Carrier Award for Best Poster:
2019 – Joshua Moyer
2018 – Beth Bowers
2017 – John Swenson
2016 – Brit Finucci
Victoria University of Wellington, Ph.D. Candidate
2015 – Darcy Bradley
2014- Callie Crawford
College of Charleston, MS candidate
2013 – Teagan Gray
Nova Southeastern University, MS candidate
2012 – None
2011 – Misty Paig-Tran
University of Washington, Friday Harbor Labs, PhD candidate with Dr. Adam Summers
Title: Doing it their way: Exploring the filter morphology and filtration mechanisms in Mobulidae
Research Interests: I’m interested in understanding the feeding mechanics behind ram suspension feeding, particularly in elasmobranchs (sharks and rays). There are only 13 species of known filter-feeding elasmobranchs, which include: whale sharks, basking sharks, mega mouth sharks, manta rays and nine species of devil rays. Filter feeding in the elasmobranchs arrived through convergent evolution and each genus appears to filter in completely different ways!
2010 – Christine Ambrosino
2009 – Tricia Meredith
Florida Atlantic University, PhD candidate with Dr. Steve Kaijura
Title: Olfactory thresholds of elasmobranchs.
Research Interests: I was researching olfaction in elasmobranchs with projects focusing on characterizing their olfactory capabilities (repertoire of odorants, sensitivity), determining the types of olfactory receptors they possess, and examining the organization of the olfactory bulb of the brain.
2008 – Andrew Piercy
2007 – Justin Schaefer
1999 – Jen Wyffels
Gruber Award for Best Oral Presentation:
2021 – Jennifer Pytka
2019 – Diego Cardeñosa
2018 – Lauren Meyer
2017 – Samantha Leigh
2016 – Matt Kolmann
University of Toronto, Ph.D. Candidate
2015 – Darcy Bradley
2014 – Chris Mull
Simon Fraser University, Ph.D. Candidate
2013 – Kady Lyons
California State University Long Beach, MS candidate
2012 – Kristine Stump
University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, PhD candidate
2011 – Andrew Nosal
Scripps Institute of Oceanography, UC San Diego, PhD Candidate
Title: Aggregation behavior of the leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) at the head of La Jolla Submarine Canyon, La Jolla, California, USA
Research Interests: Behavior, ecology, and reproduction of elasmobranch fishes
Associated Publication: Demography and movement patterns of leopard sharks ( Triakis semifasciata) aggregating near the head of a submarine canyon along the open coast of southern California, USA (in review, Environmental Biology of Fishes)
2010 – Danielle Knip
James Cook Univeristy, PhD with Dr. Michelle Heupel and Dr. Colin Simpfendorfer
Title: Site fidelity and habitat use of the spottail shark ( Carcharhinus sorrah) in a tropical nearshore environment.
Research Interests: My main research interests are: (1) behaviour, movement and habitat use of fishes, (2) effect of environmental variability on movement and distribution and how species respond to changes in their environment, (3) analysis and application of acoustic monitoring data and (4) effectiveness of spatial management (marine protected areas) for mobile species, such as sharks.
Associated Publications: Knip DM, Heupel MR, Simpfendorfer CA (2012). Habitat use and spatial segregation of adult spottail sharks Carcharhinus sorrah in tropical nearshore waters. Journal of Fish Biology, 80: 767-784. Knip DM, Heupel MR, Simpfendorfer CA (2012) To roam or to home: site fidelity in a tropical coastal shark. Marine Biology 159: 1647-1657.
2009 – Thomas Farrugia
California State University Long Beach, M.Sc. with Dr. Chris Lowe
Title: Testing a New Long-term, Fine-scale Positional System for Tracking Multiple Fish Simultaneously.
Research Interests: My current research is an interdisciplinary evaluation of the skate fishery in the Gulf of Alaska, including movement patterns, stock assessment and bioeconomic modeling. Through this approach, I hope to develop recommendations for a harvest strategy and management plan for the development of a skate fishery.
Associated Publications: Espinoza M., Farrugia T.J., Webber D.M., Smith F., Lowe C.G. 2011. Testing a new acoustic telemetry technique to quantify long-term, fine-scale movements of aquatic animals. Fisheries Research 108(2011):364-371
Farrugia T.J., Espinoza M., Lowe C.G. 2011. Abundance, habitat use and movement patterns of the shovelnose guitarfish (Rhinobatos productus) in a restored southern California estuary. Marine and Freshwater Research 62:648-657.
2008 – Nicholas Wegner
2007 – David McGowan
2006 – Laura Jordan
Donald R. Nelson Behavior Research Award:
2021 – Ashley Dawdy
Florida State University
2017 – Emily Meese
2016 – Theresa Gunn
Georgia Southern University
2015 – Chuck Bangley
2014 – James Anderson
University of Hawaii, “Magnetic field perception and discrimination in elasmobranch fishes”
2013 – Kyle Newton
Florida Atlantic University
2012 – Lindsay Harris
Florida Atlantic University, MS candidate
2011 – None
2010 – None
2009 – Christine Bedore
Florida Atlantic University, PhD candidate with Dr. Steve Kaijura
Title: Electrosensory sensitivity of the cownose ray, Rhinoptera bonasus, and its role in the detection of bivalve prey in the Chesapeake Bay
Research Interests: I am studying the sensory system of batoid elasmobranchs to see how morphology, habitat, behavior, and diet specializations may affect sensory function. Specifically, I am looking at differences in the electrosensory and visual systems of the cownose ray and yellow stingray.
Associated Publications: Bedore, C.N. and S.M Kajiura. 2013. Bioelectric fields of marine elasmobranchs: voltage and frequency contributions to detectability by electroreceptive predators. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology (In press)
2008 – Tricia Meredith
Florida Atlantic University, PhD with Dr. Steve Kaijura
Title: Olfaction in hammerhead sharks.
Research Interests: I was researching olfaction in elasmobranchs with projects focusing on characterizing their olfactory capabilities (repertoire of odorants, sensitivity), determining the types of olfactory receptors they possess, and examining the organization of the olfactory bulb of the brain.
Associated Publications: Meredith, T.L. and Kajiura, S.M. 2010. Olfactory morphology and physiology of elasmobranchs. Journal of Experimental Biology. 213: 3449-3456.
2007 – Jayne Gardiner
University of South Florida, PhD with Dr. Phil Motta
Research Interests: My dissertation research focused on multisensory integration (olfaction, vision, mechanoreception, electroreception) in the feeding behavior of sharks and other fishes.
Associated Publications: Gardiner, J.M., Hueter, R.E., Sisneros, J.A., Maruska, K.P., Casper, B.M., Mann, D.A., and Desmski, L.S. 2012, In Press. Sensory Physiology and Behavior of Elasmobranchs. In: Carrier, J.C., Musick, J.A., Heithaus, M.R. (Eds.) Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives, 2nd edition. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. Gardiner, J.M. and Atema, J. 2010. The function of bilateral odor arrival time differences in olfactory orientation of sharks. Current Biology 20: 1187-1191. 2006 – Lisa Whitenack
AES Student Research Award:
2021 – Emily Meese
Texas A&M University Galveston
2019 – Oliver Shipley
2018 – Nick Weber
2017 – Theresa Gunn
2016 – Jenny Kemper
2015 – Kyle Newton
2014 – Kelsey James
University of Rhode Island, “Examination of band pair formation in elasmobranch vertebrae”
2013 – Matt Kolmann
University of Toronto, Ph.D. candidate
2012 – Kady Lyons
California State University Long Beach, MS candidate
2011 – Christine Bedore
Florida Atlantic University, PhD candidate with Dr. Steve Kaijura
Title: Visual temporal resolution in batoid elasmobranchs
Research Interests: I am studying the sensory system of batoid elasmobranchs to see how morphology, habitat, behavior, and diet specializations may affect sensory function. Specifically, I am looking at differences in the electrosensory and visual systems of the cownose ray and yellow stingray.
2010 – Tricia Meredith
Florida Atlantic University, PhD candidate with Dr. Steve Kaijura
Title: Hemi-bulb organization in the elasmobranch brain.
Research Interests: I was researching olfaction in elasmobranchs with projects focusing on characterizing their olfactory capabilities (repertoire of odorants, sensitivity), determining the types of olfactory receptors they possess, and examining the organization of the olfactory bulb of the brain.
Associated Publications: Meredith, T.L., Hansen A., and Kajiura, S.M. 2012. The somatotopic organization of the hemi- olfactory bulb in elasmobranchs. In press.
2009 – Laura Macesic
2008 – Joe DiBattista
2007 – Marianne Porter
2006 – Wes Dowd
Henry & Anne Mollet Elasmobranch Research Award:
2021 – Maria Sabano
University of Delaware
2019 – Emily Peele
2018 – Derek Kraft
2017 – Sarah Hoffman
2016 – John Swenson
2015 – Shannon Barry
2014 – Kyle Newton
Florida Atlantic University, “Yellow stingrays, Urobatis jamaicensis, respond to magnetic stimuli but which cues might be used by elasmobranchs for navigation and orientation?”
2013 – Chris Mull
Simon Fraser University, PhD candidate
2012 – Valentina di Santo
Boston University, PhD candidate
2011 – Joe Bizzarro
University of Washington/School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, PhD Candidate with Dr. Adam Summers
Title: Comparative resource utilization of eastern North Pacific skate (Rajiformes) with applications for ecosystem-based fisheries management.
Research Interests: Trophic relationships and spatial associations of elasmobranchs and teleosts.
2010 – Christine Bedore
Florida Atlantic University, PhD candidate with Dr. Steve Kaijura
Title: Evolution of color vision in basal vertebrates.
Research Interests: I am studying the sensory system of batoid elasmobranchs to see how morphology, habitat, behavior, and diet specializations may affect sensory function. Specifically, I am looking at differences in the electrosensory and visual systems of the cownose ray and yellow stingray.