Georgia Southern post-baccalaureate program helps next generation of coastal scientists wade into research

October 1, 2025

Amanda Melendez’s boots sloshed through the marsh as she worked alongside the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to unload cages filled with live oysters to reconstruct an oyster reef. Melendez, one of ten fellows in the first cohort of Georgia Southern University’s Research and Mentoring for Postbaccalaureates (RaMP) program, took part in a unique coastal research initiative that prepared her to go beyond her undergraduate experience.

Hervé Pierre-Paul, another member of the cohort, set out a light trap in a tidal stream at dusk to attract small fish as the tide came in and darkness settled over the sweetgrass. RaMP offered him this first opportunity to venture into the field and do hands-on research away from the classroom.

During the program, fellows like Melendez and Pierre-Paul spent a day at sea conducting oceanographic research, visited Sapelo Island to share their research and learn about coastal life from Gullah Geechee islanders, and surveyed inland tributaries for ecological health. They finished their time as fellows by presenting their research findings at the Georgia Southern College of Science and Math Research Showcase.

The program is designed to give new levels of research opportunities to students who have recently completed an undergraduate degree so they can be better qualified for jobs or advanced degrees. With new cohorts participating through 2027, the first cohort set a high bar, with many of the participants going on to enroll in master’s programs.

“The premise of the program is to provide training opportunities for students that might be in institutions where they don’t have access to either research infrastructure or where they haven’t had an opportunity to participate in research,” said Checo Colón-Gaud, Ph.D., director of the program. “We’ve been fortunate to bring in participants who allowed us to elevate the training that we provide.”

Melendez said the program gave her both research skills and confidence. After earning her bachelor’s degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica in Puerto Rico, she was uncertain about graduate school.

“I wasn’t sure if grad school was the right move for me,” said Melendez. “I had never had the opportunity to do any sort of internship during my undergrad. That was a main goal for me because I knew it would make me potentially competitive for grad school. It means a lot to have this opportunity as a first-generation scientist in my family.”

That experience paid off: Melendez is now enrolled in a marine science master’s program at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. Meanwhile, Pierre-Paul is pursuing a master’s in zoology at the University of Florida. He credits RaMP with inspiring him to work toward a Ph.D. and become a professor one day, where he can operate his own lab to help others find their passion just like he did.

“Before the RaMP program, I was a little hesitant about it,” said Pierre-Paul. “After the RaMP program and seeing all the professionals at work doing what they love, I realized the challenges should not stop me from my passion because I do have a passion for teaching.”

Georgia Southern’s program focuses on coastal sciences and is funded by a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The program is co-led by a multidisciplinary team, including Lacey Huffling, Ph.D. (College of Education), John Carroll, Ph.D. (Institute for Coastal Plain Science), and Asli Aslan, Ph.D. (Institute for Water and Health). Colón-Gaud notes that Georgia Southern’s multiple campuses create diverse community connections, making the University a prime host for a program that spans a broad spectrum of topics.

“It speaks to the multiple areas of research of the faculty mentors,” said Colón-Gaud. “It gives us the opportunity to have faculty in different environments. We have experts who might be positioned at one campus, but working across the coast and across different states.”

As Melendez and Pierre-Paul open their textbooks and begin their graduate courses, the Georgia Southern RaMP faculty gas up the utility vehicles and prepare the fish traps, ready to welcome the next cohort.