Research

Most of my research takes place at one of two key field sites: South Florida or the Southern Caribbean.

As a conservation biologist, my research has practical applications for the conservation of  wildlife, marine habitats, or biodiversity. I'm most interested in questions that improve our understanding of social and ecological systems and help us find ways humans can better co-exist with the natural world. I use techniques ranging from strictly biological and ecological tools like physical sampling and tagging, to incorporating social science methods like surveys and ethnography.

​South Florida

My research in South Florida is focused around field work on coastal sharks and rays, including data collection on habitat use, feeding ecology, reproduction, and physiology. I also study tropical marine food webs and organismal relationships. You can get the best sense of what I'm currently working on by looking at recent publications, or learn more about my research interests in South Florida by looking through the ongoing projects at The Shark Research and Conservation Program here, or Field School here.

The Southern Caribbean

My work in the Southern Caribbean is funded in part by a Keystone Grant from the Save Our Seas Foundation, and is focused on characterizing and better understanding shark fisheries and shark fishing practices, including improving information on shark populations in the region. This research is also concerned with the potential human health effects of eating top predators like sharks, as environmental toxins can concentrate in predator tissue. You can learn more about the project and see updates on it on the Save Our Seas website here.