Meet the Team
Leah Irvin - Water Lab Technician
My name is Leah Irvin and I am majoring in Biology with the plan on attending Physician Assistant school after graduating. Outside of school, I am usually out enjoying nature or spending time with my two cats, Tidbit and Mighty Mouse. While I currently live in Dahlonega for school, I grew up in Gwinnett County and would visit Lake Lanier frequently. I am looking forward to learning how to be an effective member of a research team!
Hunter Van Oudheusden - ELC Technician
Hunter van Oudheusden is a biology major at the University of North Georgia. He works as the beetle lab manager at the beetle lab. As part of the beetle lab Hunter does lab and field work by raising predatory beetles and releasing them. Hunter enjoys his role in the beetle lab because he grew up hiking the North Georgia mountains and throughout the years saw many Hemlocks die due to the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid. Outside of school Hunter enjoys spending time with friends and family, learning, and being outdoors.
Makenna Maroney - American Chestnut Orchard Ambassador
Makenna Maroney is a senior Biology major at the University of North Georgia. As an American Chestnut Intern, she manages an orchard containing American, hybrid, and Chinese chestnut trees, carefully monitoring and recording data on their growth and health. Drawn to the position by her love of the outdoors, her willingness to get her hands dirty, and her passion for forest ecology, Makenna thrives in the field. A recent and exciting experience for Makenna was traveling to Costa Rica for a study abroad program, where she explored the ecology of tropical cloud forests.
Aurora Shuster - Water Lab Technician
Aurora Shuster is a sophomore Chemistry major at the University of North Georgia. She is a water lab technician who started in Spring of 2025. As a water lab technician, she aids in collecting samples at several different sites and then runs tests on them throughout the week. Her reasoning for working at this lab is not only to help the environment, but also to guide her passion of Chemistry to ultimately find what she wants to specifically study in the future. Not only is she a lab technician, but she also works as a lab assistant and research assistant.