Student projects:
Some students have worked on research areas described in the "research- summary of 5 areas" on this website (effects of forest management practices to restore longleaf pine ecosystems on the production and flux of methylmercury (the toxic kind), plant allometry and resource allocation; and whether leaf age, and the phenology of plants can be used to predict the herbivore communities on different kinds of plants). Other students are or have worked on newer projects: Longleaf pine seedlings and nutrient and water stress; the response of longleaf pine to simulated trampling; the performance and preference of tobacco hornworms on tobacco plants grown in soils with microplastics; and the effect of saltwater inundation on a grass species. In Summer 2025, students are working on a project examining how microplastics in soil affect tri-trophic interactions between soybean, the Mexican Bean Beetle and a parasitoid wasp; generational effects of microplastics on seed germination; and ecotypic variation in longleaf pine as potential tool in restoration.
Graduate and Undergraduate Students in my lab have worked, or are working, on the following questions:
Recent Research Posters
Laboratory Group in academic year 2025-2026:
2025-2026 Graduate Students:
2025-2026 Undergraduates
People who are or have been part of the "Coleman Clan"- term made up by students for those that are connected to and have worked with me since 2021.
Some students have worked on research areas described in the "research- summary of 5 areas" on this website (effects of forest management practices to restore longleaf pine ecosystems on the production and flux of methylmercury (the toxic kind), plant allometry and resource allocation; and whether leaf age, and the phenology of plants can be used to predict the herbivore communities on different kinds of plants). Other students are or have worked on newer projects: Longleaf pine seedlings and nutrient and water stress; the response of longleaf pine to simulated trampling; the performance and preference of tobacco hornworms on tobacco plants grown in soils with microplastics; and the effect of saltwater inundation on a grass species. In Summer 2025, students are working on a project examining how microplastics in soil affect tri-trophic interactions between soybean, the Mexican Bean Beetle and a parasitoid wasp; generational effects of microplastics on seed germination; and ecotypic variation in longleaf pine as potential tool in restoration.
Graduate and Undergraduate Students in my lab have worked, or are working, on the following questions:
- What is the ecological importance of ecotypical variation in longleaf pine in response to a changing climate?
- Does microplastic contamination of soil alter the preference and performance of insect herbivores and their parasitoids?
- How does methylmercury (toxic form) production change in response to two different silvicultural practices to restore long leaf pine?
- How does saltwater and freshwater intrusion affect the allocation of grasses to different plant parts and water stress in the xylem?
- Do patterns of leaf development in conjunction with patterns of the phenology of leaf production predict life history traits of herbivorous insects?
- How does drought and nutrient addition affect the growth and water stress of longleaf pine?
- How does simulated trampling affect the growth and water stress of longleaf pine?
- How does simulated leaf raking affect the growth and water stress of longleaf pine?
Recent Research Posters
- Jordan Winter, Sally Koerner and Jim Coleman. 2025. Sunken costs: The effects of saltwater and freshwater inundation on longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecotype seedlings. Presented at the Ecological Society of America Meeting
- Pattie Everette and Jordan Winter. 2025. Inundation Experiment of Longleaf Pine Ecotypes.
- John Vo, Haley Kesecker and Conifer Nettles. 2025. Impact of Microplastic-Treated Plants on Beetle Reproduction
- Kate McDavid, Miles Bellion and Jana Yan. 2025. Microplastic Effects on Development progression in Soybean Plants
- Olivia Kjuka and Charlie Weatherspoon. 2025. Microplastics Inhibit seed germination in Soybeans.
- Miles Bellion, Abdullah Al Azawy, and Olivia Kjuka. 2025, Microplastic Effects on a Terrestrial Tri-trophic system
- Jana Yan, Selina Ifidon and Kimberly Gonzales. 2024. Impact of Microplastics on Tobacco Hornworms
- Kate McDavid, Katelyn Garton, Alyse Whitecar, Anthony Hines and Edna Amoah. 2024. Leaf Ontogeny and Variation in the Phenology of Different Plant Species May Help Explain the Life History Traits of Specialist Insects
- Gabriela Cruz, Hasnain Awan, and Siram Ali. 2024. Impact of Microplastics on the Growth of Tobacco Hornworms.
- Gabriela Cruz, Alex Nolan, Hasnain Awan, Selina Ifidon, Kimberly Gonzales and Kaitlyn Garton. 2023. Impact of Microplastics on the Growth of Tobacco Hornworms
- Jordan Winter, Jim Coleman and Sally Koerner. 2023. Come on (Bar)bie! The effect of multiple disturbance mechanisms on longleaf
pine (Pinus palustris) seedling water potential and biomass allocation. Presented at the Ecological Society of America Meeting
Laboratory Group in academic year 2025-2026:
2025-2026 Graduate Students:
- Olivia Kjuka, (MS, co-advised with Dr. Kim Komatsu)
- Jordan Winter (PhD, co-advised with Dr. Sally Koerner)
2025-2026 Undergraduates
- Miles Bellion
- Kaitlyn Chilson
- Junior Gutierrez
- Hayley Kesecker
- Jasmine Khalaf
- Sophie Lauture
- Kate McDavid
- Conifer Nettles
- Penelope Slaughter
- John Vo
- Jana Yan-My name is Jana Yan, and I am a secondary student at UNCG. I graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2024, where I triple-majored in Child Development, Cognitive Studies, and Medicine, Health, and Society (MHS). After taking Dr. Coleman’s class, I became interested in the lab’s research on microplastics in soil and longleaf pine restoration. I am excited to contribute to projects that connect ecological research with environmental conservation!
- Abdullah Al Azawy
- Miles Bellion
- Gaby Cruz
- Pattie Everett
- Daniel Hanes
- Jorden Frazier
- Katelyn Garton
- Keisha Gil-I am a post-bacc student at UNCG. I did my undergraduate at Campbell University and got my B.S in Psychology. I wanted to learn more about ecology research and how to contribute to conservation of nature. I am thrilled to be a part of the team and explore more on microplastic in soil and long leaf pine restoration.
- Nichola Jarvis
- Haley Kesecker
- Fatemeh Keshavarz-I’m a senior pre-med student majoring in Biology at UNCG, having transferred from GTCC after completing my first two years of college. I’ll be graduating in May 2025. After taking Dr. Coleman’s class, I became interested in ecology, especially his research on microplastics and tobacco hornworms. I also learned about his research through a good friend who was working in his lab at that time. I’m excited to join the research team and explore these topics further.
- Hanan Mohammed
- Kate McDavid
- Yasmine Paschal
- Casey Pena
- Kailey Sooppersaud
- Charlie Witherspoon- I am Charli Witherspoon, a pre-dental undergraduate student majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry at UNCG. I've previously done some research in chemistry and now I'd like to branch out and experience other research areas. I've had Dr. Coleman as a professor for the past two semesters and his teaching style is engaging and heavily encourages critical thinking. I’m excited about the opportunity to join his research group, contribute to his work, and deepen my understanding of ecological sciences!
- Jihane Wahbi
- Alyse Whitecar
- Rocky Wilks
- Jana Yan-
People who are or have been part of the "Coleman Clan"- term made up by students for those that are connected to and have worked with me since 2021.
- Jim Coleman, professor of biology
- Yener Ulus, affiliate- ( Professor at Auburn University- Birmingham), but still active in mercury project)
- Kristina Morales, Postdoc (NC DEQ Lab Specialist)
- Jorden Winter, Ph.D. student (with me and Dr. Koerner)
- Olivia Kjuka, MS Student (with me and Dr. Komatsu)
- Daxx McGee (MS-non thesis student)- 2023-2024
- Nick Wolff (MS non-thesis student) 2023- present
- Aisha Mohammed (MS non-thesis student); 2023- 2024
- Omar Ali (MS non-thesis student) Spring 2026- present
- Casey Pena (MS-non-thesis student, summer 2025)
- Kaitlyn Chilson (Spring 2026)
- Junior Gutierrez (Spring 2026)
- Jasmine Khalaf (Spring 2026)
- Sophie Lauturen (Spring 2026)
- Penelope Slaughter (Spring 2026)
- Conifer Nettles (Fall 2025)
- John Vo (Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026
- Rukshan Fernando, undergraduate research assistant (Summer 2023, Fall 2023)
- Hayley Kesecker (Summer 2025, Fall 2025)
- Yasmine Paschal (Summer 2025)
- Hanan Mohammed (Summer 2025)
- Jihane Wahbi (Summer 2025)
- Pattie Everett (Summer 2025)
- Abdullah Al Azawy (Spring 2025)
- Miles Bellion (Spring 2025, Fall 2025)
- Keisha Gil (Spring 2025)
- Daniel Hanes (Spring 2025)
- Fatemeh Keshavarz (Spring 2025)
- Charli Witherspoon (Spring 2025)
- Jana Yan (Spring 2025, Fall 2025)
- Nichola Jarvis (Summer 2024, Fall 2024)
- Anthony Essien (Summer 2024)
- Siram Ali (Spring 2024)
- Gabriela Cruz, undergraduate (Summer 2023,Fall 2023,Spring 2024, Summer 2024, Fall 2024)
- Alex(andra) Nolan (Summer 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024)
- Kailey Sooppersaud, undergraduate (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024)
- Katelyn Garton, undergraduate (Fall, 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025)
- Christina Sooppersaud, undergraduate (Fall 2023, Fall 2024)
- Kimberly Gonzales (Fall 2023, Spring 2024)
- Maleak Whittaker (Spring, 2024)
- Alyse Whitecar (Spring, 2024, Fall 2024)
- Tahesha Gladden (Spring 2024)
- Kate McDavid (Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Fall 2026)
- Savera Zaman (Spring 2024)
- Tanner Addison, undergraduate (Spring 2021, Fall 2022, Spring 2023)
- Hope Agresti Undergraduate (Fall 2022; Spring 2023)
- Hasnain Awan (Summer, 2023, Fall 2023, Spring, 2024)
- Edna Amoah undergraduate (completed project summer 2022; new project Spring 2023, Spring 2024)
- Isaiah Brown, undergraduate (Spring 2023)
- Jymiah Carvin, undergraduate ( Summer 2022)
- Jorden Frazier (Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2024)
- Amanda Gerrish (Summer 2023)
- Kevin Hidalgo (Summer 2023)
- Anthony Hines (Summer 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Summer, 2024)
- Peyton Labonte (lab tech extraordinaire 2021-2022; worked at Syngenta and now starting grad program in Plant Pathology at NC State)
- Ke'Von Lee (Summer 2023)
- Sophie Marboah, Undergraduate (Spring 2021, summer 2022)
- Austin Matthews, undergraduate (Spring 2023,Summer 2023)
- Carlos Morales Sanchez undergraduate (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)
- Madison Padgett (Spring 2021, graduated May 2022)
- Nya Rieves, Undergraduate (Fall 2022)
- Nicolas Sibo undergraduate Summer 2022, Fall 2022, Graduated December, 2022)
- Natalie Swaim (undergraduate technician Fall, 2022; Graduate May 2022)
- Imanyia Thomas (Summer 2023)
- Selina Ifidon (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025)
- Rachel Vinson, undergraduate (volunteer, Spring 2023)
- Nick Wolfe, when an undergraduate, (Spring 2023)
- Raza Ullah (Fall 2023- on mercury project)
- Muhammed Numan (Fall 2023- on Mercury project)
- Ella Schwanke (Summer 2024)
- Megan Reavis (Ph.D., Completed 12.2021; Sustainability Analyst, Dairy Farmers of America)
- Raza Ullah (Ph.D expected completion 2024)
- Sara Gora (MS Completed Spring 2022)
- Rose Terry (Ph.D.- expected completion 2024-2025)
- Christian Lopezguerra (Ph.D.- expected completion 2024 2025)
- Shiva Thapa (Ph.D.: expected completion 2024-2025)
- Will Mann (M.S.- expected Completion 2023-2024)
- Zach Bunch (MS- expected completion 12/2023)
- Shelby Williford (Ph.D- expected completion 2026-2027)
- Abraham Alemu (PhD- expected completion 2026-2027)