Research News

Olivia McCarter still visits the grave at Jackson County Memorial Park of Alisha Ann Heinrich after helping identify her using DNA samples and genealogy records. Next to the plot is the grave of another baby girl whose body has never been identified.

South Sophomore Solves Cold Cases Using DNA, Forensic Genealogy
January 19, 2021

Olivia McCarter brings focus and closure to unsolved cases, identifying victims and giving law enforcement a trail to suspects. ...

From L-R; Will Marriott, staff archaeologist, USA Center for Archaeological Studies, and Jeremy Pruitt, field technician, USA Center for Archaeological Studies sift through soil collected during a cultural resource survey in the Africatown community of Mobile.

Digging Into the Past
January 15, 2021

South and the City of Mobile partner on a cultural resource survey in the Africatown community prior to planned construction. ...

Drs. Joél Billingsley, Charlene Dadzie, Kern Jackson and Shenghua Zha were awarded Social Justice Initiative grant awards for research.

South Social Justice Awards Announced
January 8, 2021

Four members of USA's faculty were awarded the first Social Justice Initiative grant awards. ...

Dr. Ronnie Baker, an assistant professor of marine science at the University of South Alabama, holds a grouper off San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos. When he returns for research, Baker plans aims to identify coastal nursery habitats for fisheries species.

South Dives Into Galapagos Research
January 5, 2021

USA's collaboration with partners in Ecuador and on the volcanic archipelago grows with a focus on research and global engagement. ...

Dr. Claire Cage, associate professor of history and gender studies is one of 13 USA Office of Community Engagement and Service Learning Program Faculty Fellows.

Faculty Fellows for Community Engagement Program Named
December 15, 2020

The inaugural class of 13 full-time assistant and associate professors from six colleges were chosen for the program. ...

The University of South Alabama holds the easement to 60 acres adjacent to Historic Blakeley State Park along the Tensaw River. The property, in addition to more than 30,000 acres throughout rural Alabama and Mississippi, can be used by South faculty for research and teaching.

Land Newly Available for Research, Teaching
December 15, 2020

Collaborations with The Conservation Fund and the J.L. Bedsole Foundation open access to properties across Alabama. ...

Dr. Neil Schwarz, an associate professor of exercise science, has three active externally funded, industry sponsored projects in which he is serving as the principal investigator.

Studying the Effectiveness of Dietary Supplements
December 10, 2020

Dr. Neil Schwarz, an associate professor of exercise science, is leading three externally funded industry sponsored projects. ...

From L-R; Jennifer Henderson, Amanda Ledet, Emory Serviss combined to win Best Paper in the Business-to-Business track as well as the Steven J. Shaw & Joe Hair Overall Conference Best Paper awards in November.

Business Doctoral Students Excel at Marketing Conference
December 9, 2020

A trio of USA doctoral students collaborate to win multiple awards at the Society for Marketing Advances annual conference. ...

Lexie Gibson is a fourth-year medical student at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine.

Medical Student to Present Findings at National Symposium
December 4, 2020

Lexie Gibson found a link between diabetes and significantly higher hospitalization and death rates for COVID-19 patients. ...

Dr. Ronald Baker, assistant professor in the department of marine sciences co-authored a paper on salt marshes that was published in Science magazine's November 6, 2020 issue.

DISL Researcher's Work Published in Science Magazine
November 24, 2020

A November 2019 meeting at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab led to a report on salt marshes published in esteemed scientific journal. ...

$160.9 Million Raised in Upward & Onward
November 19, 2020

South exceeds fundraising goal with more than 23,000 donations to support academics, research, athletics and healthcare. ...

Dr. Kelly Dorgan, an associate professor of marine science at the University of South Alabama, studies worms and their impact on marine sediment.

The 'Important, Poorly Understood' Worm
November 18, 2020

Dr. Kelly Dorgan studies worms and marine sediment, creatively piecing together what she calls the 'puzzle of science.' ...

New Program to Support Social Justice Research
November 17, 2020

The Social Justice Research Initiative will fund research on social justice issues, including social stratification, environmental justice and racial equity. ...

South Receives Renewal for Delta Fellows Program
November 17, 2020

The renewal comes from the Jean O'Connor-Snyder Internship Program at the David Mathews Center for Civic Life. ...

Dr. Kevin White, professor and chair of USA's department of civil, coastal and environmental engineering leads a pilot program addressing wastewater treatment in Alabama's Black Belt region.

USA Leads Program to Address Wastewater Treatment
November 17, 2020

South lands a Columbia World Projects grant that will help improve wastewater treatment in Alabama's rural Black Belt region. ...

From left, University of South Alabama students Crystal Pitts, Josh Yang, Aaron Mattox, Muhammed Mubasshir Hossain and Associate Professor Dr. Saeed Latif meet to discuss the SWARM-EX project that will lead to small satellites being launched into the atmosphere.

Small Satellites, Big Learning Opportunities
November 17, 2020

A USA engineering professor and his students are building light-weight satellites in an out-of-this-world research project. ...

University of South Alabama Assistant Professor Dr. Krista Mehari and Professor Dr. Phillip Smith were awarded a $1.8 million grant to research strategies to reduce gun-related suicides and homicides. The project will last three years and will focus on better understanding the perspective of people who possess and own guns to improve public health strategies.

Grant Seeks to Reduce Gun Deaths
November 17, 2020

Firearm safety measures often focus on access. Two South professors aim to take a different approach with buy-in from gun owners. ...

Dr. Thomas Shaw, associate professor of political science and director of the USA Polling Group, said public opinion surveys will remain a useful tool for gauging opinion. “I think what we will probably see is a continuation of traditional survey research that needs to adapt itself to the new landscape, and then augmented with other ways of trying to look at public opinion,” he said.

Polling 'Vital,' So Are Fixes
November 6, 2020

USA Polling Group Director Dr. Thomas Shaw reflects on General Election polling and why public opinion surveys still matter. ...

USA associate professor Dr. Brian Dzwonkowski and his team at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab explore how multiple severe weather events affect storm intensification near landfall.

Following Hurricanes, Gulf in Hot Water
October 5, 2020

A USA oceanographer says severe weather events can fuel marine heatwaves, impacting the intensity of subsequent tropical storms. ...

Dr. Joél Lewis Billingsley, associate professor in the University of South Alabama College of Education and Professional Studies, stands along the Mobile River in Africatown, where enslaved Africans aboard the Clotilda formed a community after arriving in America.

A Legacy of Strength, Perseverance
September 9, 2020

Through her work on 'Project 110,' Dr. Joél Lewis Billingsley traces her ancestry and confronts horrific realities. ...

Lynne Chronister, University of South Alabama vice president for research and economic development, is recognized in the 2020 Women of Impact honors, a 'celebration of strong women who shape and propel Alabama.'

Chronister Named 'Woman of Impact'
September 18, 2020

Lynne Chronister is honored statewide in a 'celebration of strong women who shape and propel Alabama.' ...

Hurricane Florence as seen above the Atlantic Ocean from the International Space Station. Florence made landfall along the Atlantic Coast on Sept. 14 and is the wettest tropical cyclone on record in the Carolinas. While weather forecasting has improved dramatically in the last century, it is expected to improve even more using artificial Intelligence and machine learning.

South Wins AI Forecasting Grant
September 10, 2020

Artificial intelligence and machine learning could lead to improved weather forecasting and more targeted evacuations. ...

Clayton Suell, an engineering senior at the University of South Alabama, was recognized with an Alabama Space Grant Consortium Award.

Quickly Making an IMPACT
August 14, 2020

Clayton Suell, who studies artificial intelligence in South's IMPACT Lab, wins an Alabama Space Grant Consortium Award. ...

Dr. Jeremiah Henning, an assistant professor of biology, has secured a two-year, $348,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

The Science of Diversity and Inclusion
August 10, 2020

Dr. Jeremiah Henning, an assistant professor of biology, secures a two-year, $348,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. ...

Jennifer Conrad, left, a University of South Alabama graduate, and Lauren Kapeluck own ellenJAY, a boutique bakery in Midtown Mobile. The two have taken part in South's Real Advice Mentoring Program, RAMP, for help with business planning and growth strategy.

More Than Cookie-Cutter Advice
July 21, 2020

A South mentoring program offers entrepreneurs, like those at ellenJAY bakery, tailored guidance to help their businesses rise. ...

Research News Archive

South Sophomore Solves Cold Cases Using DNA, Forensic Genealogy January 19, 2021

Digging Into the Past January 15, 2021

South Social Justice Awards Announced January 8, 2021

South Dives Into Galapagos Research January 5, 2021

Faculty Fellows for Community Engagement Program Named December 15, 2020

Land Newly Available for Research, Teaching December 15, 2020

Studying the Effectiveness of Dietary Supplements December 10, 2020

Business Doctoral Students Excel at Marketing Conference December 9, 2020

Medical Student to Present Findings at National Symposium December 4, 2020

DISL Researcher's Work Published in Science Magazine November 24, 2020

$160.9 Million Raised in Upward & Onward November 19, 2020

The 'Important, Poorly Understood' Worm November 18, 2020

New Program to Support Social Justice Research November 17, 2020

South Receives Renewal for Delta Fellows Program November 17, 2020

USA Leads Program to Address Wastewater Treatment November 17, 2020

Small Satellites, Big Learning Opportunities November 17, 2020

Grant Seeks to Reduce Gun Deaths November 17, 2020

Polling 'Vital,' So Are Fixes November 6, 2020

Following Hurricanes, Gulf in Hot Water October 5, 2020

A Legacy of Strength, Perseverance September 9, 2020

Chronister Named 'Woman of Impact' September 18, 2020

South Wins AI Forecasting Grant September 10, 2020

Quickly Making an IMPACT August 14, 2020

The Science of Diversity and Inclusion August 10, 2020

More Than Cookie-Cutter Advice July 21, 2020