CURRENT M.S. STUDENTS
Chase Schaffhauser
Chase joined the lab as a Master's student in Fall 2026. Chase's research investigates the predator deterrence properties and material strengths of varying net coating materials in shellfish aquaculture. He earned his BS in Marine Biology at Florida International University, where he researched the daily movement patterns of Permit pre-spawning aggregations in the Florida keys using active acoustic tracking. While there, he also gained experience in active acoustics and the fabrication of remote sensing equipment.
LAB ALUMNI
Adam Steinfeld
EMAIL: asteinfeld@fau.edu
DEGREE: M.S. Biology
DURATION: August 2024 - August 2026
CURRENT POSITION: Sonar technician, Inwater Research Group, Jensen Beach, FL
Adam joined the lab in July 2024 as an MSc student. Adam’s research sougth to understand the biodiversity and behavioral dynamics of marine predators on clam lease sites. He also conducted some deterrent testing for elasmobranchs in shellfish aquaculture.
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: Lab Coordinator (State College of Florida)
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.