Undergraduates

Graduates

Postdocs

Alumni

Anthony Cornett (MS, Dec 2006)

Anthony studied the ecomorphology of the electrosensory system in sharks. He examined the number, distribution and structure of the electroreceptors in a variety of taxa to determine how the electrosensory system is employed by sharks in different habitats with different foraging behaviors. Anthony is currently teaching at Valencia Community College in Kissimmee.

Laura Jordan (PhD, UCLA 2009)

Laura tested whether lanthanide elements can be used to decrease the by-catch of sharks in long line fisheries. She employed behavioral assays to assess the efficacy of a metal to repel different shark species from baited hooks.

Laura studied locomotion in batoids. She described the pelvic fin musculature, and quantified how various batoid species use their pelvic fins for a novel form of locomotion - punting. This also entailed morphometric and material properties testing of pelvic skeletal elements. Laura is currently a post-doctoral researcher at Mt Holyoke College.

Dave studied the effects of salinity on the electroreceptive capabilities of euryhaline elasmobranchs. His experiments determined that stingrays can effectively employ their electrosensory system for prey detection in marine, brackish and freshwater habitats. Dave is currently a PhD student at the University of Washington.

Michelle McComb (PhD, Aug 2009)

Mikki studied the visual system of several elasmobranch species. Using electroretinogram techniques she determined 3D visual fields, spectral sensitivity, and flicker fusion frequency of species that possess a unique head morphology, eye position, and behavioral ecology. She is currently a post-doctoral researcher at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.

Sara McCutcheon (MS, May 2012)

Sara tested the efficacy of lanthanide elements to deter sharks from biting at baited hooks. She measured the electric field generated by various elements and employed behavioral assays to quantify their effectivenes with different shark species. She is currently the education director at Nature's Academy in Bradenton.

Tricia Meredith (PhD, Dec 2011)

Tricia studied the comparative morphology and physiology of the elasmobranch olfactory system. She employed electro-olfactogram recording techniques to determine the sensitivity of sharks and rays to a variety of pure amino acids and biologically relevant odorants. She is currently a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Miami Medical School.

Jodi Miedema (BS, May 2007)

Jodi supervised the animal husbandry and organized the lab clerical work. She also assisted with electrophysiology experiments on visual and olfactory studies. She is currently employed at the Center for Shark Research at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota.

Kieran Smith (BS, May 2009)

Kier studied the dental morphology of bull and bonnethead sharks. He quantified sexual dimorphisms and ontogenetic changes in tooth shape between species with very different diets and dental requirements. He is currently a graduate student in the lab.

Audrey Williams (MS, Aug 2005)

Audrey studied comparative morphology and sexual dimorphism of various batoid species. She employed geometric morphometrics to distinguish species and sexes. She is currently employed as a microbiologist with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in Tallahassee.