Savannah River Ecology Laboratory

Home
United States
Aiken, SC
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory

The Savannah River Ecology Laboratory is a research unit of the University of Georgia located on the Savannah River Site.

The lab is located on the Savannah River Site, a Department of Energy facility near Aiken, SC. SREL pursues basic and applied research at multiple levels of ecological organization, from atoms to ecosystems; provides opportunities for graduate and undergraduate research and service to the community through environmental outreach. Throughout its 70-year history, SREL has strived to acquire and communicate knowledge that contributes to sound ecological stewardship.

09/04/2026

Yesterday we had the opportunity to listen to and celebrate our graduate students at SREL’s 6th Annual Graduate Student Symposium! It was a full day of sharing research, sparking conversations, and highlighting the incredible work being conducted by our graduate students.

We were also honored to hear from Dr. Daniel Mead as our keynote speaker. Drawing from more than two decades of work in vector-borne disease and wildlife health, Dr. Mead reflected on 26 years of arbovirus surveillance in Georgia, including the emergence of West Nile virus in the state. Georgia’s first confirmed detection of West Nile virus came in 2001, when a dead crow from Lowndes County tested positive during statewide wildlife surveillance. Dr. Mead was part of the team documenting and responding to the virus as it emerged in Georgia.

Congratulations to this year’s award winners:

📝 Best Poster Presentation — Annie Beadle
Poster presentation

🐊 Session 1 — Karin Ebey
A S*x Ratio by Incubation Temperature Reaction Norm for the American Alligator Based on Fluctuating Thermal Regimes

⏰ Session 2 — Abigail B. Bickle McKittrick
Exploring the Mode and Tempo of Epigenetic Aging Across Taxonomic Groups

🐍 Session 3 — Jackson S. Prosser
Influence of Wetland Hydroperiod on Mercury Bioaccumulation Among Watersnakes and Their Amphibian Prey

We’re incredibly proud of all of our graduate students and their hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm for research. We’re excited to see where their research leads next!

09/02/2026

‼️Interested in gaining hands-on experience while supporting environmental research? 👀 At SREL, research technicians play an important role in supporting the science happening across our laboratories and research sites. With labs specializing in a wide range of research areas, there are opportunities for technicians to contribute to many different types of environmental research and build diverse skills along the way.

Today we're highlighting June, a Life Science Technician in the Xu Lab, where she supports research in metal biogeochemistry and ecotoxicology. Rather than having one set routine, her work changes with the needs of the lab and the projects underway.

“My work day varies depending on the season and what projects we are working on. Currently, I mostly work in the lab, analyzing plant samples for methylmercury content. Some days I help students with field work, which can involve collecting samples from constructed wetlands or contaminated areas. Last year, I got to help with a project that involved mist-netting for songbirds. That project lasted a few months and I learned a lot. I think that’s one of the main things I like about my job. It varies day to day, so it’s never boring.”

June has also gained experience troubleshooting analytical instruments, working with different sampling equipment and handling different animals in the field.

Interested in where a technician position at SREL could take you? Explore our current job opportunities and find a role that fits your interests.

🔗 https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=&query_v0_posted_at_date=&query_organizational_tier_3_id%5B%5D=1922&1718%5B%5D=any&225=&436=&query_position_type_id%5B%5D=any&commit=Search

08/27/2026

A new study from the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and Odum School of Ecology has determined how to estimate the age of sharks by analyzing changes to individual animal’s DNA. 🦈

Known as epigenetic clocks, these scientific age estimators focus on chemical alterations to measure wear and tear on the animal’s cells, providing a noninvasive, fast and accurate assessment of an animal’s age. The predictive clock model has been successfully tested in dozens of other animals, but this study marks the first time it’s been used in sharks. The tool can help shed new light on not just the biological evolution of shark populations but also the life cycle of other marine creatures with unknown aging data.

Learn more about the estimated ages of sharks at the link below! 🔗

08/26/2026

🐊 The recent alligator bite in the Savannah River has prompted conversations about how people can safely enjoy the water. We hope to use this moment as an opportunity to share information that can help our community stay informed and safe.

Alligators are native to the region and are part of the wildlife that calls the Savannah River home. Understanding their behavior throughout the year can help us make informed decisions when spending time around the water and protect ourselves, our families and our furry friends.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Assume alligators may be present, even if you don't see them. They're not always easy to spot, especially in the water.

• Never feed alligators or toss fish and food scraps into the water. This can cause alligators to associate people with food and lose their natural fear of humans. Alligators that become habituated to people may be considered nuisance animals. Because relocation is not an option, nuisance alligators that are removed are euthanized.

• Give alligators plenty of space and stay informed about seasonal behavior. Alligator activity changes throughout the year. Late summer is part of the hatching season, when females can be protective of their nests and hatchlings. Never approach, touch or harass an alligator, and always give wildlife room to move away on its own.

The Savannah River is home to an incredible diversity of wildlife. Learning how to safely share that space helps us protect ourselves and the people and animals we care about while continuing to enjoy the river.

Want to learn more about American alligators? Visit our alligator page on our H**p website: https://srelherp.uga.edu/alligators/

08/21/2026

🐗 What makes the difference between a bait site wild pigs find and one they completely miss?

It turns out the answer may have less to do with what’s being used as bait and more to do with where and how it's placed.

Researchers at UGA’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory followed GPS-collared wild pigs across hundreds of baiting trials at the Savannah River Site to better understand what influences whether pigs discover a bait site. Their findings revealed some surprising insights about bait placement, social behavior, and the strategies that may, or may not, help get pigs to a site.

So, what made the biggest difference? 👀

📍 Read the SREL feature to find out: https://srel.uga.edu/the-difference-between-a-found-bait-site-and-a-forgotten-one/

📖 Read the full published study: https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70220

08/14/2026

🧪🌎 PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” have become an increasing focus of environmental research due to their persistence in the environment. Researchers at UGA's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory conducted the first comprehensive assessment of PFAS across aquatic ecosystems at the Savannah River Site.

By collecting water, sediment, and aquatic wildlife samples from more than 30 locations across multiple watersheds, researchers established the first site-wide baseline for PFAS and gained a better understanding of how these compounds move through freshwater ecosystems.

The study found that PFAS concentrations varied across the site and provided evidence that several compounds may become more concentrated in organisms higher in the freshwater food web, highlighting the importance of continued research into their movement and potential effects on ecosystems.

📖 Click here to read the full findings in the published study: https://doi.org/10.1093/etojnl/vgag075

📍For a summary of the findings, read the SREL feature: https://srel.uga.edu/6881-2/

08/12/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Mekala Sundaram on receiving a $2 million Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA; R35) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)!

Over the next five years, this funding will support research focused on better understanding how diseases move from wildlife to people and can eventually lead to larger outbreaks. Dr. Sundaram’s work brings together wildlife ecology, epidemiology, artificial intelligence, and other tools to look for early warning signs of disease emergence.

Initially focusing on coronaviruses and influenza viruses, the project aims to help researchers better understand where and when diseases may be most likely to spill over from animals to humans. The long-term goal is to help shift pandemic preparedness from reacting to outbreaks to identifying risks earlier.

“Emerging infectious diseases do not begin when the first person becomes infected. They begin much earlier in wildlife and the environments where people and animals interact,” Dr. Sundaram said. “Our goal is to identify those early warning signals before widespread human transmission occurs.”

The award will also support new forecasting tools, risk maps, and the training of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.

Congratulations, Dr. Sundaram, on this exciting achievement and the important work ahead! 👏🔬

08/06/2026

🧪 Science Saturday was a huge success, and we're so grateful to everyone who joined us!

It was amazing to see so many families, students, and community members filling the building with curiosity, asking thoughtful questions, and taking the time to learn about the science happening here at SREL. Your enthusiasm is what makes events like this so rewarding.

A special thank you to our incredible volunteers and staff whose hard work, enthusiasm, and dedication made the event possible. From setting up before the doors opened to helping every activity run smoothly, your efforts created a welcoming and memorable experience for our guests.

We're proud of the research we do, but we're even more grateful for opportunities to share it with our community. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year's Science Saturday such a memorable day. 💚

08/02/2026

The Savannah River Ecology Laboratory brought a menagerie of reptiles, amphibians and other creatures to Science Day Aug. 1.
See more at Augusta Good News. Link in comments.

08/01/2026

‼️📢 Science Saturday is SOLD OUT! ‼️📢 We are excited to welcome everyone who pre-registered for Science Saturday today!

As a reminder, this year’s event required advance registration, and all available time slots have been filled. To help provide the best experience for our visitors, we introduced a new ticketing system this year to better manage the flow of guests throughout the event.

If you weren’t able to register this year, we hope you’ll join us at one of our future events! Throughout the year, the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory participates in community events such as SEED and the Fall Vision Festival, where you can meet our ambassador animals, learn about Georgia’s incredible native wildlife, and discover the research we do here at SREL.

Thank you for your continued enthusiasm and support. We look forward to seeing our registered guests today and hope to see many of you at one of our upcoming events!

Address

Aiken, SC
29808

Website

http://srel.uga.edu/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Savannah River Ecology Laboratory posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your school to be the top-listed School/college in Aiken?