People

Principal Investigator

Dr. Andrew S. Wozniak arrived at the University of Delaware in 2017. He holds a B.A. in Biology from the University of Virginia, an M.S. in Biological Oceanography from the University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography, and a Ph.D. in Marine Science from William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science. He did his post-doctoral work in Chemistry at Old Dominion University. Dr. Wozniak is a marine organic geochemist who studies organic matter cycling in a variety of aquatic, oceanic, and atmospheric environments. He specializes in the characterization of complex natural organic matter using a variety of advanced analytical techniques including Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, gas chromatography mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and excitation emission matrix spectroscopy. Past and current research projects have studied the dynamics of pyrogenic organic matter in aquatic systems, the fate of marine oil snow in the environment, surfactant organic matter at the air-sea interface, atmospheric deposition of organic matter and its relationship to iron and other nutrients, biogeochemical cycling in salt marsh systems, and dissolved organic matter cycling in riverine and estuarine environments. Outside of work, Andrew enjoys traveling (particularly to National Parks) with his family, seeing live music, following the Phillies, UVA basketball, and US soccer, and doesn’t go far without a Phillies hat or a pair of Saucony Jazz sneakers.

Graduate Students

Felix Edufia Agblemanyo joined the WozMOG lab in summer 2022 for his PhD in oceanography. He graduated from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana with a B.Sc. in Biochemistry and an M.Phil. in Fisheries Science. Felix’s research interests lie in marine biogeochemistry, focusing on the chemical and microbial contributions to the sea surface microlayer and surfactant dynamics in the Ocean for his Ph.D. He loves traveling, being on the ocean, and following soccer.
Tia Ouyang joined the lab in the Fall 2020 semester after gaining a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Maryland. She previously worked as a research assistant in the Environmental Engineering Laboratory and an intern in the Agroecology Lab at the University of Maryland, where she was involved in the Maryland Wastewater Treatment Project and USDA Saltwater Intrusion Project.  Tia is currently a master’s student investigating the integrated effects of hydrography (or river discharge), land cover/land use, and seasonality on estuarine dissolved organic matter dynamics. She would like to translate these interests into a career that enables her to conduct research that promotes environmental sustainability. To find out more about Tia, see her personal website: https://tianyinouyang.weebly.com/
Pamela Edris joined the lab in Summer of 2022 after graduating from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Marine Science. She is interested in how biochar in marshes affects phosphorus mobility and retention and plans to use these skills to pursue a career that focuses on maintaining the resiliency of coastal ecosystems. When not in the lab, she enjoys beach walks, crafting, cooking, and gardening.


Emma Leaseburg joined the WozMOG lab in June 2022 after receiving her B.S. in Biology and Environmental Science at Sweet Briar College. During her time at Sweet Briar she studied the utility of organic composts as soil conditioners and fertilizers. Emma is currently a Master’s student investigating the suitability of biochar as a sediment additive to thin layer placement restorations in Mid-Atlantic tidal marshes. When she’s not troubleshooting experiments, Emma enjoys reading, cooking, hitting the gym, and spending time with all her pets.
WozMOG Lab Alumni
Nicole Coffey, M.S. in Oceanography, 2020. Ph. D. Graduate Student at Oregon State University
Jessica Czarnecki, M.S. in Oceanography, 2020. Ph. D. Graduate Student at Michigan Tech
Alina Ebling, Lab Coordinator 2019-2023. Water Resources Lab Manager, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University
Rachel Owrutsky, M.S. in Oceanography, 2022. Wetland Scientist, Kleinfelder
Christopher Kelly, M.S. in Oceanography, 2023. USEPA Marsh Restoration Fellow