OUR TEAM

PhD Candidate
Teaching Assistant

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Growing up in a small beach town in New Jersey, Emma developed a deep connection with the ocean and marine life. She earned her BSc in Marine Biology from Stockton University and her MSc from Nova Southeastern University, where she studied the life histories and conservation of six lesser-known hammerhead shark species. Following her MSc, Emma served as Academic Program Coordinator and Graduate Academic Advisor for NSU’s Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences. She is currently a Teaching Assistant and member of the REEFS Research Group, where her PhD research examines variation in coral reef fish traits across biodiversity gradients along Florida’s Coral Reef.

PhD Candidate
Research Assistant

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 Samara’s fascination with aquatic ecosystems began at age five, when she learned about invasive zebra mussels in Lake George. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology and Marine Conservation from the Florida Institute of Technology and subsequently worked with the Coral Health and Disease Program at Mote Marine Laboratory. In August 2022, Samara joined the REEFS Research Group at Nova Southeastern University, where she completed her MSc research examining temporal variation in coral species traits across high-latitude reef systems. She is now pursuing her PhD, investigating how octocoral traits and community structure contribute to habitat formation along Florida’s Coral Reef.

Masters Student

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Madi, originally from Indiana, has a lifelong passion for coral reef conservation. After earning her BSc at Indiana University in 2022, Madi pursued her Master of Professional Science degree at Nova Southeastern University. She started working in the FiBES lab as a Research Assistant in 2023 and later converted to the MSc program with a specialization in Marine Biology. Madi is currently employed as a Research Fellow for the National Coral Reef Institute, where her research focuses on investigating seasonal changes in fish community structure across Florida’s Coral Reef. She is also interested in understanding how this knowledge is reflected in spearfishers catch. Madi is also a scientific diver and boat captain working on several ongoing projects within the REEFS Research Group.

Masters Student
Research Assistant

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Patrick grew up around the beaches of New Jersey where he became profoundly interested in the ocean. His research journey began during his BSc in Marine Science at the University of Delaware. After receiving his BSc in Marine Science, Patrick worked for the Jenkinson's Aquarium in Point Pleasant, New Jersey as an interpreter and diver. Patrick joined the REEFS Research Group in August 2024 to pursue his MSc, where his research focuses on marine chemical ecology.  Patrick is investigating the impacts of algal turf cover on crustose coralline algae calcification and metabolite exudation. Patrick is also a Research Assistant and scientific diver working on several ongoing research projects across Florida’s Coral Reef.

Masters Student

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Raised in southern New Hampshire, Marly developed an early interest in marine life through tide pooling, fishing, crabbing, and clamming. She earned her BSc in Marine, Estuarine, and Freshwater Biology, with a minor in Zoology, from the University of New Hampshire in 2023. She then worked with the Diadromous Inland Fisheries Program at the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Her interests in fish behavior, conservation, and scientific diving led her to pursue an MSc at Nova Southeastern University. As a member of the REEFS Research Group, Marly examines how reef complexity influences herbivorous fish feeding on algal turfs and how this ecological function may change as coral reefs become less structurally complex and flatter.

Masters Student

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Uma Adrianna Misra is an MPS student at Nova Southeastern University from Columbia, Illinois. She earned her BSc in Environmental Sciences from Missouri University of Science and Technology in 2026, with minors in Biological Sciences, Geology, and Sustainability. During her undergraduate studies, she gained field experience in electrofishing and habitat assessment with the Missouri Department of Conservation, investigated fish condition around floating treatment wetlands, and completed a capstone project on fen restoration. Uma’s research interests center on animal behavior and how habitat structure influences fish communities. As part of the REEFS Research Group, she is assisting Zoe Stuckwisch with research examining butterflyfish behavior and energetic responses to variation in coral reef condition, expanding her experience in reef fish ecology and the ecological consequences of habitat change.

Masters Student

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Aislinn is originally from New York and spent her summers along the beaches of Ocean City, Maryland. A competitive swimmer and lifeguard, she developed an early passion for the ocean. She earned her BSc in Marine Biology from the University of South Florida and subsequently completed internships with NOAA and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, where she developed an interest in tropical fish and shark research. As a member of the REEFS Research Group, Aislinn is investigating how reef habitat characteristics influences behavior in damselfishes on South Florida reefs. She hopes to pursue a career in marine research that combines fieldwork with her commitment to marine conservation.

Masters Student
Teaching Assistant

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Keiyi Okamura is a fourth-generation Japanese Peruvian who grew up in Lima, Peru, where surfing and fishing fostered an early connection to the ocean. After moving to Florida in 2016, he developed a particular interest in coral reef ecosystems and their conservation. Keiyi earned his BSc in Marine Science from Eckerd College in 2025 and, following a gap year, joined the REEFS Research Group as an MSc student at Nova Southeastern University. His research examines algal turf proliferation along Florida’s Coral Reef, with a particular focus on how turf-associated sediments influence nutrient transport and reef ecological processes. As an AAUS scientific diver, Keiyi also contributes to the group’s ongoing research and fieldwork while expanding his experience in coral reef ecology.

Masters Student
Research Assistant

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Manuel grew up in Rum, Austria, and developed a fascination with ocean and coral reef ecosystems after diving in the Red Sea in Egypt. After serving 6 months in the Austrian military as a medic, he decided to follow his passion and moved to the United States where he completed his Associate Degree in biology at Camden County College in 2022, and his Bachelor of Science at Nova Southeastern University in 2024. After completing his BSc, Manu was selected as a Graduate Research Fellow in the National Coral Reef Institute. As a member of REEFS group. Manu is currently investigating the spatial-temporal variation in algal turf communities across the Florida Reef Tract and how algal turf sediments impacts herbivorous fish foraging behavior. Manu  is also a Research Assistant and scientific diver working on several ongoing research projects across Florida’s Coral Reef.

Masters Student
Research Assistant

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Bernhard (Junior) is a Research Assistant with the Reef Ecology, Ecosystems, Fishes & Solutions (REEFS) Research Group at Nova Southeastern University and a Master of Philosophy student at James Cook University. His research focuses on coral reef ecology, particularly coral communities in the Persian/Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman. He examines how these communities change over time, tracking patterns in coral cover, colony size structure, and coral health to better understand their responses to environmental stress. Through his involvement in research projects across the Gulf region and Florida, Bernhard aims to understand how increasing environmental pressures shape coral reef communities and what these changes mean for their future.

Masters Student

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Gabriel was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, and grew up in a military family, living throughout the United States and Germany. He earned a BSc in Biology from the University of South Florida in 2024, where he gained experience in fish ecology during an internship in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. His interests in fisheries management and reef fish ecology led him to pursue an MSc at Nova Southeastern University, where he studies parrotfish communities in La Parguera, Puerto Rico. As a member of the REEFS Research Group, his research examines how reef conditions shape parrotfish abundance, community structure, and grazing behavior, to better understand their role in regulating algal growth and supporting reef ecosystem function across the Caribbean. Gabriel hopes to continue studying reef fish ecology and contributing to reef conservation throughout the region, beginning with his home island of Puerto Rico.

Masters Student

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Jayci was born and raised in Wisconsin, where her childhood spent along Lake Michigan and as a competitive swimmer fostered an early connection to the water. She earned a BSc in Biology from Wingate University in 2023, gaining field and microbiological research experience and publishing her first paper. Her interests in ocean health, coral restoration, and tropical reef fishes led her to pursue an MSc at Nova Southeastern University. As a member of the REEFS Research Group, Jayci studies microplastics on beaches and coral reefs, focusing on whether plastic-associated microbiomes may act as vectors for coral disease. Her research aims to improve understanding of coral disease pathways while raising awareness of the ecological risks associated with plastic pollution and biofilms.

Masters Student

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Raised in southern Indiana, Zoe developed an early appreciation for nature and the outdoors. She earned her BSc in Aquatic and Marine Biology from Stetson University in 2025, gaining experience in coastal restoration, fisheries research, and marine ecology. Her interest in marine conservation led her to pursue an MSc in Marine Science at Nova Southeastern University. As a member of the FiBES Lab and REEFS Research Group, Zoe examines how butterflyfish behavior varies among reefs with differing coral cover and benthic communities in Southeast Florida and Puerto Rico. Her research explores whether behavioral shifts can provide early indicators of ecological change, with the broader goal of informing reef management and supporting resilient coral reef ecosystems.

Undergraduate Researcher

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Nicholas developed an early interest in marine life through frequent visits to aquariums and marine science institutions. He pursued this interest by attending a high school with a specialized program in aquaculture and marine science before continuing his studies at Nova Southeastern University. As a member of the REEFS Research Group, Nicholas is examining the behavioral responses of grazing reef fishes to predator decoy models on coral reefs in the Philippines. Through this work, he is gaining experience understanding predator–prey interactions and the ecological processes that shape coral reef communities. He hopes to continue developing as a marine researcher and contribute to a greater understanding of tropical marine ecosystems.

Undergraduate Researcher
Razor’s Edge Research Program

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Raised in landlocked Buffalo, New York, Nate developed an early love of nature, while his travels sparked a fascination with the ocean. He is currently a senior in Nova Southeastern University’s Razor’s Edge Research Scholars Program and a member of the REEFS Research Group, where he studies algal turf ecology and its influence on coral reef dynamics. More broadly, Nate is interested in understanding how species-level processes scale up to shape ecosystem function. Outside of his research, he is an avid sailor and a PADI Divemaster.

Undergraduate Researcher

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Growing up on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Sienna developed an early interest in marine biology and a strong connection to the ocean. After moving to Ohio, her appreciation for marine environments deepened and inspired her to return to Florida. Sienna is now pursuing her BSc in Marine Biology at Nova Southeastern University, with a particular interest in coral ecology. As a member of the REEFS Research Group, she uses video observations to examine diurnal variation in the grazing activity of reef fishes across protected and fished reefs in the central Philippines. Sienna hopes to build a career that combines field-based marine research with teaching at the university level.

Undergraduate Researcher

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Landon’s passion for sharks and marine biology began at age six after watching Jaws. He is currently pursuing his BSc in Marine Biology at Nova Southeastern University and gaining research experience with the REEFS Research Group. As a member of the REEFS Research Group, he assists with sediment preparation and decanting and performs titrations to characterize pH curves. He will also contribute to analyses of reef fish grazing patterns in the Indo-Pacific. Landon hopes to build on these experiences and pursue research focused on elasmobranchs, including sharks and rays.

Undergraduate Researcher

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Brianna developed a fascination with the ocean and marine biology at an early age, and that interest gradually grew into a passion and a clear career goal. She is currently pursuing a BSc in marine biology at Nova Southeastern University. As a member of the REEFS Research Group, Brianna contributes to laboratory projects involving sediment processing, sample decanting, and titration-based water-quality analyses. Through this work, she is gaining practical experience in sample preparation, laboratory techniques, and the careful collection of scientific data. Brianna hopes to continue broadening her research skills and knowledge of marine ecosystems as she prepares for a career in field-based marine research and conservation.

Undergraduate Researcher

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Melanie developed a love for marine biology at an early age while sailing, canoeing, and paddleboarding. Her passion for the ocean led her to Nova Southeastern University, where she is pursuing a BSc in Marine Biology. As a member of the REEFS Research Group, Melanie contributes to projects involving sediment analysis, fish-grazing video analysis, and coral husbandry. These experiences are helping her develop practical laboratory and research skills while deepening her understanding of the ecological processes shaping Florida’s coral reef ecosystems. Melanie hopes to pursue graduate studies and build a career that combines marine research and conservation with the care, rehabilitation, and protection of marine animals.