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Research Staff

Our research staff are as diverse as the projects they work on. Whether they are conducting water quality monitoring or presenting research results at a national conference, our staff share a common goal—to further understanding of the environment through research, education, and outreach.


Jenny Oakley

Associate Director, Research Programs

Oakley is EIH's associate director of research programs and has worked for EIH since 2008. She earned a Ph.D. in the Marine Biology Interdisciplinary Graduate Program at Texas A&M University in 2019. Her M.S. and B.S. degrees are in biology (minor in chemistry) from TAMU-Corpus Christi. Oakley manages EIH's research programs, working closely with EIH research staff to coordinate proposal development, project management, and report compilation. She is also one of EIH's licensed OUPV captains.

Staff Bio

Jenny is smiling to the camera. She is holding a large fish out in front of her.


Kaylei Chau

Research Associate

Chau is a research associate at the Environmental Institute of Houston. She graduated from UHCL with her B.S. in environmental science with a specialization in biology in the spring of 2017. Currently, she is pursuing a master's degree, focusing on floating wetland treatment systems for her thesis project.

Staff Bio

Kaylei is wearing a pink cap. She is smiling at the camera. A rocky hillside and trees are in the background.


Mandi Gordon

Senior Biologist

Gordon began working for EIH as a research associate in 2011. She obtained her M.S. in biology from Georgia Southern University and her B.S. in marine biology from Texas A&M University at Galveston. Her prior experience covers broad topics such as examination of physiological adaptations, biomechanics, ecological and environmental impacts on populations, and reproductive endocrinology. Gordon has had the opportunity to work with a wide range of vertebrate species, but her primary senior research role at EIH involves the study of turtles. Since working for EIH, she has participated in interdisciplinary projects ranging from water quality monitoring to population demographics and ecology.

Staff Bio

Mandi is outside and is smiling into the camera. She is amused by the gray tree frog sitting on the bill of her khaki-colored cap.

Sherah McDaniel

Research Associate

Sherah McDaniel is a research associate with the Environmental Institute of Houston. She received her M.S. in environmental science from UHCL and her B.S. in environmental science and biology from West Texas A&M University. McDaniel serves as the quality assurance officer as well as manages supplies for the Texas Clean Rivers Program at EIH. She was also a team leader for the National Coastal Conditions Assessment and leads field operations for the Galveston Bay Dolphin Research Program.

Staff Bio

Sherah McDaniel


Marc Mokrech

Senior Research Scientist

Mockrech's background is in civil engineering specialized in geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing. His current research focuses on spatial modeling considering an interdisciplinary approach for analyzing and understanding future environmental and socio-economic implications. He has more than 10 years in applying spatial modeling in a wide range of fields including coastal management and adaptation to future changes, impact assessment of climate change on urban and natural environments, hydrological and watershed analysis, terrain analysis, and uncertainty management in GIS-based models. Mokrech is currently investigating changes in landscape use and demographics and impacts on the local environment.

Staff Bio

Marc looks into the distnce. He is wearing a cap and an orange sweatshirt. He is holding a drone controller. Marsh grasses and a body of water are in the background.

Ashlyn Sak

Research Technician

Sak joined the EIH team in 2022 as a research technician. She earned her B.S. in natural resource ecology and management from Louisiana State University. Her research interests include fish morphology, mutualistic relationships, climate change, and disease ecology.

Staff Bio

Close up of Ashlyn hiking White Sands.


Noah Santee

Research Associate

Santee is a research associate at the Environmental Institute of Houston. He holds an M.S. in ecology and conservation biology and a B.S. in wildlife and fisheries sciences from Texas A&M University. Specializing in fish taxonomy, Noah is set to lead a team for the National Rivers and Streams Assessment project.

Staff Bio

Noah is outside on a sunny day.


Lauren Soliz

Research Associate

Soliz is a research associate at the Environmental Institute of Houston. She earned an M.S. in wildlife, aquatic, and wildlands science and management with a specialization in aquatic ecology and a B.S. in natural resource management with a concentration in fisheries biology from Texas Tech University. Her research interests include biomechanics and environmental toxicology. Lauren is set to lead a team for the National Rivers and Streams Assessment project.

Staff Bio

Lauren is on a boat and holding a fish.


Erica Underwood

Research Technician

Underwood is a research technician and has worked for EIH since 2022. She earned a B.S. in biology from Lindenwood University, with a minor in chemistry. Previously, she worked with the National Park Service helping to protect endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles.

Staff Bio

Close up of Erica at the beach.

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