Alekz Cushman joined the Coastal Ecology Lab as research staff in September 2026, focusing on gopher tortoises, vegetation communities and habitat restoration. With several years of experience in environmental consulting, he is passionate about wetlands and coastal ecology.

Originally from South Carolina, Cushman earned a Bachelor of Science in environmental science from Anderson University in 2023 and a Master of Science in entomology from the University of Georgia in 2026. His academic research focused on American giant millipede population genetics and paleodistribution modeling, as well as how the red imported fire ant social supergene influences queen morphology. His work contributes to his broader interests in social evolution and behavioral ecology.

In his spare time, Cushman enjoys hiking Carolina monadnocks, collecting insects, making and listening to music, reading and working in his local church.