Howdy, I'm Madeline!

PhD Candidate at Northeastern University / Lotterhos Lab
I'm currently a PhD candidate in Marine and Environmental Science at Northeastern University in the Lotterhos Lab. I'm looking for post-doc opportunities to begin in fall 2026! 

For my PhD, I am studying the evolution of wild eastern oyster populations over space and time using population genomics, environmental data, disease data, and historic museum DNA.

My research interests include population genomics, historic & ancient DNA, disease ecology & host-parasite interactions, marine systems, and evolution.

My research started as an undergraduate at Bard College at Simon's Rock, where I was an intern in the natural history collection and developed an interest in studying evolution. For my senior thesis, I investigated the prevalence of shark and swordfish meat substitutions in New England markets. 

Outside of research, ​I am particularly passionate about science communication on my blog and social media, mentorship, outreach to K-12 students, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ inclusion in STEM.

Education & CV

PhD Candidate in Marine and Environmental Science (Fall 2021 - current)
Northeastern University Marine Science Center
Advisor: Dr. Katie Lotterhos

B.A. Biology magna cum laude, Bard College at Simon's Rock (2020)
Senior Thesis, Awarded Highest Honors: A Study of Shark and Swordfish Meat Substitutions in New England Markets
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Thomas Coote

I routinely update my CV, but the most up-to-date news will be available on my Blog and News pages.
Current CV Version: June 2025

Academic Affiliations

I am affiliated with the following societies, programs, and initiatives. Feel free to check out any of their websites that are of interest to you!

Outside of Science

In my free time, I enjoy watching women's sports, weightlifting, visiting national parks, traveling with my family, solving crossword puzzles, and watching planes land from my apartment in Revere.
Let's get in touch!
Copyright Madeline Eppley, 2025
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge the territory on which Northeastern University’s Marine Science Center stands, which is the land of the Mattakeeset tribe (1) of the Massachuset Nation (2,5) and which has been inhabited by the Pawtucket (3,5) and Naumkeag (4,5) people. We honor and respect these peoples' past, present, and future, their continuing presence in this region, and the enduring relationships that exist between them and these lands. We strive to be mindful of these relationships, and to integrate them into our research, teaching, decision-making, and actions, while also acknowledging that we still have much to learn.   

​Citations:  
1.      https://www.mattakeeset.com/history   
2.      https://accessgenealogy.com/massachusetts/massachuset-tribe.htm   
3.      https://capeannhistory.org/index.php/chapter-5-what-native-people-were-on-cape-ann-at-the-time-of-contact-and-where-did-they-come-from/   
4.      http://www.salemhistorical.org/massachusetts-indigenous-community-resources
​5.       https://native-land.ca/