Principle Investigator
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Alexis M. Janosik, Ph.D. ajanosik[at]uwf.edu
makeyourmark.uwf.edu/ Research Interests:
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Postdoc
Justine (Tina) Whitaker, Ph.D. jwhitaker[at]uwf.edu
Tina grew up in Virginia Beach, VA. She is particularly interested in using molecular tools to improve management of imperiled species and has worked with a variety of species, including sturgeon, black bears, salamanders, clams and songbirds. She obtained her B.Sc. in biology from Longwood University and her M.Sc. in biology from the College of William & Mary. She was a science teacher for five years prior to returning to school for her Ph.D. in Wildlife & Fisheries from West Virginia University (WVU). Her research at WVU used an integrative molecular approach to characterizing the migratory phenotype of lake sturgeon. As a postdoc at the University of West Florida, she works on project utilizing environmental DNA to detect Alabama and Gulf sturgeon. She spends most of her free time outdoors with her dogs.
Tina grew up in Virginia Beach, VA. She is particularly interested in using molecular tools to improve management of imperiled species and has worked with a variety of species, including sturgeon, black bears, salamanders, clams and songbirds. She obtained her B.Sc. in biology from Longwood University and her M.Sc. in biology from the College of William & Mary. She was a science teacher for five years prior to returning to school for her Ph.D. in Wildlife & Fisheries from West Virginia University (WVU). Her research at WVU used an integrative molecular approach to characterizing the migratory phenotype of lake sturgeon. As a postdoc at the University of West Florida, she works on project utilizing environmental DNA to detect Alabama and Gulf sturgeon. She spends most of her free time outdoors with her dogs.
| justine_m_whitaker_cv.pdf |
Graduate Students
Amy Brower, alb82[at]students.uwf.edu
Since moving to Pensacola in 2014, Amy has become actively involved with the local marine science community through an internship with the Escambia County Division of Marine Resources and volunteer work with Gulf Coast Lionfish Coalition. In addition, Amy has served as a volunteer for the Lionfish Outreach Program at Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission since the start of the program. After establishing her interest in the lionfish invasion she has chosen to focus her graduate research on environmental DNA and lionfish DNA methylation and epigenetic differences associated with invading new habitats..
Since moving to Pensacola in 2014, Amy has become actively involved with the local marine science community through an internship with the Escambia County Division of Marine Resources and volunteer work with Gulf Coast Lionfish Coalition. In addition, Amy has served as a volunteer for the Lionfish Outreach Program at Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission since the start of the program. After establishing her interest in the lionfish invasion she has chosen to focus her graduate research on environmental DNA and lionfish DNA methylation and epigenetic differences associated with invading new habitats..
Katie Vaccaro-Garska, kmv12[at]students.uwf.edu
Katie is a graduate student in the Janosik Lab. She began her undergraduate studies at the University of Delaware, but felt the pull of the ocean and so transferred to UWF to complete her undergraduate degree in Marine Biology. She served as the president of the Marine Ecology Research Society and participated in several community outreach events for marine science. While an undergraduate, she began working in a lab where she developed a passion for genetics. Her graduate research at UWF focuses on investigating sexual dimorphism in stomatopods, using the transcriptome from the eye. When not in the lab, she is easily identified by her passion for coffee, and is always found with a mug in hand.
Katie is a graduate student in the Janosik Lab. She began her undergraduate studies at the University of Delaware, but felt the pull of the ocean and so transferred to UWF to complete her undergraduate degree in Marine Biology. She served as the president of the Marine Ecology Research Society and participated in several community outreach events for marine science. While an undergraduate, she began working in a lab where she developed a passion for genetics. Her graduate research at UWF focuses on investigating sexual dimorphism in stomatopods, using the transcriptome from the eye. When not in the lab, she is easily identified by her passion for coffee, and is always found with a mug in hand.
Jack Prior, jp74[at]students.uwf.edu
Jack Prior is originally from Media, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. After transferring from Temple University in Philly, Jack switched his goals away from a career in pharmacy. He began at UWF in 2015 to fulfill his desire to learn and participate in the field of marine biology. Since then, through some great opportunities with UWF, Jack was able to spend time as an Intern for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in the Northwest Florida Aquatic Reserves. He was also able to spend a weekend at the Florida Keys Marine Lab, over a week at the International Field Studies' Forfar Field Station on St. Andros Island in the Bahamas, and a day aboard the RV Bellows in Pensacola Bay. As an undergraduate he also gained research experience doing bacterial counts of fixed marine samples using DAPI staining protocol and fluorescent filter-mounted software-integrated microscopes in order to assess seasonal productivity around artificial reefs outside of Pensacola. He graduated with his B.S. in marine biology in spring of 2017 and began as a graduate student at UWF in Fall. Through his travels and studies he has developed a desire to study the pollution of plastics in the marine environment, and his graduate research will be based on studying epigenetic effects of microplastic ingestion in zooplankton, and to furthermore assess particle translocation within an organism after ingestion through the use of fluorescent particles. He is up for anything.
Jack Prior is originally from Media, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. After transferring from Temple University in Philly, Jack switched his goals away from a career in pharmacy. He began at UWF in 2015 to fulfill his desire to learn and participate in the field of marine biology. Since then, through some great opportunities with UWF, Jack was able to spend time as an Intern for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in the Northwest Florida Aquatic Reserves. He was also able to spend a weekend at the Florida Keys Marine Lab, over a week at the International Field Studies' Forfar Field Station on St. Andros Island in the Bahamas, and a day aboard the RV Bellows in Pensacola Bay. As an undergraduate he also gained research experience doing bacterial counts of fixed marine samples using DAPI staining protocol and fluorescent filter-mounted software-integrated microscopes in order to assess seasonal productivity around artificial reefs outside of Pensacola. He graduated with his B.S. in marine biology in spring of 2017 and began as a graduate student at UWF in Fall. Through his travels and studies he has developed a desire to study the pollution of plastics in the marine environment, and his graduate research will be based on studying epigenetic effects of microplastic ingestion in zooplankton, and to furthermore assess particle translocation within an organism after ingestion through the use of fluorescent particles. He is up for anything.
Nichelle Vantassel, nmv4[at]students.uwf.edu
Nichelle received her undergraduate degree in Marine Biology here at UWF. As an undergraduate, she worked in the Janosik lab learning molecular tools and also spent summers as a benthic ecology intern at the Mote Marine Laboratory, where she worked on the scallop restoration project in the Sarasota Bay. For her graduate thesis project, she is characterizing the fish populations in northwest Florida’s rare and unique costal dune lakes using environmental DNA and metabarcoding. She is mainly interested in the evolution of marine and aquatic life, molecular ecology, and the biology/genetics of extremophile organisms. She is also interested in understanding how our knowledge of life on Earth can inform our knowledge of life elsewhere in the universe.
Nichelle received her undergraduate degree in Marine Biology here at UWF. As an undergraduate, she worked in the Janosik lab learning molecular tools and also spent summers as a benthic ecology intern at the Mote Marine Laboratory, where she worked on the scallop restoration project in the Sarasota Bay. For her graduate thesis project, she is characterizing the fish populations in northwest Florida’s rare and unique costal dune lakes using environmental DNA and metabarcoding. She is mainly interested in the evolution of marine and aquatic life, molecular ecology, and the biology/genetics of extremophile organisms. She is also interested in understanding how our knowledge of life on Earth can inform our knowledge of life elsewhere in the universe.
Lab Technician
Sheridan Wilkinson, sw43[at]students.uwf.edu
Sheridan is a graduate of UWF with a B.S. in Marine Biology. She transferred from Pensacola State College in the Fall of 2014 and began working in Dr. Janosik's lab Fall 2015. Currently, she is investigating the phylogeography of a small clam, Donax variabilis, found along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts and works on several of the ongoing lab projects
Sheridan is a graduate of UWF with a B.S. in Marine Biology. She transferred from Pensacola State College in the Fall of 2014 and began working in Dr. Janosik's lab Fall 2015. Currently, she is investigating the phylogeography of a small clam, Donax variabilis, found along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts and works on several of the ongoing lab projects
Undergraduate Students
Tristyn Garza, tng8[at]students.uwf.edu
Tristyn is currently senior working towards her B.S. in Marine Biology here at UWF. I began working in the Janosik lab in the summer of 2017 where she did a Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURP) funded by the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering. She is currently studying the epigenetic effects of ingested microplastics in Lettuce Sea Slugs, Elysia crispata.
Tristyn is currently senior working towards her B.S. in Marine Biology here at UWF. I began working in the Janosik lab in the summer of 2017 where she did a Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURP) funded by the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering. She is currently studying the epigenetic effects of ingested microplastics in Lettuce Sea Slugs, Elysia crispata.
Juliana Girlando, jg57[at]students.uwf.edu
Juliana, is currently enrolled at the UWF, where she is a senior pursuing a B.S. in Marine Biology. Juliana volunteered at the Fish and Wildlife Research institute (FWRI). There, she worked mostly at the Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) group. In 2015, she did a directed study in Dr. Janosik´s lab, where she worked with DNA extractions of starfish samples. In Spring 2016, she volunteered in a dolphin lab, and did photo-ID fin matching from the Gulf of Mexico. She is currently working on a snapping shrimp phylogeography project in the Janosik Lab.
Juliana, is currently enrolled at the UWF, where she is a senior pursuing a B.S. in Marine Biology. Juliana volunteered at the Fish and Wildlife Research institute (FWRI). There, she worked mostly at the Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) group. In 2015, she did a directed study in Dr. Janosik´s lab, where she worked with DNA extractions of starfish samples. In Spring 2016, she volunteered in a dolphin lab, and did photo-ID fin matching from the Gulf of Mexico. She is currently working on a snapping shrimp phylogeography project in the Janosik Lab.
Madyson Miller, mbm24[at]students.uwf.edu
Madyson is a senior at UWF working towards her B.S. in Marine Biology. She is currently the Vice President for the Marine Ecology Research Society at UWF and in the past she has volunteered her time to the Audubon Society working with local shorebirds including Black Skimmers and Least Terns. This is her first time working in a lab and she is excited to share her passion with her peers. She is currently working on learning molecular tools.
Madyson is a senior at UWF working towards her B.S. in Marine Biology. She is currently the Vice President for the Marine Ecology Research Society at UWF and in the past she has volunteered her time to the Audubon Society working with local shorebirds including Black Skimmers and Least Terns. This is her first time working in a lab and she is excited to share her passion with her peers. She is currently working on learning molecular tools.
Alli Myers, am196[at]students.uwf.edu
Alli is a senior at UWF working towards her B.S. in Marine Biology. She transferred in the Summer of 2016 and started working in Dr. Janosik's lab this Fall 2017. Her scientific interests lie in tropical marine invertebrate research and conservation. She is currently studying the life cycle of the Frilled Sea Hare. She plans to apply skills learned in Dr. Janosik's lab to a Master's thesis after graduation in Spring of 2019. Over the years she has enjoyed SCUBA diving and snorkeling in very diverse environments such as the kelp forests in Monterey Bay, California, tropical water near the Mariana Trench in Guam, and the Tongue of the Ocean and cays in the Bahamas. She also currently serves as an animal foster/rescue parent.
Alli is a senior at UWF working towards her B.S. in Marine Biology. She transferred in the Summer of 2016 and started working in Dr. Janosik's lab this Fall 2017. Her scientific interests lie in tropical marine invertebrate research and conservation. She is currently studying the life cycle of the Frilled Sea Hare. She plans to apply skills learned in Dr. Janosik's lab to a Master's thesis after graduation in Spring of 2019. Over the years she has enjoyed SCUBA diving and snorkeling in very diverse environments such as the kelp forests in Monterey Bay, California, tropical water near the Mariana Trench in Guam, and the Tongue of the Ocean and cays in the Bahamas. She also currently serves as an animal foster/rescue parent.
Sara Ousley, sno2[at]students.uwf.edu
Sara is currently working on her second undergraduate degree at UWF for a B.S. in Marine Biology. Her first degree is a Bachelor of Arts in Television and Film production from UWF. Sara is seeks to intertwine these two vocations as an avenue to connect environmental conservation concerns with mass public outreach and education. Sara has worked with the National Fish and Wildlife Services in Washington state as an environmental education intern. She also has experience volunteering with wildlife rehabilitation; including sea turtles in Costa Rica and a raptor center in North Carolina. She has been working in the Janosik lab since spring of 2017 where she is currently exploring her interests in toxicology. She has become most interested in microplastics in marine environments and what these impacts mean for marine wildlife. Her current research is examining potential epigenetic changes due to microplastic exposure in zebrafish, Danio rerio, a model organism for vertebrate physiology research.
Sara is currently working on her second undergraduate degree at UWF for a B.S. in Marine Biology. Her first degree is a Bachelor of Arts in Television and Film production from UWF. Sara is seeks to intertwine these two vocations as an avenue to connect environmental conservation concerns with mass public outreach and education. Sara has worked with the National Fish and Wildlife Services in Washington state as an environmental education intern. She also has experience volunteering with wildlife rehabilitation; including sea turtles in Costa Rica and a raptor center in North Carolina. She has been working in the Janosik lab since spring of 2017 where she is currently exploring her interests in toxicology. She has become most interested in microplastics in marine environments and what these impacts mean for marine wildlife. Her current research is examining potential epigenetic changes due to microplastic exposure in zebrafish, Danio rerio, a model organism for vertebrate physiology research.
Former Lab Members
Mariah Pfleger, mpfleger[at]oceana.org
Mariah is a former laboratory technician who worked on environmental DNA of sturgeon. She is currently working as a Marine Scientist at Oceana.
Mariah is a former laboratory technician who worked on environmental DNA of sturgeon. She is currently working as a Marine Scientist at Oceana.
Rebecca Varney, rvarney[at]crimson.ua.edu
Rebecca began her academic career with a B.S. in genetics from the University of California, Davis. Rebecca completed her thesis work at UWF under the direction of Dr. Chris Pomory and did the work in the Janosik lab. Her graduate work at UWF merged her passion for genetics with her love of the marine life. Her research focused on telomere length and telomerase expression in regenerating tissues of the gray sea star Luidia clathrata. Rebecca is now in a Ph.D. program at the University of Alabama under the direction of Dr. Kevin Kocot. Her research interests include genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, and programming. See what she's up to here.
Rebecca began her academic career with a B.S. in genetics from the University of California, Davis. Rebecca completed her thesis work at UWF under the direction of Dr. Chris Pomory and did the work in the Janosik lab. Her graduate work at UWF merged her passion for genetics with her love of the marine life. Her research focused on telomere length and telomerase expression in regenerating tissues of the gray sea star Luidia clathrata. Rebecca is now in a Ph.D. program at the University of Alabama under the direction of Dr. Kevin Kocot. Her research interests include genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, and programming. See what she's up to here.
Taylor Beck,
Taylor is a senior majoring in Marine Biology and minoring in Environmental Science. Her scientific interests mainly involve the conservation of organisms, large and small, to preserve a healthy ecosystem. She is currently examining color polymorphism in coquina clams (Donax variabilis) using molecular tools to determine if the diverse color differences seen in these clams are genetic or environmental. She plans to apply the skills learned in Dr. Janosik’s lab to a Master’s thesis after graduation in December. As a native Virginian she has enjoyed learning about the Gulf of Mexico and the unique habitats that Florida offers.
Taylor is a senior majoring in Marine Biology and minoring in Environmental Science. Her scientific interests mainly involve the conservation of organisms, large and small, to preserve a healthy ecosystem. She is currently examining color polymorphism in coquina clams (Donax variabilis) using molecular tools to determine if the diverse color differences seen in these clams are genetic or environmental. She plans to apply the skills learned in Dr. Janosik’s lab to a Master’s thesis after graduation in December. As a native Virginian she has enjoyed learning about the Gulf of Mexico and the unique habitats that Florida offers.
Rebecca Ivey, rli3[at]students.uwf.edu
Becky is currently a senior in Marine Biology. She orginally entered the workforce as a Laboratory Supervisor and Quality Assurance Supervisor for a poultry company and worked for ~15 years. Becky then left to chase her dreams and is currently pursuing a second bachelor's degree at UWF. Becky is currently investigating the allelopathy of Lionfish egg cases.
Becky is currently a senior in Marine Biology. She orginally entered the workforce as a Laboratory Supervisor and Quality Assurance Supervisor for a poultry company and worked for ~15 years. Becky then left to chase her dreams and is currently pursuing a second bachelor's degree at UWF. Becky is currently investigating the allelopathy of Lionfish egg cases.