People

Meet our team and learn about current projects and interests!

Dr. Heather Bracken Grissom

Florida International University-Biscayne Bay Campus
3000 NE 151 Street, MSB-353
North Miami, Florida 33181, USA​​​​​​​​​​​
305 919-4190 (Phone)

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​Evolution, decapod phylogenetics, biodiversity, conservation, biogeography, ecology, taxonomy and systematics

Lorian Schweikert
Postdoctoral Associate
Florida International University-Biscayne Bay Campus

3000 NE 151 Street, MSB-250D
North Miami, Florida 33181, USA​​​​​​​​​​​

 

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Neuroethology, sensory physiology, phenotypic plasticity, evolutionary ecology, ontogenetic and anthropogenic effects
Robert Ditter
PhD Candidate
Florida International University-Biscayne Bay Campus

3000 NE 151 Street, MSB-330
North Miami, Florida 33181, USA​​​​​​​​​​​

 

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Molecular ecology, population dynamics, evolution, bushwhacking, phylobiogeography & systematics (phenotypic plasticity v. speciation v. mutation) of anchialine/marine invertebrates (chiefly decapods)

Lauren Ballou
PhD Candidate

Florida International University-Biscayne Bay Campus
3000 NE 151 Street, MSB-330
North Miami, Florida 33181, USA​​​​​​​​​​​

Phylogenetics, Biogeography, Evolution, Anchialine Cave Crustaceans
Charles Golightly
Lab Manager / PhD Student

Florida International University-Biscayne Bay Campus
3000 NE 151 Street, MSB-330
North Miami, Florida 33181, USA​​​​​​​​​​​

Deep ocean exploration and research, conservation, genetics/genomics
Stormie Collins

Lab Manager

Florida International University-Biscayne Bay Campus
3000 NE 151 Street, MSB-330
North Miami, Florida 33181, USA​​​​​​​​​​​

Phylogenetics, adaptive camouflage, taxonomy, conservation, and bioluminescence. 
Lys Isma
Undergraduate Research Assistant 

Florida International University-Biscayne Bay Campus
3000 NE 151 Street, MSB-330
North Miami, Florida 33181, USA​​​​​​​​​​​

Genetics in public health, epidemiology, microbiology
Nicole Perez
Research Assistant

Florida International University-Biscayne Bay Campus
3000 NE 151 Street, MSB-250N
North Miami, Florida 33181, USA​​​​​​​​​​​

Interests: Genetics / Genomics, evolution, molecular biology, marine invertebrates
Dr. Danielle DeLeo
Postdoctoral Associate

Florida International University-Biscayne Bay Campus

3000 NE 151 Street, MSB-250F

North Miami, Florida 33181, USA​​​​​​​​​​​

danielledeleo.weebly.com

Transcriptomics, deep sea biology, molecular ecology, marine invertebrates, conservation & the evolution of bioluminescence
Jorge Luis Pérez-Moreno
PhD Candidate
Florida International University-Biscayne Bay Campus

3000 NE 151 Street, MSB-250D
North Miami, Florida 33181, USA​​​​​​​​​​​

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Biospeleology, speleogenomics, transcriptomics, aquatic invertebrates (crustaceans!), evolution, biodiversity & conservation
Robert Tomasetti
PhD Candidate

Florida International University-Biscayne Bay Campus

3000 NE 151 Street, MSB-250N

North Miami, Florida 33181, USA​​​​​​​​​​​

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Connectivity, biodiversity, phylogenetics, biogeography
Carlos Varela
PhD Candidate

Florida International University-Biscayne Bay Campus
3000 NE 151 Street, MSB-330
North Miami, Florida 33181, USA​​​​​​​​​​​

Taxonomy and systematics of marine and freshwater peracarid and decapod crustaceans
Pedro Peres
Visiting PhD Candidate

Florida International University-Biscayne Bay Campus
3000 NE 151 Street, MSB-330
North Miami, Florida 33181, USA​​​​​​​​​​​

Evolutionary biology, Molecular Ecology, Phylogeography, Population genetics/genomics, Marine Ecology
Zach Nickell
PhD Student

Florida International University-Biscayne Bay Campus
3000 NE 151 Street, MSB-250N
North Miami, Florida 33181, USA​​​​​​​​​​​

Phylogenetics, Decapods, Evolution, Ecology, Conservation
Vanessa Moreno
Research Assistant 

Florida International University-Biscayne Bay Campus
3000 NE 151 Street, MSB-330
North Miami, Florida 33181, USA​​​​​​​​​​​

Deep sea biology, evolutionary ecology, fish biology and phylogenetic traits in crustaceans.
Anchita Sanan
Undergraduate Research Assistant 

Florida International University-Biscayne Bay Campus
3000 NE 151 Street, MSB-330
North Miami, Florida 33181, USA​​​​​​​​​​​

Deep sea biology, evolutionary ecology, decapod phylogenetics, fish biology!

Previous Lab Members

Katrina Abel
Former Research Assistant 
Dr. Laura Timm
Former PhD Student
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Now pursuing a Postdoctoral position at the University of Colorado in Denver, Colorado.
Alexis Snyder
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant
Stacie Schulman
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant

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Dr. Hernán Vázquez-Miranda
Postdoctoral Associate

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Alyssa Morgan
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant 
Julian Martínez
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant 

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Barbara Moahamed
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant 

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Adriana Suarez
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant 

 

Ahmed Alnahhas
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant 

 

Chris Rizzie
Former Research Assistant 

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Joan Glenny
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant 

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Jonathan Harms
Former Research Assistant
Blake Wilkins
Former Research Technician 

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Lauren Ramos
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant.
Currently pursuing a field technician position in FIU's Everglades Ecology Research Lab under Dr. Joel Trexlor

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Sheilla Robles
Former Volunteer - Biscayne Bay Monitoring

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Shaina Lear
Former Research Technician

 

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Juliet Wong
Former Lab Manager/Research Technician

 

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Nicole Odzer
Former High School Research Assistant 

 

Carmen Ekert
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant