My name is Lauren, and I am from Memphis, Tennessee. I am a senior majoring in Marine Science and minoring in Japanese. I chose to come to Eckerd because of its wonderfully advertised Marine Science program (bonus: the campus is very beautiful). I have always wanted to study sharks, so here I am! My project aims to track bonnethead shark populations throughout Tampa Bay using eDNA. With the information I learn, I will reach out to my target audiences and share conservation strategies.

Hello my name is Anna Jupin and I’m from Madison Alabama. I am a senior marine science major and chemistry minor here at Eckerd College, as well as a member of the beach volleyball team on campus. I chose Eckerd not only for athletics but also for the campus location on the water (perfect for marine science), and smaller classroom sizes which give me the opportunity to be personable with my professors. I am interested in the molecular biology aspect of marine bio, as well as the ecology and behavior of lots of inverts/coral. I hope to dive deeper into these aspects of marine life to hopefully do experiments that will benefit what we know about ocean conservation as a whole.

Hi, My name is Nolan Heid and I am from Tarpon Springs Florida. I’m a senior here at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, majoring in marine biology and minoring in music. I came to Eckerd College for many reasons including the renown marine science program, pristine and convenient location as well as its small school opportunities. I am interested in anything and everything marine science but my focus is on coral research and restoration especially in part with eDNA. My goal is to not only work hands-on with eDNA and marine corals but to educate and explore many avenues in the marine science realm. Through my education, lab work with Dr. Lancaster and my music, I hope to better the world one coral at a time! 

Hello all! My name is Vincent Ferrero, I am a senior at Eckerd College majoring in Marine Science (Biology track) and minoring in Japanese. Until I graduate, I plan to work with Dr. Emily Lancaster in the Lit Lab on her eDNA research, as well as my research on red tide mitigation/control. Currently, my research project titled “The Living Filtration System” is attempting to use ribbed mussels to “eat” red tide (aka K. brevis). I am very excited to see the results of my work and what may come up when my project is ready for eDNA analysis. My goal is to help reduce the harmful red tide in a natural, non-invasive way. I know that the experience I have gained here will only help me in the future. 

Hey! My name is Dai Goebel. I am from Fargo, North Dakota. I am a senior with majors in Environmental Studies (B.S.) and Animal Studies (B.A.), and minors in Biology and Ancient Studies. I am hoping to utilize environmental DNA to compare the prevalence of native versus invasive species in relation to the ocean temperatures! 

Hi! I am Abigail Bernick and I am a film student here at Eckerd College. I am a senior and I work in the Lab as the video editor and cinematographer for some of the labs that Dr. Lancaster and the other students do! I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and I came to Eckerd College to work on my passion for the conservation of marine life more specifically corals and the animals that depend upon them. I believe that film and making content style videos are how we can spread the message of conservation and science in an easy to understand way to the masses. 

Hello everyone, I’m a marine science major entering my senior year at Eckerd. I’m originally from Houston, Texas but I chose Eckerd not just for its strong marine science program, but because I was looking for a smaller, more connected environment. A school where I could actually get to know my professors and classmates, and not feel lost in a sea of people just grinding through school. My passion lies in conservation, especially when it comes to elasmobranchs, and I’m excited to explore how tools like eDNA can help us better understand and protect their populations in the Tampa Bay area. I’m hoping this experience helps set me up for a future in research and real-world conservation work.

I’m a senior from Eastern Kentucky majoring in marine science and environmental studies. I chose to come to Eckerd because of the marine science program, but also because I loved the wide variety of opportunities provided by campus and the liberal arts degree. I have always been passionate about environmental conservation, and I want to spend my career conducting research that supports conservation efforts and policies. In this lab, I hope to use eDNA to understand the presence and movement of elasmobranchs in the Tampa Bay area. 

I'm Gaby, a Junior from Rockville Maryland. I am pursuing a degree in Marine Science and a minor in French. Eckerd is the perfect place to explore all my interests and belong to a community that values me. I am interested in the use of genetics for conservation of marine species here in Tampa Bay. I have also worked with the Women in Fishing project in the Environmental Studies department for the insight women provide about our environment.

My name is Maggie Tomaszewski, and I am currently a junior. I am originally from Louisville Kentucky, but now I live on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. I choose to attended Eckerd because of the ample amounts of research opportunities offered to me. I have been helping out on multiple different projects in the lab especially partaking in sampling events for projects! 

 I am currently a junior at Eckerd College pursuing a B.S. in Marine Science through the Biology track and a B.A. in Animal Studies, with a minor in French. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I chose Eckerd for its strong scientific community and coastal environment. My future academic interests include marine organism behavior and health, ecosystem resilience, and species interactions in natural habitats. In the future, I aim to contribute to research that supports marine conservation and habitat restoration through hands-on work with marine organisms and coastal fieldwork initiatives.

My name is Ashlyn Porter. I am a student from West Chester, PA – outside of Philadelphia. I am a member of Eckerd College’s class of 2028 and major in the marine science biology track. Additionally, I am minoring in Artificial Intelligence Studies in hopes of leveraging generative AI to accelerate research capabilities. Due to its unique opportunities for undergraduate research and exemplary reputation in the marine sciences, I am eager to support this community and learn from experienced professors and fellow students. My plan is to utilize eDNA to assess common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) populations in Tampa Bay with the goal of conservation. Moreover, I am also interested in sharks and wish to conduct similar research on the populations of certain species in Tampa Bay such as bonnetheads, nurse sharks, black-tip reef sharks, and others that play vital roles in maintaining the health of the estuary.