SAC members volunteer for the needs of AES student members and the AES society as a whole. They volunteer their time running the AES Store and Auctions at the annual meetings, as well as working on their own research, helping students of AES to network, and contributing to elasmobranch science as a whole. Below you can find each member, how they contribute to the SAC, and their associations and contacts.
Lukas Heath
Chair
Graduate Student
University of Florida
Fisheries Biologist
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
More information
Email: Lukas.Heath@myfwc.com
I am a graduate student at the University of Florida and a fish biologist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in Dr. Gregg Poulakis’ lab. We study the biology and ecology of the endangered smalltooth sawfish, currently focusing on movements, reproductive biology, genetics, musculature, age and growth, and ongoing mortality events. I have been attending AES meetings since 2018 and currently serve as the SAC chair.
Nick Weber
Early Career Representative
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Portnoy Lab
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I am a postdoctoral research associate in the Portnoy lab at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where I use genomic techniques to answer ecological-based questions. I am currently developing epigenetic clocks for non-lethal age estimation in both teleosts and elasmobranchs of management and conservation concern. I have been a member of AES since 2018. I am currently serving as the Early Career Rep on SAC.
Lindsay Mullins
Postdoctoral Representative
Postdoctoral Researcher
Mississippi State University – Dr. Marcus Drymon Lab
Mississippi State University – Dr. Marcus Drymon Lab
2026 Knauss Fellow with NOAA
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I am a post-doctoral researcher at Mississippi State University in Dr. Marcus Drymon’s lab, as well as a 2026 Knauss Fellow with NOAA Fisheries Office of Sustainable Fisheries Highly Migratory Species Division. My work focuses on the spatial ecology of coastal sharks, particularly immature bull sharks, as well as developing outreach materials for public engagement and education. I have been a member of AES since 2020, and am excited to serve on SAC for the first time this year.
Carylanne Maier
Social Media Coordinator
Graduate Student
University of Nebraska at Kearney
University of Nebraska at Kearney
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I am a graduate student at University of Nebraska at Kearney studying biology with a focus on ecology and conservation in aquatic environments and human involvement, and I also teach college composition at South Florida State College from my first Master’s degree in English. My interests include conservation, ecology, GIS, science communication, and teaching. I love science communication, having published five books for children on various animals, and sharing science with the public on BlueSky. I have been a member of AES since 2019, a member of SAC since 2025, and currently serve as SAC social media coordinator.
Maria Pierce
Student Workshop Coordinator
PhD Student
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Dr. Kara Yopak’s Lab
Dr. Kara Yopak’s Lab
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I am a current graduate student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington with Dr. Kara Yopak, studying the neuroanatomy of the smalltooth sawfish. I am currently serving as the Workshop Coordinator on SAC and have been attending AES meetings since 2024.
Morgan Lattomus
Student Store Coordinator
Graduate Student at the University of North Florida
Gelsleichter Shark Biology Lab
Gelsleichter Shark Biology Lab
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I am a second-year graduate student at the University of North Florida with Dr. Jim Gelsleichter, studying environmental toxicology and food web dynamics in estuarine environments. I am currently serving as one of the SAC student store coordinators and have been attending AES meetings since 2022.
Dakota Jacks
Student Store Coordinator
First-year graduate student
University of North Florida
Gelsleichter Shark Biology Lab
Gelsleichter Shark Biology Lab
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I am a first-year graduate student at the University of North Florida in Dr. Jim Gelsleichter’s lab. I am studying environmental toxicology, focusing specifically on mercury accumulation and distribution in sharks. I have been attending and presenting at AES meetings since 2024. This is my first year as a member of SAC and I am serving as a store coordinator.
Emma Jackson
Auction Coordinator
PhD Candidate
Florida State University
Dr. Dean Grubb’s Lab
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I am a third year PhD candidate at Florida State University in Dr. Dean Grubbs lab. I study shark, ray, and fish community ecology off the coast of Florida’s Big Bend region and the Deep sea. Additionally, I am exploring new methodologies to sample diets in large teleosts and elasmobranchs. I serve as one of the auction coordinators within the AES Student Affairs Committee.
Kenzie Horton
Auction Coordinator
Head Resident Scientist
North Carolina Shark Conservancy
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Kenzie serves as the Head Resident Scientist for the North Carolina Shark Conservancy, where she manages the shark stranding database and is part of the development and implementation of the conservancy’s shark tagging program. She holds a B.S. in Marine Science from the University of South Florida and an M.S. in Marine Science from Jacksonville University, where her research focused on the movements and space use of white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in the overwintering residency area off the Carolinas in the Western North Atlantic. Prior to joining the NCSC, Kenzie worked as a fisheries biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fisheries Independent Monitoring Program, leading inshore and offshore research assessing fish and shark communities across Florida’s coastal systems. Her field and analytical expertise includes shark telemetry, spatial ecology, and fisheries monitoring, with experience in analyzing and visualizing ecological data. Passionate about science communication and education, she also serves as the Northeast Florida Regional Director for the Florida Marine Science Educators Association. She regularly participates in outreach programs such as Sharkcon, Fin Fest and other regional initiatives. Building on her previous work, she continues to emphasize the need for a deeper understanding of the Carolinas region and aims to advance knowledge of its ecological importance for both resident and migratory shark populations to support effective conservation efforts.
Joe Candia
T-Shirt Coordinator
Master’s Student
University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
Dr. Brad Wetherbee’s Lab
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I am a Master’s student at the University of Rhode Island in Dr. Brad Wetherbee’s lab studying the movement and behaviors of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) and the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) from large satellite telemetry datasets. My research interests focus on quantitative, spatial, movement, and behavioral ecology of all elasmobranch species to better inform management regarding conservation decisions. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a New York State certificate of adolescent education in biology from St. Joseph’s University – Long Island in 2024. This is my first year as a part of SAC, but I have been a member of AES since July 2024. This is my second AES meeting, but my first presentation at a meeting.
Linnea Cooley
Member at Large
Marine Biology Undergraduate Student
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
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I am an undergraduate student studying Marine Biology at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, CA. I work in the Semmens lab on eDNA bioinformatics methods development and am interested in using eDNA methods to survey local elasmobranch populations. After completing my BS in marine biology in December 2026, I plan to start a contiguous Master’s in Winter 2027 to assess long-term nearshore elasmobranch abundance and seasonality by designing and applying novel eDNA ddPCR assays. This will be my second AES meeting and my first year on SAC.
Andrew Lyons
Member at Large
PhD Candidate
University of Georgia
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I am a fourth-year PhD Candidate at the University of Georgia, where I am currently researching elasmobranch distribution and seasonal habitat use among Georgia’s inshore waterways. I have been working with these coastal communities of Georgia for nearly a decade. My Master’s research based out of Jacksonville University primarily focused on nursery usage of sharks, with an ongoing emphasis on lemon sharks. I hope to continue expanding my regional research and collaborations in the future to further understand how the uniquely underdeveloped marshes and islands contribute to the long-term success of the inshore populations of sharks, rays, and their prey. I am serving as a member-at-large on SAC.
Nathan Perisic
Member at Large
Marine Biologist & Research Associate
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I am a marine biologist and research associate with over a decade of experience in shark ecology, conservation, and science communication. My work focuses on the behavior, movement, and population dynamics of large coastal sharks, including tiger, bull, and thresher sharks across the Maldives, Caribbean, and eastern Pacific. I earned my Master’s degree in Marine Biology from Northeastern University and currently collaborate with organizations including Pelagios Kakunjá and Beneath the Waves. I am an active member of AES and regularly present my research at international conferences.
Open Position
Member at Large
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