Welcome to the LSU Gulf Scholars Program
ALL MAJORS WELCOME
The LSU Gulf Scholars Program (GSP) aims to prepare undergraduate students from any major to address challenges and issues facing the gulf south region. LSU Gulf Scholars will participate in immersive projects, courses, excursions and activities focused on supporting people, ecosystems and industries in and around the Gulf of Mexico.
Contact us at gulfscholars@lsu.edu and follow us on Instagram @lsu_gsp
Meet the LSU Gulf Scholars
Student | Major | Gulf Impact Project - Summer 2024 | Faculty Mentor |
Jay Bonilla Hernandez | Psychology | Callin’ Baton Rouge: 311 Calls, Flooding, and Environmental Justice | Dr. Kevin Smiley |
Jack Bourgeois | Coastal Environmental Science | Diversity of Infaunal Invertebrates in Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) in Barataria Bay, LA | Dr. Cassandra Glaspie |
Frank Bussott | Coastal Environmental Science | The Analysis of Salinity Intrusion in a River-Dominated Delta: An Idealized Numerical Modeling Study | Dr. Matt Hiatt |
Leslie Castaneda | Environmental Engineering | Acclimation of Coastal Grasses to Saline Water Used for Restoration of the Gulf Coast United States | Dr. Edward Bush |
Karrie Cheng | Mass Communication | Solid Waste Water for Aquaculture Processors: Analysis of Wastewater Effluent and Solid Waste for Louisiana Processors | Dr. M.P. Hayes |
Emerson Eccles | Coastal Environmental Science | Integrating multiple threats to global sustainability | Dr. Brian Snyder |
Lauren Ejiaga | Psychology | Potential Links Between Water Quality in ATU-influenced Ditches and Mosquito Proliferation in Southeastern Louisiana | Dr. Aaron Bivins |
Jana Giles | Biological Sciences | Louisiana Deltaic Estuaries: Sea Level Rise Sentinels | Dr. Cassandra Glaspie |
Roan Guidry | Political Science | The Origins of Coastal Wetland Conservation Efforts in Louisiana | Dr. Andy Nyman |
Gavin Juge | Sociology | Callin’ Baton Rouge: 311 Calls, Flooding, and Environmental Justice | Dr. Kevin Smiley |
Zachary Legier | Mechanical Engineering | Soft, tactile robotic gripper for marine sampling and monitoring | Dr. Robert Herbert |
Christopher Lowrey-Dufour | Coastal Environmental Science | Exploring Environmental Toxicity through EROD (ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase) Activity | Dr. Jon Doering |
Mallory Miller | Natural Resource Ecology & Management | Linkages Among Limpkins, Apple Snails and Mussels | Dr. Sammy King |
William Morales | Computer Science | A Sociolinguistic Study of Intensification in the Spanish of Louisianian Puerto Ricans | Dr. Rafael Orozco |
Victoria Nguyen | Natural Resource Ecology & Management | Comparative Population Genomics of Gulf Coast Birds | Dr. Nicholas Mason |
Jaylynn Powe | Studio Art | Callin’ Baton Rouge: 311 Calls, Flooding, and Environmental Justice | Dr. Kevin Smiley |
Stephanie Procopio | Coastal Environmental Science | Weather Event Impacts on Soil Characteristics of a Salt Marsh in the Barataria Basin, Louisiana | Dr. Songjie He |
Long Tran | Civil Engineering | Collecting Data to Prepare for Statewide Road Diet Screening | Dr. Rebecca Bian |
Lauren Vogel | Natural Resource Ecology & Management | Using fatty acids and stable isotopes to identify trophic niche partitioning between crawfish and invasive apple snails in crawfish ponds of Louisiana | Dr. Sydney Moyo |
Dan Vu | Microbiology | Characterization of Swimming Behavior in Karenia brevis | Dr. Naohiro Kato |
Shalanda Warr | Studio Art | Freshwater Mussels of Louisiana Poster | Dr. Garrett Hopper |
Katherine Winchester | Computer Science | Autonomous Underwater Vehicle for Gulf South Region Ecosystem Monitoring | Dr. Xiangyu Meng |
Student | Major / Degree | Gulf Impact Project - Summer 2023 | Faculty Mentor |
Joseph Brooks | Landscape Architecture | No Place Like LaPlace: A Green Infrastructure Network for Stormwater Management | Dr. Nicholas Serrano |
Jennifer Cagnolatti | Biological Sciences | Evaluation of Altered Nutrient Conditions on Algal Growth During Dynamic Co-Culture | Dr. Sibel Bargu Ates |
Emma Carlo | B.A. Sociology - Fall 2023 | Callin’ Baton Rouge: 311 Calls, Flooding and Environmental Justice | Dr. Kevin Smiley |
Brooke Chouest | B.F.A. Studio Art - Spring 2024 | Blood in the Water, Water in the Lungs | Dr. Johanna Warwick |
Nonnie “Betsy” Cook | Coastal Environmental Science | Enabling Predictive Toxicology Assessments to Determine Whether Pollution is Contributing to the Decline of Sharks in the Gulf of Mexico and Beyond |
Dr. Jon Doering |
Alcina Costa | Computer Engineering | Callin’ Baton Rouge: 311 Calls, Flooding and Environmental Justice | Dr. Kevin Smiley |
Carlie Dutile | Biological Engineering | Synthesis and Characterization of Cobalt Complexes for the Electrochemical Reduction of Nitrite in Water |
Dr. Noemie Elgrishi |
Victor Gischler | Music | Louisiana: Sounds of the Coast | Dr. Brian Nabors |
Jamarion Johnson | Natural Resource Ecology and Management | Vulnerability of Spartina patens Marshes to Sea-Level Rise | Dr. Tracy Quirk |
Jonathan Russell | Coastal Environmental Science | Are Increasing Global Sea Temperatures Linked to Changing Tropical Cyclone Induced Tornadic Distribution along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico Coast? |
Dr. Robert Rohli |
Dakota Sievers | Coastal Environmental Science | Regenerating or Ghost Forest? A.E. LeBlanc Woods Natural Area | Dr. Linda Hooper-Bui |
Neil Tepper | B.A. Political Science - Spring 2024 | Callin’ Baton Rouge: 311 Calls, Flooding and Environmental Justice | Dr. Kevin Smiley |
Patricia Thibodeaux | Animal Sciences | Comparing Arthropod and Plant Communities Across Natural and Man-Made Brackish Marshes in Coastal Louisiana |
Dr. Michael Polito |
Landry Tucker | Chemistry | Sediment Core Analysis of a Well-Preserved Underwater Baldcypress Forest in the Northern Gulf of Mexico |
Dr. Kristine DeLong |
Treasure Wells | Psychology | The Louisiana Early Childhood Teachers Oral History Project | Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner |
Jameson Woodall | Coastal Environmental Science | Sedimentary History of the Mississippi River Pass-a-Loutre Outlet | Dr. Sam Bentley |
apply to the lsu gulf scholars program
Applicant Requirements:
- Must have at least 3 semesters remaining as a full-time undergraduate (Spring 2025, Summer 2025, Fall 2025).
- For summer 2025 Gulf Impact Projects: Must be available in-person in Baton Rouge between May 27 - August 15.
- Must have a minimum 2.5 college GPA.
- Must be in good standing with the University.
We are now accepting new student applicants. Applications are due by 11:59pm on Sunday, November 3.
You are strongly encouraged to attend an info session prior to applying. You can find the info session schedule under the Prospective Students section above.
Click here to apply to the LSU Gulf Scholars Program
Check out some of the engaging activities and trips the Gulf Scholars participate in!
Meet our team:
Program Director
Dr. Linda Hooper-Bùi: Professor, Environmental Sciences
Program Coordinator
Ella Magerl
Leadership Team:
Dr. Jacqueline Bach: Vice Provost of Academic Programs & Support Services; Elena and Albert LeBlanc Professor, English Education & Curriculum Theory
Sarah Ferstel: Director of Undergraduate Research, LSU Discover
Dr. Debbie Goldgaber: Director, LSU Ethics Institute; Associate Professor and Section Head, Philosophy
Dr. Margaret Reams: Associate Director for Community Engagement, LSU Institute for Energy Innovation; Joseph D. Martinez Professor of Environmental Sciences
Dr. Clint Willson: Director, Center for River Studies; Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; The Water Institute of the Gulf