Principle Investigator
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Alexis M. Janosik, Ph.D. ajanosik[at]uwf.edu
makeyourmark.uwf.edu/ Research Interests:
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Postdoctoral Researcher
Viktoria Bogantes, Ph.D, vbogantesaguilar[at]uwf.edu
Viktoria is originally from Costa Rica. After finishing her undergrad studies at the University of Costa Rica, she moved to Auburn, Alabama for her PhD. During her PhD she focused on studying taxonomy, diversity, and systematics of several groups of annelids, using morphological, molecular and bioinformatic tools. One of her favorite research tasks is doing taxonomic work. She is interested in promoting the use of integrative approaches to identify and describe species and emphasize the importance of museum collections as the main repository of evidence of global biodiversity. Viktoria is very interested in continuing to explore marine biodiversity and contributing to scientific knowledge that can be incorporated with environmental management. At UWF Viktoria will be working on a project that involves the use of environmental DNA to metabarcode reef fish from the Gulf of Mexico.
Viktoria is originally from Costa Rica. After finishing her undergrad studies at the University of Costa Rica, she moved to Auburn, Alabama for her PhD. During her PhD she focused on studying taxonomy, diversity, and systematics of several groups of annelids, using morphological, molecular and bioinformatic tools. One of her favorite research tasks is doing taxonomic work. She is interested in promoting the use of integrative approaches to identify and describe species and emphasize the importance of museum collections as the main repository of evidence of global biodiversity. Viktoria is very interested in continuing to explore marine biodiversity and contributing to scientific knowledge that can be incorporated with environmental management. At UWF Viktoria will be working on a project that involves the use of environmental DNA to metabarcode reef fish from the Gulf of Mexico.
Graduate Students
Tristyn Garza, tng8[at]students.uwf.edu
Tristyn started in the Janosik lab in summer of 2017 and recently graduated from UWF with B.S. in Marine Biology. Having spent time in the Bahamas and Mexico plastic pollution became very evident to her and with funding from the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering she started working with the lettuce sea slug, Elysia crispata, to quantify epigenetic effects of microplastic consumption. She also works on identifying microplastic samples from the Great Lakes to Antarctica. Her thesis work is focused on quantifying microplastics in Antarctic fjords and
Tristyn started in the Janosik lab in summer of 2017 and recently graduated from UWF with B.S. in Marine Biology. Having spent time in the Bahamas and Mexico plastic pollution became very evident to her and with funding from the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering she started working with the lettuce sea slug, Elysia crispata, to quantify epigenetic effects of microplastic consumption. She also works on identifying microplastic samples from the Great Lakes to Antarctica. Her thesis work is focused on quantifying microplastics in Antarctic fjords and
Juliana Giraldo, jg57[at]students.uwf.edu
Juliana, graduated from UWF with 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, graduated from UWF with 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.
Melissa Hebert, mmh46[at]students.uwf.edu
Melissa began her undergraduate journey at the University of Central Florida, but made the move to UWF in 2015 to study Marine Biology. While finishing her undergraduate degree, she began working in a lab where she assisted grad students in conducting their thesis work on multiple paternity. She was also able to spend a week in the Bahamas and a weekend in the Keys studying coral reefs. Her graduate research at UWF focuses on using environmental DNA metabarcoding to characterize shark communities in lower salinity habitats.
Melissa began her undergraduate journey at the University of Central Florida, but made the move to UWF in 2015 to study Marine Biology. While finishing her undergraduate degree, she began working in a lab where she assisted grad students in conducting their thesis work on multiple paternity. She was also able to spend a week in the Bahamas and a weekend in the Keys studying coral reefs. Her graduate research at UWF focuses on using environmental DNA metabarcoding to characterize shark communities in lower salinity habitats.
Jenna King, jdk21[at]students.uwf.edu
Jenna graduated from Oregon State University in 2017 with a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences. Before completing her undergraduate degree, she had the opportunity to intern with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This internship involved her in a number of projects concerning a diverse group of organisms including Gulf sturgeon, red-cockaded woodpeckers, flatwoods salamanders, beach mice, crayfish, aquatic insect larvae, and more. Jenna is a graduate student in the Janosik lab as of Fall 2018. Her research involves analyzing the stomach contents of juvenile Gulf sturgeon in an effort to learn more about their diet and location.
Jenna graduated from Oregon State University in 2017 with a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences. Before completing her undergraduate degree, she had the opportunity to intern with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This internship involved her in a number of projects concerning a diverse group of organisms including Gulf sturgeon, red-cockaded woodpeckers, flatwoods salamanders, beach mice, crayfish, aquatic insect larvae, and more. Jenna is a graduate student in the Janosik lab as of Fall 2018. Her research involves analyzing the stomach contents of juvenile Gulf sturgeon in an effort to learn more about their diet and location.
Sheridan Wilkinson, sw43[at]students.uwf.edu
Sheridan is a native of the Pensacola area and has loved the ocean her entire life. She transferred to UWF from Pensacola State College, where she dual-enrolled during high school, in the Fall of 2014. Prior to attending UWF, she volunteered in the proteomics, genomics, and wet lab of the Gulf Ecology Division (GED) of the EPA and learned both aquaculture and molecular techniques. She began working in Dr. Janosik's lab Fall of 2015 and, as an undergraduate, she investigated the phylogeography of a small clam, Donax variabilis, found along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. She also had the opportunity to spend a week on St. Andros Island, Bahamas at the International Field Studies' Forfar Field Station. In May of 2017, she graduated with her B.S. in Marine Biology and entered the Master’s program in January 2018. Her graduate research focuses on investigating the epigenetic effects of microplastic exposure in Little skates (Leucoraja erinacea).
Sheridan is a native of the Pensacola area and has loved the ocean her entire life. She transferred to UWF from Pensacola State College, where she dual-enrolled during high school, in the Fall of 2014. Prior to attending UWF, she volunteered in the proteomics, genomics, and wet lab of the Gulf Ecology Division (GED) of the EPA and learned both aquaculture and molecular techniques. She began working in Dr. Janosik's lab Fall of 2015 and, as an undergraduate, she investigated the phylogeography of a small clam, Donax variabilis, found along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. She also had the opportunity to spend a week on St. Andros Island, Bahamas at the International Field Studies' Forfar Field Station. In May of 2017, she graduated with her B.S. in Marine Biology and entered the Master’s program in January 2018. Her graduate research focuses on investigating the epigenetic effects of microplastic exposure in Little skates (Leucoraja erinacea).
Post-Graduate Intern
Amy Fellgren, akf14[at]students.uwf.edu
Amy recently graduated from UWF with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology. She began working in the lab during the summer of 2019. During that time, she worked on a Summer Undergraduate Research Project quantifying and identifying microplastics found in coquina clam tissue on the northwestern coast of Florida and the southeastern coast of Alabama. In fall 2019, she began working on an eDNA project that involved the extraction and analysis of fish eDNA from Least Tern fecal samples. The purpose of the project was to identify fish species being consumed by Least Terns, and to link those species to fish drop data collected at various sites. She is currently still working on the Least Tern eDNA project as a post-graduate intern.
Amy recently graduated from UWF with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology. She began working in the lab during the summer of 2019. During that time, she worked on a Summer Undergraduate Research Project quantifying and identifying microplastics found in coquina clam tissue on the northwestern coast of Florida and the southeastern coast of Alabama. In fall 2019, she began working on an eDNA project that involved the extraction and analysis of fish eDNA from Least Tern fecal samples. The purpose of the project was to identify fish species being consumed by Least Terns, and to link those species to fish drop data collected at various sites. She is currently still working on the Least Tern eDNA project as a post-graduate intern.
Undergraduate Students
Caroline Hornfeck, cjh70[at]students.uwf.edu
Caroline is originally from Salisbury, Maryland, a small town not too far from the Atlantic Ocean. She began pursuing her educational goals at a small community college and then transferred to UWF in Fall of 2018 to fulfill her dream of obtaining a B.S in Marine Biology. Caroline has always loved the beauty of the ocean and the animals that inhabit it; this love has driven her to pursue a career in conservation after she graduates. After being accepted into the OUR Works program in Fall 2019, Caroline began working in Dr. Janosik’s lab and started researching literary articles on environmental DNA and metabarcoding on vertebrates for a study in the Gulf of Mexico. She is currently working with Janosik lab Graduate Student Melissa Hebert on elasmobranch eDNA. She hopes one day she too can conduct research of her own that will be beneficial to ocean conservation.
Caroline is originally from Salisbury, Maryland, a small town not too far from the Atlantic Ocean. She began pursuing her educational goals at a small community college and then transferred to UWF in Fall of 2018 to fulfill her dream of obtaining a B.S in Marine Biology. Caroline has always loved the beauty of the ocean and the animals that inhabit it; this love has driven her to pursue a career in conservation after she graduates. After being accepted into the OUR Works program in Fall 2019, Caroline began working in Dr. Janosik’s lab and started researching literary articles on environmental DNA and metabarcoding on vertebrates for a study in the Gulf of Mexico. She is currently working with Janosik lab Graduate Student Melissa Hebert on elasmobranch eDNA. She hopes one day she too can conduct research of her own that will be beneficial to ocean conservation.
Jordan Kleinschmidt, jmk68[at]students.uwf.edu
Jordan is currently pursuing her B.S. in Marine Biology at UWF as an undergraduate student. She has wanted to study Marine Biology her whole life and growing up in Central Florida cultivated this passion throughout her childhood. Currently in the Janosik Lab, Jordan’s research focuses on quantifying microplastics found within the tissues of the Florida Fighting Conch (Strombus atlas) and the effect the mciroplastics may have on the organism and the environment. In her time spent outside of the lab she is an active member of the Marine Ecology Research Society and actively participates in Ocean Hour beach cleanups on the weekends. Jordan enjoys longboarding and playing guitar in her spare time and takes any opportunity to spend a day exploring the outdoors.
Jordan is currently pursuing her B.S. in Marine Biology at UWF as an undergraduate student. She has wanted to study Marine Biology her whole life and growing up in Central Florida cultivated this passion throughout her childhood. Currently in the Janosik Lab, Jordan’s research focuses on quantifying microplastics found within the tissues of the Florida Fighting Conch (Strombus atlas) and the effect the mciroplastics may have on the organism and the environment. In her time spent outside of the lab she is an active member of the Marine Ecology Research Society and actively participates in Ocean Hour beach cleanups on the weekends. Jordan enjoys longboarding and playing guitar in her spare time and takes any opportunity to spend a day exploring the outdoors.
Holly Koch, hek8[at]students.uwf.edu
Growing up near the beach, Holly’s passion for the ocean began at a very young age. This passion grew into a career choice as Holly is an undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Marine Biology. Her current research project in the Janosik lab involves quantifying and characterizing microplastics in ghost crabs, Ocypode quadrata. She has a passion for conservation and would love to continue her education. Outside the lab, she spends her time volunteering for Escambia County, Ocean Hour beach cleanups, and enjoying anything outdoors.
Growing up near the beach, Holly’s passion for the ocean began at a very young age. This passion grew into a career choice as Holly is an undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Marine Biology. Her current research project in the Janosik lab involves quantifying and characterizing microplastics in ghost crabs, Ocypode quadrata. She has a passion for conservation and would love to continue her education. Outside the lab, she spends her time volunteering for Escambia County, Ocean Hour beach cleanups, and enjoying anything outdoors.
Hailee Nigro, hgn4[at]students.uwf.edu
Hailee grew up in Lithia, FL, where her passion for marine life began at an age as early as 3 years old. She moved to Pensacola in 2019 to pursue her lifelong dream, working toward a B.S. in Marine Biology. She is currently a Sophomore, who joined the Janosik Lab in Spring 2020 through the NSF MARC Scholars program. Her research involves looking at the epigenetic impacts of microplastics on the gray sand star (Luidia clathrata). Outside of the lab, she enjoys all things nature, fishing, and long days at the beach.
Hailee grew up in Lithia, FL, where her passion for marine life began at an age as early as 3 years old. She moved to Pensacola in 2019 to pursue her lifelong dream, working toward a B.S. in Marine Biology. She is currently a Sophomore, who joined the Janosik Lab in Spring 2020 through the NSF MARC Scholars program. Her research involves looking at the epigenetic impacts of microplastics on the gray sand star (Luidia clathrata). Outside of the lab, she enjoys all things nature, fishing, and long days at the beach.
Hunter Rider, hjr5[at]students.uwf.edu
Originally from Opelika, Alabama, Hunter came to UWF to experience Florida and the marine diversity, as well as the undergraduate research. Hunter is pursuing a B.S. in marine biology. His current research project focuses on using environmental DNA to detect DNA of the Alabama sturgeon in the Tombigbee River. He also enjoys hunting and fishing and just spending time outdoors overall
Originally from Opelika, Alabama, Hunter came to UWF to experience Florida and the marine diversity, as well as the undergraduate research. Hunter is pursuing a B.S. in marine biology. His current research project focuses on using environmental DNA to detect DNA of the Alabama sturgeon in the Tombigbee River. He also enjoys hunting and fishing and just spending time outdoors overall
Aleigh Rowe, agr17[at]students.uwf.edu
Growing up in land-locked Oklahoma, Aleigh was always intrigued by the ocean and passionate about conservation. She was able to pursue her dream when she enrolled in the University of West Florida and began pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Marine Biology. Currently a junior, Aleigh discovered her love for research after participating in an undergraduate summer research program. She's continued her work quantifying the abundance of microplastics found in seafood from local seafood markets, and plans to expand on this research for her undergraduate thesis. Outside of the lab, she has served as President of the Marine Ecology Research Society and Vice President of Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
Growing up in land-locked Oklahoma, Aleigh was always intrigued by the ocean and passionate about conservation. She was able to pursue her dream when she enrolled in the University of West Florida and began pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Marine Biology. Currently a junior, Aleigh discovered her love for research after participating in an undergraduate summer research program. She's continued her work quantifying the abundance of microplastics found in seafood from local seafood markets, and plans to expand on this research for her undergraduate thesis. Outside of the lab, she has served as President of the Marine Ecology Research Society and Vice President of Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
M. Bailey Walkinshaw, mbw22[at]students.uwf.edu
Bailey started her undergraduate career at Northwest Florida State College before transferring to UWF. Currently, she is pursuing a B.S. in Marine Biology with a minor in Environmental Science. She was originally a part of an analytical chemistry lab where she helped develop protocols for undergraduate experiments. Wanting to explore different research opportunities, she joined Dr. Janosik’s lab in the spring of 2020. Her current research focuses on using environmental DNA to support conservation efforts of imperiled species.
Bailey started her undergraduate career at Northwest Florida State College before transferring to UWF. Currently, she is pursuing a B.S. in Marine Biology with a minor in Environmental Science. She was originally a part of an analytical chemistry lab where she helped develop protocols for undergraduate experiments. Wanting to explore different research opportunities, she joined Dr. Janosik’s lab in the spring of 2020. Her current research focuses on using environmental DNA to support conservation efforts of imperiled species.
Cara Womacks, chw16[at]students.uwf.edu
Cara is an undergraduate student currently pursuing her B.S. in Marine Biology. She is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, but her passion for the ocean brought her down to the coast when she started college. Her current research explores crab biodiversity and DNA barcoding in the Gulf of Mexico. Outside of the lab, she is an active member of the Kugelman Honors program and the Marine Ecology Research Society. She enjoys hiking and birdwatching in her free time, and during the school year you’ll find her on most weekends at Big Lagoon State Park.
Cara is an undergraduate student currently pursuing her B.S. in Marine Biology. She is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, but her passion for the ocean brought her down to the coast when she started college. Her current research explores crab biodiversity and DNA barcoding in the Gulf of Mexico. Outside of the lab, she is an active member of the Kugelman Honors program and the Marine Ecology Research Society. She enjoys hiking and birdwatching in her free time, and during the school year you’ll find her on most weekends at Big Lagoon State Park.
Former Lab Members
Taylor Beck
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.
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.
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 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. She recently spent time in Indonesia as a Research Assistant working on several different projects ranging from looking at the thermal tolerance in corals that live in harsh environments to observing how different types of anemone fish react to noise pollution from boats. In the Janosik Lab, Madyson is working on a project alongside Dr. Whitaker investigating microplastic ingestion by zooplankton and mussels in the Great Lakes.
Madyson is a senior at UWF working towards her B.S. in Marine Biology. She is currently the 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. She recently spent time in Indonesia as a Research Assistant working on several different projects ranging from looking at the thermal tolerance in corals that live in harsh environments to observing how different types of anemone fish react to noise pollution from boats. In the Janosik Lab, Madyson is working on a project alongside Dr. Whitaker investigating microplastic ingestion by zooplankton and mussels in the Great Lakes.
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.
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.
Alli Myers, am196[at]students.uwf.edu
Alli graduated with a B.S. in Marine Biology in May 2019. She transferred in the Summer of 2016 and started working in Dr. Janosik's lab Fall 2017. Her scientific interests lie in tropical marine invertebrate research and conservation. She is currently using eDNA research to identify if the indicator species, Fundulus jenkinsi, is extant in the salt-marshes of Pensacola’s estuarine system. 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, the Tongue of the Ocean and cays in the Bahamas, as well as the Coral Triangle in Indonesia. She just returned from a month long research in the Coral Triangle assisting with projects like the coral nursery, studying herbivorous fish patterns, coral integrity, and monitoring of the different reefs around the island for biodiversity. She also currently serves as an animal foster/rescue parent.
Alli graduated with a B.S. in Marine Biology in May 2019. She transferred in the Summer of 2016 and started working in Dr. Janosik's lab Fall 2017. Her scientific interests lie in tropical marine invertebrate research and conservation. She is currently using eDNA research to identify if the indicator species, Fundulus jenkinsi, is extant in the salt-marshes of Pensacola’s estuarine system. 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, the Tongue of the Ocean and cays in the Bahamas, as well as the Coral Triangle in Indonesia. She just returned from a month long research in the Coral Triangle assisting with projects like the coral nursery, studying herbivorous fish patterns, coral integrity, and monitoring of the different reefs around the island for biodiversity. She also currently serves as an animal foster/rescue parent.
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.
Nichelle Vantassel, vanta1nm[@]cmich.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 characterized 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. Currently she is working on a Ph.D. at the Central Michigan University. See what she's up to here.
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 characterized 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. Currently she is working on a Ph.D. at the Central Michigan University. See what she's up to here.
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.
Justine (Tina) Whitaker, Ph.D. jwhitaker[at]uwf.edu
Tina is a former postdoctoral researcher in the Janosik Lab. She now has an Assistant Professor position at Nicholls State. Check out her webpage here. 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 worked on project utilizing environmental DNA to detect Alabama and Gulf sturgeon, microplastics, lionfish, and birds. She spends most of her free time outdoors with her dogs.
Tina is a former postdoctoral researcher in the Janosik Lab. She now has an Assistant Professor position at Nicholls State. Check out her webpage here. 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 worked on project utilizing environmental DNA to detect Alabama and Gulf sturgeon, microplastics, lionfish, and birds. She spends most of her free time outdoors with her dogs.