ECU faculty, students study effects of saltwater on NC ecology

This summer, East Carolina University students traveled to coastal field sites, deployed scientific sensors, collected soil and water data, and worked alongside faculty to investigate a problem threatening North Carolina farms and ecosystems: saltwater intrusion.

Gabriel Tirado Saleme, Hunter Swann, Gaetha Val and Ethan Zhu take notes as graduate student Kyleigh Kowalski demonstrates how to use the Geophex GEM-2 to measure and produce contour maps of salty areas in the ground. (Photo by Steven Mantilla)

Dr. Matthew Sirianni and Dr. Alex K. Manda, faculty members in the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences Department of Earth, Environment and Planning, are lead investigators of a three-year National Science Foundation-funded project that explores saltwater intrusion along the North Carolina coast. The project is making an impact not only on the students who have the unique opportunity to participate and gain valuable career skills, but also on coastal communities and farmers who are affected by saltwater intrusion.

“Saltwater intrusion and soil salinization are already affecting agricultural lands, wetlands, water resources and ecosystems in coastal North Carolina,” Sirianni said.

In this, the second year of the program, students were introduced to the societal importance of studying soil salinization and saltwater intrusion. Soil salinization can negatively affect plant species and ecosystems, causing crops to fail, killing off coastal forests, degrading water quality, decreasing biodiversity and increasing the chance of erosion, Sirianni said.

“Addressing those challenges will require people who understand both the science and the communities and landscapes being affected,” he said. “This program helps train the next generation of scientists and environmental professionals while exposing students directly to these issues in the field.”

The research provided students with background on the methodologies commonly used to assess soil salinity, including the use of hydrogeological and hydrogeophysical instruments during field experiences.

“Ultimately, better understanding these processes can help inform how we monitor and manage coastal lands,” Sirianni said.

Last summer’s research included deployment of soil and surface-water sensors from upland vegetation toward the coastal marsh, with data collection continuing throughout the year. This summer, students spent time in the field deploying new sensors but also worked with the data to make connections across different methods and field sites. Sirianni and the team also developed an online data dashboard that allows them to visualize measurements as they are collected and how soil moisture, salinity, surface water and groundwater conditions change through time and across the landscape. The dashboard is part of the environmental sensing and data network hosted and managed by the ECU Water Resources Center.

Unique Opportunity for Undergraduate Research

“One of the most rewarding parts of the program is allowing students to work on a real environmental problem using the same tools and approaches that scientists use in the field,” Sirianni said. “Saltwater intrusion and soil salinization are complex issues, so students have to think across hydrology, geophysics and ecology rather than treating them as separate subjects. It is exciting to watch them become more comfortable with the instruments, the data and the uncertainty that comes with real field science.”

“For many of them, this is also their first intensive research or field experience, so we hope the program helps them see that there is a place for them in this kind of work,” he said.

Lucia Wall, a Harriot College undergraduate student majoring in environmental studies and biology and an Honors College Chancellor’s Fellow, participated in the project as a student researcher.

“I have found it [hydrology research] to be an incredibly interesting and vital source of information into why the world works the way it does,” said Wall. “I am currently working on my signature honors project with Dr. Sirianni and Dr. Michael Brewer (biology), looking at the effects of sea level rise and saltwater intrusion on fungal diversity in soils on Shackelford Banks, and this summer program has given me more tools to do further research on this topic in the future.”

While participating in the project, Wall said she used geophysical equipment and sensors to measure water and soil samples that help monitor sea level rise and saltwater intrusion.

“I enjoyed getting to meet new people from a variety of disciplines and traveling across the coastal parts of the state and the eastern shore of Virginia,” she said. “Each time we went to a new location, everyone would find something to be excited about, connected to both their own discipline and the current activity at hand.” 

Student Staff Experiences

Lindsey Gifford, an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in geology, transferred from N.C. State to ECU in 2025. She was a student participant in last summer’s program, and this summer served as a student staff member, guiding other participants through their research. She said working with Manda and Sirianni has made her excited about her choice to come to ECU.

University students Lucia Wall, Cheikh Lewis, Sydney Quan, Joseph Adetunji, Alec Armstrong and student staff member Lindsey Gifford listen as Dr. Matthew Sirianni talks about the IRIS Syscal Pro, a piece of equipment that measures electrical properties of the ground and produces cross sections like a piece of cake. (Photo by Steven Mantilla)

“I could tell that they were both very knowledgeable and helpful. The research itself made me excited to focus on coastal processes,” she said.

As a staff member, Gifford assisted in demonstrating field techniques, supervising student researchers to ensure safety, setting up geophysical equipment and helping students interpret data.

“I believe that participating in the project last summer strongly contributed to my capability as a mentor for this year’s cohort,” she said. “What I enjoy the most is the opportunity to get out in the field and collect data. Fieldwork can be arduous and taxing, but after a long day of work, you have a sense of accomplishment.”

Kyleigh Kowalski, a graduate student pursuing a Master of Science degree in geology, also participated in this summer’s research as a staff member. She recently was awarded a five-year National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship to support her thesis, which investigates salt patches in agricultural lands of North Carolina.

During the fieldwork, Kowalski was responsible for helping student researchers with a portable sensor called a GEM-2 that performs electromagnetic induction measurements of the subsurface. During data analysis, she assisted students with software used to visualize the spatial data collected to then create maps.

“I particularly enjoyed being a teaching assistant for this interactive and hands-on research program,” Kowalski said. “Fieldwork is a great opportunity to get to know people and build strong networks in a relatively short amount of time while fostering interest in environmental concerns.”

“The most interesting part of the program was the interdisciplinary nature of the participants and their ability to tie the program concepts to their existing backgrounds in geology, chemistry, physics, ecology and biology. I am proud to be a part of a program that has made a positive and memorable impact on the students’ experiences with research and science,” she said.

Providing the Tools for Successful Careers

Students said the project provided valuable hands-on research experiences that will help guide them to successful careers.

“Coming to ECU and investigating saltwater intrusion has greatly widened the scope of my education as a geoscientist,” said Kowalski, who, after completing her degree, wants to continue addressing climate and environmental problems using geospatial data. “The wide variety of fieldwork opportunities I’ve had makes me a more competitive and capable candidate for jobs in geoscience due to its interdisciplinary and multi-faceted nature.”

Gifford said her research experiences at ECU will greatly benefit her future graduate studies in a geology-related field or in working for an environmental agency like the Department of Environmental Quality.

“These experiences have exposed me to several types of geophysical methods that I had not known before. Having experience with these methods will serve me well,” she said. “Research has also taught me perseverance and adaptability. Oftentimes you must change your plans on the fly, deciding what the best course of action is for your well-being and for the research.”

Wall, who wants to study the use of fungi to clean up pollution and become a professor to make science more accessible to others, said, “I think any kind of research opportunity is important. Hands-on opportunities like this program open doors to stereotypically daunting fields and help expand the view of the world beyond your own discipline.”

“Science doesn’t have to be scary,” she said. “Reach out to a professor who interests you and try something new — we all have to start somewhere.”

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