People

Principal Investigator

Ken Zhao
Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Ken leads the Carolina Dynamical Oceanography Group. His research focuses on the physical dynamics of polar oceans, coastal circulation, and geophysical fluid dynamics. Ken is currently vice-chair of the international Joint Commission on Ice Ocean Interactions (IUGG IAPSO) and an Antarctica InSync US National Committee Member.

Current Group Members

Postdoctoral Researchers

Madie Mamer
Postdoctoral Research Scholar, UNC Chapel Hill (Jul 2026 – present)

Project: Ice-ocean interactions using modeling and laboratory experiments

Hobbies: Reading, talking about my dog, painting, reality TV, and cooking.

Graduate Students

Yiwen Hu
Graduate Student, UNC Chapel Hill (Jun 2026 – present)

Project: Ice-ocean interactions using modeling and laboratory experiments

Hobbies: Playing tennis, suspense movies, and traveling.

Postbaccalaureate Researchers

Tyler Britt
Postbac Researcher, UNC Chapel Hill (Aug 2025 – present)

Project: Seawater-Ice Laboratory Experiments

Hobbies: Soccer (UNC soccer alum and head coach of UNC Club Soccer), hiking, movies, and lifting.

Undergraduate Researchers

Anya Moysey
Undergraduate Researcher, UNC Chapel Hill

Project: Sea-ice laboratory experiments

Hobbies: Traveling, hiking, trying new foods, and watching and talking about Doctor Who and Marvel movies.

Rithanya Venkatesh
Undergraduate Researcher, UNC Chapel Hill

Project: Glacial fjord modeling

Some of my hobbies include animating, crocheting, and baking. I'm always interested to learn more about art and marine life!

Ashley Nowak
Undergraduate Researcher, UNC Chapel Hill

Project: Sea-ice laboratory experiments

Hobbies: Running, hiking, traveling, and baking cookies.

Mason Redd
Undergraduate Researcher, UNC Chapel Hill (Jan 2026 – present)

Project: Upwelling in the Galapagos

Hobbies: Ballroom dancing (two years at UNC!), reading, and staying active at the gym.

Sean Huang
Undergraduate Researcher, UNC Chapel Hill

Project: Glacial fjord modeling

Lillian Gan
Undergraduate Researcher, UNC Chapel Hill

Project: Iceberg and glacier ROVs

Victor Nguyen
Undergraduate Researcher, UNC Chapel Hill (June 2025 – present)

Project: Dynamics of Carolina's shoals

Krit Negi
Undergraduate Researcher, UNC Chapel Hill (Aug 2025 – present)

Project: Lagrangian floats in polar and coastal systems

Sarah Villhauer
Undergraduate Researcher, UCLA & REU student at Oregon State University (June 2022 – present)

Project: Dynamics of Antarctica’s melting basal channels

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Former Group Members

Kaylie Cohanim, Undergraduate Researcher, UCLA (Apr 2018 – Jul 2020)
Project: Dynamics of sea ice lead-generated eddies; Publication: Cohanim et al. 2021
Next Position: PhD Student, Princeton University

Jennifer Kosty, Undergraduate Researcher, UCLA (Aug 2020 – Aug 2023)
Project: Seal-based observations of Antarctic sub-sea ice eddies; Publication: Kosty et al. 2025
Next Position: PhD Student, Yale University