CURRENT M.S. STUDENTS
Adam Steinfeld
Adam joined the lab in July 2024 as an MSc student. Adam’s research seeks to understand the biodiversity and behavioral dynamics of marine predators on clam lease sites, particularly of rays and loggerhead sea turtles. He earned a BS in biology and psychology from the University of Central Florida where he studied the movement ecology of juvenile green turtles in the Trident Basin using satellite telemetry. Adam has experience as an educator for the Sea Turtle Conservancy, sea turtle nesting surveyor and tagging tech, and research assistant for the HAB lab at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Inst. He aims to answer questions about the foraging ecology and habitat use of high trophic level marine predators to better inform conservation management practices.
LAB ALUMNI
Brianna Cahill
EMAIL: brianna.cahill@noaa.gov
DEGREE: M.S. Marine Science and Oceanography
DURATION: August 2019 - December 2021
CURRENT POSITION: Marine Ecologist, NCCOS Biogeography Branch, Marine Spatial Ecology Division
Bri’s research focused on characterizing the feeding ecology of whitespotted eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari) throughout Florida coastal waters and assessing ray residency patterns and interactions at clam lease sites in the Indian River Lagoon.
Michelle Edwards
EMAIL: Michelle.Edwards@piper.com
DEGREE: M.S. Marine Science and Oceanography
DURATION: August 2019 - August 2021
CURRENT POSITION: Chief of staff - Executive Assistant (Piper)
Michelle’s research focused on accumulation of harmful algal bloom toxins in the tissues of bull sharks as well as their movement patterns in the Indian River Lagoon.
Rachel Shaw
EMAIL: rshaw2018@fau.edu
DEGREE: M.S. Biological Sciences
DURATION: January 2018 - May 2020
CURRENT POSITION: High School Teacher
Rachel’s research focused on the movement patterns of white sharks and their nursery habitats in the New York Bight.
Grace Roskar
EMAIL: Grace.Roskar@noaa.gov
DEGREE: M.S. Biological Sciences
DURATION: August 2017-May 2019
CURRENT POSITION: Fish Biologist at NOAA Fisheries’ Beaufort Lab in North Carolina.
Grace’s research focused on the characterization of the distribution and habitat use of elasmobranchs in the southern Indian River Lagoon.
Breanna DeGroot
EMAIL: bdegroot2017@fau.edu
DEGREE: M.S. (Biological Sciences)
DURATION: January 2017 - December 2018
CURRENT POSITION: Research Coordinator (FAU-HBOI)
Breanna joined the lab in January 2017. Her work compared habitat use, fine, and large scale migration of spotted eagle rays in both the Indian River Lagoon and Sarasota Bay
Cameron Luck
EMAIL: Cameron.Luck@ncdenr.gov
DEGREE: M.S. (Biological Sciences)
DURATION: January 2017 - December 2018
CURRENT POSITION: Biological Scientist (NCDENR)
Cameron’s research focused on characterizing spawning biology of bonefish (Albula vulpes) found in the Bahamas.