My research interest mainly focuses on taxonomy and systematics and phylogeny of marine and freshwater crustaceans (Peracarida and Decapoda). I am involved in the DEEPEND Consortium as a PhD student in the Florida International University in the CRUSTOMICS lab with Dr. Heather Bracken-Grissom. Our research will use taxonomy and molecular techniques to create a robust inventory of the crustacean fauna in the Gulf of Mexico and to match the larvae-adult linkages of the deep-water species of deep-water crustaceans.

My recent research encompasses the dynamics of the distribution, abundance, and larval growth of pelagic species, such as tunas and billfishes, in the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent ecosystems within the Atlantic Ocean.

I received my bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology in 2018 from Florida International University, where I am also working on my master’s degree in Biology to be completed in December 2021. My work has involved the use of genetics and genomics to study the systematics, and evolution of bioluminescence in deep sea shrimp. My passion has always been with the deep ocean, and I hope my work in the future will allow me to continue exploring its many mysteries!

I graduated from University of South Florida St. Petersburg with a B.S. in Biology and a concentration in Marine Science. During my time as an undergraduate, I did research on pteropods under Dr. Heather Judkins. This was my first introduction to the DEEPEND Project. I am currently pursuing an M.S. degree in Marine Science and Oceanography at Florida Atlantic University under the supervision of Dr. Jon Moore. My current research focuses on Melamphaidae fishes and will investigate their vertical ecology. In the future, I’d like to look into dietary preferences and reproductive patterns in deep sea fish.

My research focuses on examining the morphology of sensory systems in deep-sea fishes. I am interested in understanding how fishes living in extreme environments, like the light-limited midwaters of the deep sea, interact with their environment. By studying the morphology and functional capabilities of sensory systems, we can infer how different species behave (i.e. find food, locate mates, and avoid predators).

I am currently a Master’s of Science student at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) studying the spatial distributions of deep-sea fishes in the Seascape Ecology Lab under Dr. Rosanna Milligan. My thesis project is focused on analyzing mesopelagic fish biomass patterns in the northern Gulf of Mexico in response to major oceanographic features such as the Loop Current, mesoscale eddies, and freshwater runoff from the Mississippi River. The overall goal is to determine whether these oceanographic features play a significant role in predicting the distribution of these fishes in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Before attending NSU, I studied at Saint Leo University where I received my Bachelor's of Science in Biology with a specialization in Ecology.

I am currently a Master of Marine Science Student at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) studying fishes in the Seascape Ecology Lab under Dr. Rosanna Milligan. My thesis work focuses on the distribution of fishes in relation to varying light levels in the northern pelagic Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Prior to NSU, I received my Bachelor of Science in Biology from University of Texas at Austin.

I am a PhD Candidate in Dr. Kevin Boswell’s Marine Ecology & Acoustics Laboratory at Florida International University. My research focuses on using active acoustics to investigate the fine-scale depth structure and distribution of mesopelagic micronekton in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Specifically, I aim to integrate data from shipboard echosounders with that of an autonomous depth-deployed echosounder to examine the heterogeneity of the deep scattering layer community.

Before joining FIU, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Aquatic Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

To keep up with my acoustic adventures, check out @scubahaleykat and @boswelllab on Instagram!

I am interested in biological oceanography at large, including topics like nutrient cycling and food chain dynamics. Currently, I am studying the trophic ecology and functional morphology of Nemichthyidae (snipe eels). My goal is that no matter what I work on, it is always promoting the appreciation and conservation of the ocean. 

My interests lie in the ecology and distribution of economically and ecologically relevant pelagic fishes. My thesis research focuses on the distribution and abundance of fishes of the suborder Stromateoidei in the Gulf of Mexico, as they pertain to the diets of large mesopelagic fishes and marine mammals.

I am currently pursuing an M.S. in Marine Sciences at Nova Southeastern University under the advisership of Dr. Tracey Sutton. I am currently interested in the diel vertical migrations and ecology in the Gulf of Mexico specifically pertaining to mesopelagic fishes such as the Stenoptychidae. 

I am interested in assessing the human dimensions of coastal and marine environments to understand the impacts of human activity on ecosystem health and species populations. This research aims to inform the development of effective natural resource management plans for protected areas. 

My main interest is marine ecology, moreover, ecology that has to do with how structures such as reefs and mangroves interact with the overall ocean ecosystem. The way these structures are still connected to species that live in the pelagic ocean I find fascinating, and I wish to see how pelagic species in return affect coastal systems. 

I am a PhD Candidate in Dr. Heather Bracken-Grissom's CRUSTOMICS Lab at Florida International University, where I study the evolution and ecological role of bioluminescence and vision in deep-sea shrimps. My research integrates molecular phylogenetics and morphological analyses to explore how these adaptations influence behavior and survival. As part of the DEEPEND|RESTORE project, I analyze bioluminescent traits in specimens collected during deep-sea expeditions to better understand their function and evolutionary origins. I am passionate about uncovering the mysteries of deep-sea life and understanding how organisms use light to survive in the dark.