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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Lab Technician
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. Recently she also began working with eDNA for the Reticulated Flatwood Salamander to locate its habitats.
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. Recently she also began working with eDNA for the Reticulated Flatwood Salamander to locate its habitats.
Undergraduate Students
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.
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,
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 currently working as an Ecological Technician for the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance.
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 currently working as an Ecological Technician for the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance.
Juliana Girlando, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.