Coastal Sciences travel award!
1/13/2025
Graduate student Frank Driscoll joined the Coastal Ecosystem Biogeochemistry Lab at USM!
1/1/2025
The Coastal Ecosystem Biogeochemistry Lab at USM was born!