AU Shellfish Lab
Team

ANDREA TARNECKI, PH.D.

Assistant Extension Professor

Andrea is an Assistant Professor in the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences. Her research focuses on marine microbiology as it pertains to shellfish health/disease and seafood safety. In addition to research, she serves the industry through Extension programming and by providing support for local shellfish farmers.

SCOTT RIKARD

Manager, Ag & Natural Resources Program

Scott has been with AUSL for over 30 years and is currently the onsite manager. He focuses on producing oyster larvae for aquaculture and restoration projects, performing research to refine aquaculture techniques, and maintaining broodstock lines. Additionally, Scott serves as a resource for private industry members, researchers, and public agencies.

GLEN CHAPLIN

Advisor III, Natural Resources Program

Glen helps with deploying experimental gear, assisting students in collecting data from the field, and construction projects around the lab. With his knowledge of various farming gear and culture techniques, Glen also serves as a resource for local farmers and those interested in farming.

SARAH SPELLMAN

Research Assistant III

Sarah, an Auburn graduate, is the Jill of all trades around AUSL, doing everything from hatchery and oyster farm production to assisting with research projects. She is also responsible for maintaining long-term monitoring equipment that provide live environmental data to local farmers.

MASON WILLIAMS

Research Assistant II

Mason graduated from the University of South Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Marine Science. With his years of aquaculture experience, Mason assists with the organization, maintenance, and care of farm inventory. In addition, he assists with many other AUSL projects.

KEVIN LANDRY

Research Technician III

Kevin has a wealth of experience in both public and private aquaculture operations. At AUSL, he is the research farm manager and maintains broodstock and experimental work in the AUSL research plots in Grand Bay and Portersville Bay.

KAITLYN PARKS

Research Technician I

HANNAH ALEXANDAR

Aquaculture Technician I

Hanna holds a BA in Psychology and a BS in Biology from the University of South Alabama. She aids in maintenance of the research farm maintenance, including care for broodstock and experimental oysters at Grand Bay and Portersville Bay.

RUSSELL GRICE

Oyster Aquaculture Business Specialist

Rusty, an Auburn graduate, brings to the team his knowledge of program management and business development. His job is to help farmers navigate the permitting process, as well as helping the farmers streamline their annual harvest reporting process. His goal is to make farmers more successful as businesses.

HEATHER KING

Graduate Research Assistant

Heather earned her Master’s from the University of Southern Mississippi focusing on selective breeding of the eastern oyster. At AUSL, she is co-mentored by Dr. Tarnecki and Dr. Stoeckel and she continues to work on selective breeding and developing a reliable broodstock conditioning protocol for the Gulf of Mexico.

LUKE MATVEY

Ph.D. Program

Luke earned his Master’s degree from Auburn University on bird interactions with floating oyster aquaculture gear. He is continuing this research while working towards his PhD under the DISL-FDA Fellowship program, co-mentored by Dr. Tarnecki and Dr. Pruente from the FDA. Specifically, he will focus on potential transfer of bacteria from birds to oysters in the marine environment.

ALEC HESS

Graduate Research Assistant

Alec graduated with a B.S. in Marine Science from the University of Maine and is now a student at the Auburn University Shellfish Lab pursuing a MS. He is working with Dr. Tarnecki focusing on human pathogenic Vibrio in oysters, improved testing methodology, and farm practices impacting their abundance.

LAURA HOOPER

Graduate Research Assistant

Laura is from North Carolina and graduated with a BS in Biology from Meredith College. Her thesis work will focus on the interactions between shorebirds and oyster aquaculture, particularly ways to deter birds and the impacts of birds on seafood safety. Her career goal is to work in the field of oyster restoration.

JACK IRWIN

Graduate Research Assistant

Jack is a Masters student in Auburn’s Crustacean and Molluscan Ecology Lab headed by Dr. Jim Stoeckel. His research is studying thermal tolerance of diploid oyster spat in the LAFT genetic line. This work is to select for oysters that have a tolerance to higher water temperatures.

ZOPHIA GALVAN

Thesis title: Utilization of Egg Quality Biomarkers and Probiotics for the Improvement of Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) Larviculture

Graduated: May 2025