Who We Are
Meet the Applied Coastal Team
Mark R. Byrnes, Ph.D.
Dr. Byrnes is a Principal Coastal Scientist and co-founder of Applied Coastal Research and Engineering. For the past 32 years, he has been a Principal Investigator/Program Manager on more than 90 coastal and nearshore process studies as a Research Scientist at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory; Coastal Geology Section Chief for the Louisiana Geological Survey; Research Professor at the Coastal Studies Institute, Louisiana State University; and Principal Coastal Scientist at Applied Coastal. The emphasis for most studies has been on regional coastal change and geomorphic evolution of nearshore sedimentary deposits (shoreline and bathymetric change), physical environmental impact assessments for coastal and estuarine wetlands, sediment budget evaluations, shoreline restoration strategies, wetland loss delineation and classification, regional sediment transport processes, and geologic framework studies of coastal deposits. He has authored more than 100 publications in these research areas.
Jennifer L. Berlinghoff, M.S.
Miss Berlinghoff is a Senior Environmental Scientist specializing in coastal GIS analyses involving shoreline interpretation and mapping, wetland and bathymetric change, littoral sediment budget evaluations, and wetland loss and damage assessment. She has been involved in a broad range of regional geomorphic change projects using GIS and remote sensing software, as well as researching and compiling shoreline and bathymetric surveys, including GPS and Lidar surveys, for evaluating coastal sedimentation processes in beach and wetland environments throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico. She also has participated in various field data collection efforts for wetland projects in southern Louisiana.
Ben Beasley, M.S.
Mr. Beasley joined Applied Coastal in 2018 after completing his thesis on coastal erosion processes associated with shoreface retreat and contour straightening along the barrier islands of south Louisiana. He continues similar analyses at Applied Coastal using detailed shoreline and bathymetry surveys to conduct a broad range of regional geomorphic change and sediment budget analyses using GIS software for evaluating coastal sedimentation processes in beach and wetland environments throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico.
Sarah F. Griffee, M.A.
Ms. Griffee is a Coastal GIS Specialist involved in a broad range of regional geomorphic change and sediment budget analyses, as well as researching and compiling shoreline and bathymetry surveys, including GPS and Lidar surveys, for evaluating coastal sedimentation processes and regional response of beaches and inlets to incident wave and current processes. She also has participated in various field data collection efforts for beach and estuarine projects throughout MA.
Louis D. Britsch, III, Ph.D.
Dr. Britsch joined the Applied Coastal team in 2015 as a Senior Coastal Geologist after serving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District since 1985. As a USACE employee, he was Principal Investigator/Project Geologist on more than 100 coastal geology and engineering studies as a Research Scientist at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (formerly the Coastal Engineering Research Center); Research Geologist, Geotechnical Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center; Senior Geologist, USACE New Orleans District. Dr. Britsch continues to provide his expertise and experience on Applied Coastal projects related to wetland loss, coastal geology, shoreline dynamics, subsidence, and sea-level rise.
Cheryl Albaugh
Ms. Albaugh joined the Applied Coastal team in 2021 and brings with her over 20 years of office administrative and managing experience. As officer manager, she is responsible for accounting and contract management while performing a broad range of administrative roles, focused on ensuring seamless office operations.
