Education
Aug. 2023 – May 2028
Doctor of Philosophy in Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC
Focus: Marine Ecology – consumers on temperate seagrass reproductive output and habitat matrix
Advisor: Dr. Joel Fodrie
Aug. 2019 – May 2029
Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences
University of South Carolina at Columbia, SC
South Carolina Honors College, summa cum laude
Research Experience
June 2026 – Present
Community Ecology – Stingray foraging within patchy landscapes
University of North Carolina (PI: Dr. Joel Fodrie)
- Combining in-field measurements (pit characteristics, seagrass extent & patch size via drone mapping) and modeling to predict how bioturbation may impact seagrass patch dynamics (patch size, connectivity, edge expansion)
Feb. 2025 – Present
Community Ecology – Urchin grazing on eelgrass reproductive output
University of North Carolina (PI: Dr. Joel Fodrie)
- Employing mesocosm-based feeding assays to determine the strength of variegated sea urchin grazing on eelgrass reproductive output through seed consumption
June 2024 – Present
Community Ecology – Stingray bioturbation on eelgrass seed bank dynamics
University of North Carolina (PI: Dr. Joel Fodrie)
- Assessing the influence of stingray foraging on seed bank dynamics of eelgrass (Zostera marina), uncovering sources of seed loss and applying new knowledge to restoration practices
- Manuscript in-prep
May 2024 – Present
Coastal Ecology – Oyster Persistence
University of North Carolina (PI: Dr. Joel Fodrie)
- Using satellite imagery and field observations to analyze relationships between constructed oyster reef persistence and hurricane intensity to improve oyster restoration strategies
- Manuscript in-prep
May 2022 – May 2023
Parasite Ecology – Data Analyst
Honors Thesis, University of South Carolina (PI: Dr. Jeffry Dudycha)
- Assessed relationships between host sheltering behavior and parasitic infection, advancing behavioral research of Caribbean spiny lobsters and nemertean egg predators
Publications
Baeza, J. A., Stephens, N., Jennings, L., Baker, A., Bruck, H., & Behringer, D. (2026). Effect of infestation by a nemertean egg predator on female Caribbean spiny lobster reproductive performance in the Florida Keys, USA. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 794, 1-18.
Swanson, J. A., Abdulrahman, D. A., Bruck, H. E., Richardson, T. L., & Dudycha, J. L. (2025). Light color and nutrients interact to determine freshwater algal community diversity and composition. bioRxiv, 2025-02.
Jkm Lazo-Murphy, B. M., Larson, S., Staines, S., Bruck, H., McHenry, J., Bourbonnais, A., & Peng, X. (22 December 2022). Nitrous oxide production and isotopologue composition by fungi isolated from salt marsh sediments. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9.
Teaching
Aug. 2026 – Present
Instructor of Record – ENEC 448: Coastal and Marine Ecology
UNC’s Institute of Marine Sciences
Jan. – May 2026
Teaching Assistant – EMES 442L: Marine Biology Lab
UNC’s Institute of Marine Sciences | Instructors: Dr. Johanna Rosman & Dr. Niels Lindquist
Jan. – May 2024
Lecture Teaching Assistant – EMES 442: Marine Biology
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Instructor: Dr. Alecia Septer
Aug. – Dec. 2023
Lab Teaching Assistant – BIOL 105: Biological Research Skills
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Instructor: Dr. Eric Hastie
Professional Experience
Aug. 2025 – Aug. 2026
Graduate Assistant for UNC’s Office of Distinguished Scholarships
University of North Carolina Honors College
- Assisted UNC students with nationally competitive applications (Fulbright Student Program, Goldwater Scholarship, NOAA Hollings Scholarship) through one-on-one meetings and application reviews
Apr. 2025 – Aug. 2026
Laboratory Manager
Joel Fodrie’s lab at UNC’s Institute of Marine Sciences
- Organized and maintained lab records, IACUC permits, and oversee EHS compliance
May – Dec. 2025
EPA Documentation and Data Quality Assurance Plan
- Primary writer and revisor for detail-oriented document outlining project steps for eelgrass restoration; ensures data quality, integrity, and usability for decision-making
Awards & Honors
2026
Outstanding Oral Presentation Award: Graduate 1st Place at UNC EMES Celebration of Research Symposium
2025
J Charles Morrow Marine Science Award ($1000)
Brown Memorial Research Award ($3000)
Andrew Marion Blackmon Fellowship ($1000)
Gussenhoven Award for Outstanding Oral Presentation (April 2025 conference session)
2023
USC Graduation with Leadership Distinction in Research
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP) – Honorable Mention
Presentations
Bruck, H., & Fodrie, J. (2026, April 8). Grazing preferences of the variegated sea urchin (Lytechinus variegatus) among temperate seagrasses and macroalgae. [Conference session]. UNC’s Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences Symposium, Chapel Hill, NC. *received award for outstanding presentation
Bruck, H., & Fodrie, J. (2025, November 9-13). Effects of stingray bioturbation on eelgrass (Zostera marina) seed density and distribution [Conference session]. 28th Biennial Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation Conference, Richmond, VA.
Bruck, H., Fodrie, J. (2025, April 9). Stingray bioturbation as a potential key influence on eelgrass (Zostera marina) seed density and distribution [Conference session]. UNC’s Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences Symposium, Chapel Hill, NC. *received award for outstanding presentation
Bruck, H., Fodrie, J. (2025, April 1-4). Stingray bioturbation as a potential key influence on eelgrass (Zostera marina) seed density and distribution [Conference session]. 53rd Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting, Mobile, AL (oral).
Bruck, H., Baeza, A., Dudycha, J., Stephens, N., Baker, A., Jennings, L., Griffin, E., Ladd, M., & Behringer, D. (2023, April 26-29). Ecological exploration of egg parasitism of Panulirus argus by the nemertean worm Carcinonemertes conanobrieni [Poster presentation]. 51st Benthic Ecology Meeting, Miami, FL.
Bruck, H., Baeza, A., Dudycha, J., & Behringer, D. (2023, April 21). Questions, dead ends, and discovery: an ecological exploration of the Panulirus argus – Carcinonemertes conanobrieni symbiosis [Poster presentation]. Discover USC 2023 Symposium, Columbia, SC.
Bruck, H., Swanson, J., Richardson, T., & Dudycha, J. (2022, August 14-19). Effects of light color and phosphorus availability on absorption of natural phytoplankton communities [Poster presentation]. Ecological Society of America and Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution joint conference, Montreal, Canada.
Leadership & Service
Aug. 2026 – Present
Mentor for IMS Fall Field Site student
University of North Carolina’s Fall Field Site Program
- Mentoring undergraduate throughout their semester-long independent research project on variegated sea urchin population dynamics & predation pressure in Back Sound, NC
Jan. 2025 – Present
Eelgrass Restoration in NC – Project Lead
University of North Carolina, EPA NEP Watersheds Grant: Restore America’s Estuaries
- Coordinate year-round logistics for 30-acreage eelgrass restoration in North Carolina’s estuaries
Sept. 2024 – Aug. 2026
SciREN Coast – Educator Coordinator
Scientific Research and Education Network, non-profit
- Organized and communicated event-based resources to educators, including lesson plans and avenues of communication between local scientists and classroom engagement
Oct. 2023 – Present
Mentor for or undergraduates applying to NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship
- Created and continue to lead this annual group to help undergraduates submit competitive applications for national scholarships and improve their essay writing skills
Aug. – Dec. 2025
Mentor for IMS Fall Field Site student
University of North Carolina’s Fall Field Site Program
- Mentored a student throughout their semester-long independent research exploring the volume of stingray feeding pits across a landscape mosaic
May – Aug. 2025
Mentor for Undergraduate Research Fellow
University of North Carolina’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow Program
- Mentored a student throughout their 10-week internship exploring whether select invertebrate species eat seagrass seeds, potentially impacting seagrass reproduction
Skills
Field
Small craft boating (~90 hours)
AAUS Scientific Diver + Rescue Diver
Red Cross First Aid + CPR Certified
Elasmobranch capture and husbandry
Laboratory
Chemical-based seed viability testing
Microscopy
Gas chromatography
IACUC/EHS documentation & permitting
General
Detail-oriented
Communication and collaboration
Creative avenues of STEM outreach
