Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

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Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

The University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) is one of the largest marine laboratories in the southeastern United States.

09/04/2026

New Student Alert!

Welcome to USM's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Tania!

Tania Sultana is a PhD student in Coastal Sciences at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) in Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, working under the advisement of Dr. Kim de Mutsert. She is from Bangladesh, completed both her B.Sc. and M.Sc. at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST). She completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Observational Oceanography at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) in Germany. Before coming to USM, she worked for three and a half years as a Research Officer at Eutech Systems Limited and served as a Research Fellow at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER Kolkata), India. Her doctoral research at USM focuses on water quality parameters and ecological modeling evaluate how habitat restoration affects fish, shellfish, and food webs around the Chandeleur Islands.

09/03/2026

🚤 Exciting news for local boaters!

Beginning September 4, the boat launch at USM’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Halstead Site will be open for public use Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from sunrise to sunset.

📍 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs

Public access is made possible through an agreement between USM and the City of Ocean Springs. Before visiting, please review the operating hours, designated parking areas and rules for public use:
https://www.usm.edu/gulf-coast-research-laboratory/boat-launch.php

Please help us keep the area safe and clean for everyone to enjoy!

09/02/2026

Working Together for Red Drum Restoration

The Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center (TCMAC) is collaborating with the Recreational Fisheries Research Institute (RFRI) and Louisiana CCA to support red drum restoration efforts along the Gulf Coast.

TCMAC Hatchery Manager, Angelos Apeitos, welcomed Ryan Page, Louisiana CCA representative, for a tour of the hatchery and a closer look at the work underway to raise juvenile red drum. During the visit, Angelos shared more about the hatchery process and the important role juvenile red drum can play in fisheries restoration.

This collaboration brings together research, hatchery expertise and support from recreational fishing organizations to help strengthen red drum populations and contribute to the future of Gulf Coast fisheries.

09/01/2026

Student Spotlight: Lizzie Hancock

Coastal science students at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory recently had the opportunity to share their research, including master’s student Lizzie Hancock, who presented her work on Predicting Coastal Wetland Change and the Role of Coastal Wetlands and Living Shorelines in Coastal Protection and Resilience.

Coastal wetlands play a critical role in protecting our coast. From reducing flooding and stabilizing shorelines to providing essential habitat for wildlife and fisheries, these ecosystems provide valuable benefits to both people and the environment.

Lizzie’s research uses landscape modeling to explore how nature-based solutions, including living shorelines, can enhance the resilience of coastal systems facing sea-level rise and climate change. By predicting how coastal wetlands and vegetation may change over time, her work can help inform strategies for protecting these important ecosystems.

08/31/2026

🦉 GCRL Science Café: Owls, Eagles, and Other Neighbors 🦅

Join us tonight, August 31, at 6 p.m. for a special GCRL Science Café featuring Kenneth Groue, Nature Photographer!

📍 Location: GCRL Caylor Auditorium
💻 Webinar Number: 2489 222 2714
🔑 Password: MekXmf7vS33
🔗 Join the webinar:
https://usm.webex.com/usm/j.php?MTID=ma21fef56aaa9221a511e54aa872cc7a2

☕ Refreshments are provided courtesy of Gunter Library.

We hope to see you there!

08/28/2026

The USM Center for Fisheries Research and Development (CFRD) is proud to recognize volunteer angler Charles Sheldon of South Padre Island, Texas, for his outstanding contributions to the Cooperative Sport Fish Tag and Release Program.

Since 2008, Sheldon has tagged and released 390 Cobia through the CFRD-managed program, contributing to a total of 493 Cobia tagged and released throughout his fishing career. Of the fish he tagged through the program, 15 have been recaptured, providing valuable information about Cobia movements, growth, population structure and connectivity across the Gulf.

Read more: https://www.usm.edu/news/2026/releases/cobia-tagging-charles-sheldon.php

Thank you, Charles, and all of the anglers who continue to support fisheries research and conservation! 💙

Learn more about the Cooperative Sport Fish Tag and Release Program, request a free citizen scientist tag kit, or report a tagged fish recapture at usm.edu/tagandrelease.

08/27/2026

Welcome to a new semester at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory! 🌊🎓

We’re excited to welcome both our returning students and those joining us for the very first time. Here’s to a semester filled with new experiences and unforgettable memories along the Gulf Coast.

Welcome back, and best of luck this semester! 💙🦀⚓

08/26/2026

🦉 GCRL Science Café: Owls, Eagles, and Other Neighbors 🦅

Join us next week on August 31 at 6 p.m. for a very special GCRL Science Café featuring Kenneth Groue, Nature Photographer, as he shares photographs and stories highlighting the birds and other wildlife he has captured in the Ocean Springs East Beach area.

💻 Webinar Number: 2489 222 2714
🔑 Webinar Password: MekXmf7vS33
🔗 Join the webinar: https://usm.webex.com/usm/j.php?MTID=ma21fef56aaa9221a511e54aa872cc7a2

☕ Refreshments are provided courtesy of Gunter Library.

08/25/2026

Thank you again, Willow Rhimyr, for sharing your unique blend of art and science, including a sneak peek at your new works, during a special reception at the USM Gulf Coast Research Lab's Marine Education Center.

Willow's collection of paintings inspired by the coastlines of Rhode Island showcases an engaging and interactive exhibit highlighting the environmental challenges facing our coastlines. The exhibit encouraged visitors to discover how these changes impact everything from microscopic organisms to the larger marine life that depends on healthy coastal ecosystems.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an evening celebrating the connection between art, ocean science, and conservation!

08/24/2026

Marine Biology Isn’t Just a Classroom Subject!

At the School of Ocean Science and Engineering (SOSE) at Southern Miss, Marine Biology students get to take what they learn in the classroom and put it into action in the field. 🔬🦀

From collecting specimens and observing marine life to working with real-world data and exploring coastal environments, our students gain experience that you simply can’t get from a textbook.

Hands-on learning helps students:
🔹 Explore marine ecosystems up close
🔹 Learn field and laboratory techniques
🔹 Collect and analyze real scientific data
🔹 Work with marine organisms and coastal environments
🔹 Build teamwork and problem-solving skills
🔹 Gain experience that prepares them for careers in marine science

🌊 The Gulf Coast is our classroom—and there’s always something new to discover!

If you’re curious about marine life, love science, and want to learn by doing, Marine Biology at Southern Miss could be the perfect fit for you. 🐬💛🖤

👉 Learn more today: usm.edu/ocean

Photo Credit: Sara LeCroy

Address

703 E Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, MS
39564

Website

http://www.usm.edu/gcrl

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