The Wong Lab use a combination of physiological and molecular approaches to investigate how marine invertebrates respond to changes in their environment. In addition to understanding these response mechanisms, we aim to explore tools and methods we can use to promote resilience to climate change. One of our main aims is to integrate our work with practitioners and stakeholders so that our research directly contributes to improving outcomes in conservation, restoration, and aquaculture.
Latest News
- Samantha George graduates!
Congrats to Samantha George, who graduated at the end of Fall 2025. Samantha presented her senior thesis project to the DUML community and earned a Graduation with Distinction in Marine Science and Conservation. We look forward to seeing the amazing things she does next!
- A classroom at sea
DUML students from Juliet’s Biodiversity of Marine Invertebrates course and Dr. Josh Osterberg’s Marine Ecology course had a great class trip aboard the R/V Shearwater. We deployed an ROV over a shipwreck, performed plankton tows, and spotted plenty of dolphins. Special thanks to DUML’s Marine Operations for helping make it all possible!
- Samantha George at WSN
Undergraduate researcher, Samantha George, presented her honors thesis work at the Western Society of Naturalists meeting in San Diego, CA. Her project explored how infection by boring sponge (Cliona celata) and elevated temperatures impact eastern oyster respiration rate and molecular-level stress responses.
- Team Oyster at DUML
Our Bass Connections team, Climate Change Impacts on Farmed and Wild Oysters 2025-2026, wrapped up our big field experiment. The whole team got together – even our Durham-based students came to stay at DUML for the weekend!
- Fall is for field trips!
One benefit of taking courses at the Duke Marine Lab is the direct access to the outdoors. Juliet loves taking her classes on field trips to explore our local coastal marine ecosystems and the diversity of organisms that live there.
