FISHY
FOLK
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Wilga Lab Fall 2010: Jason Ramsay,
Rachel Nichols, Cheryl Wilga, Jordan Balaban and Friends!
See Anabela and Jason's research on the
Canadian Discovery Channel here
(may need to copy and paste the link into your browser):
http://watch.discoverychannel.ca/daily-planet/january-2011/daily-planet---january-26-2011/#clip414180
http://watch.discoverychannel.ca/daily-planet/february-2011/daily-planet---february-07-2011/#clip414582
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DR.
CHERYL WILGA |
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CURRENT GRADUATE
STUDENTS
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Jason Ramsay, Ph.D.
Cranial Morphology, Mechanics
and
Muscle Function in Suction and Ram/Bite Feeding Sharks. |
Jordan Balaban, M.Sc. Student.
Evolution of Jaw Suspension in Chondrichthyes |
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Rachel Nichols, Ph.D. Student.
Hydrodynamic function of cephalic lobes in rays.
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CURRENT FISHES |
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Spiny Dogfish
Squalus acanthias |
Little Skate Leucoraja erinacea |
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Spiny Dogfish Newborns (1 - 2.5 days old) |
Little Skate Hatchling
(1 - 2.5 days old) |
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CURRENT UNDERGRADUATE
STUDENTS
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Haley Filo, B.S. student,
Muscle strain in dogfish. Coastal Fellow 2010 and 2011.
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Dave Nelson, B.S. student,
Cartilage strain in sharks. Coastal Fellow 2011. |
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VISITING FISHY FOLK! |
Dr. Chris Sanford from Hofstra University and Jason
studying crushing in bamboo sharks.
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Dr. Chris Sanford collaborating on suction
generation
in bamboo
sharks. |
Dr.
Phil Motta from the University of South Florida
collaborating on suction feeding in Little skates.
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Dr. Phil Motta collaborating on suction feeding in spiny dogfish.
Rolling Hills Research Water Tunnel Model 1520. |
Dr. Dave Koester from the University of New England
collaborating on
skate punting. |
Dr. Dave Koester collaborating on skate punting. |
Mason Dean from the University of California Irvine and
Shannon Gerry collaborating on skate feeding. |
Spectacular findings from extraordinary grad students! |
Dr. Shannon Gerry,
Dr. Eileen Grogan
and Dray Smith studying feeding in dogfish. |
Dr. Dick Lund,
Dr. Eileen Grogan and Dray Smith. |
The elusive
URI sink shark!
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ALUMNI
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS
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Sandra Nauwelaerts, Postdoctoral Researcher,
2005-2006.
Hydrodynamics of suction feeding in bamboo sharks and stingrays. Currently
a
Research Associate at McPhail Performance Center Michigan State University and
Antwerp University.
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Shannon Gerry,
Ph.D. 2008. Sigma Xi URI Outstanding Dissertation Award, URI Excellence
in Doctoral Research Award.
Dissertation: Feeding Mechanics in a Trophic Generalist and
Specialist Shark Species: A Comparison of Diet, Behavior and Function.
Postdoctoral Researcher at Wellesley College 2008-2011. Currently an Assistant
Professor at Fairfield College, 2011. |
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Jocelyne Dolce,
M.S. 2009.
Thesis: A Morphological And Functional Analysis Of Suction
Ventilation Mechanics In Resting And Swimming Sharks.
Currently a Biological Sciences Laboratory Specialist at
Wellesley College. |
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Stacey Sakai, M.S. 2011. Thesis:
Morphology, Ecology and Function in Elasmobranchs: Comparative Analysis
of the Pectoral Fins. Comprative methods for measuring cartilage strain.
Current Position: M.S. Forensic Science, Virginia
Commonwealth University. |
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Anabela Maia, Ph.D. 2011. Fulbright Scholar,
Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation Doctoral
Grant,
URI Excellence in Doctoral
Research Award.
Dissertation Functional
Morphology of the Dorsal Fins in Sharks during Steady Swimming and
Maneuvering. Postdoctoral Researcher at Ghent University in Belgium
2011-2012. Postdoctoral Researcher at Tufts University 2012. |
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UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS
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Danielle Duquette,
B.S. 2007. Student, Coastal Fellow 1st Place poster,
Honors Thesis:
Suction Generation During Feeding in Little Skates.
M.Sc. University of New Hampshire. Current position: Marine Research
Assistant, URI. |
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Rebecca Allen. B.S. 2008, Summa Cum Laude, Coastal Fellow.
Undergraduate Research: Suction and
bite processing mechanics during feeding in spiny dogfish. Current
Position: Medical student at Ross University. |
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Andrea Scott,
B.S. 2009, Summa
Cum Laude, Academic Excellence Award in Marine Biology.
Undergraduate Research: Motor coordination of feeding and ventilation in spiny
dogfish.
Current Position: Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection |
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Ashley Stoehr,
B.S. Marine Biology 2010, Summa Cum Laude, Academic
Excellence Award in Marine Biology and Political Science,
Coastal Fellow, Prey Processing in sharks and skates. Current Position:
Ph.D. Graduate Student at UMass Dartmouth. |
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Amy Maynard,
B.S. Marine Biology
2010, Coastal Fellow,
Morphological And Functional Analysis Of Suction Ventilation Mechanics
In Resting And Swimming Sharks and
Routine
turning in the presence and the absence of food in juvenile dogfish.
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Jennifer Dautrich,
B.S. Marine Biology
2010, Undergraduate Researcher.
Routine
turning in the presence and the absence of food in juvenile dogfish.
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Ashley Heinz,
B.S. Marine Biology
2010, Undergraduate Researcher, Fast-start behavior in hatchling skates.
Current Position: M.S. Graduate Student at College of the Atlantic. |
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Peter Lewis, B.S. Marine Biology 2010,
Undergraduate Researcher, Fluid mechanics of the pectoral fins in
dogfish. Current position: Environmental biologist in CT. |
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Lynn Ficarra, B.S. Marine Biology 2011,
Undergraduate Researcher, Coordination of Ventilation and Feeding
Mechanics in Elasmobranchs. Current Position: Ph.D. Graduate Student at
University of Massachusetts Boston. |
UNDERGRADUATE ASSISTANTS
Jessica Powell. B.S. 2001. Honors
thesis. Prey capture success in bamboo sharks. URI M.Sc. 2004.
Elizabeth Little. B.A. 2006.
Reproduction in sharks.
Elizabeth Kordowski. B.S. 2002.
Identification of whales in the northeast Atlantic.
Executive Director for the RI
Lobstermen's Association.
Amber (Bifolk) Fisher. B.S. 2002. Upper jaw protrusion in bamboo
sharks. The effects of venting on snappers and groupers in the Gulf of
Mexico.Staff research Associate at UC. Berkeley.
Jason Ramsay. B.S. 2004. Skeletal
morphology of the feeding apparatus in bamboo sharks. Ph.D. candidate URI.
Jocelyne Dolce. B.S. 2003. M.Sc.
URI 2009. Patterns of ventilation in ram feeding sharks. Faculty Instructor at
Wellesley College.
Mary-Elizabeth Miller. B.S.
2002.
Chordate anatomy laboratory web
manual. Graduate
student and
research assistant at Cornell Univ.
Katherine Kendrick. B.S. 2005.
Methods in functional morphology.
Sarah Bonito. B.S. 2003.
Morphology
of the lateral musculature in spiny dogfish. Phlebotomist in RI.
Brian Morey. B.S. 3002.
Morphology of the tail musculature in spiny dogfish.
Sy Harris. B.A. 2006.Documentary
on feeding and respiration in sharks.
Nadia Archambault. B.S. 2008.
Functional
morphology of plantar fasciitis. Doctor of Pharmacy 2008.
Eric Meehan. B.S. 2003.
Functional morphology of plantar fasciitis. Doctor of Podiatric Medicine 2007.
Podiatrist at South County Foot and
Ankle, RI.
Jessica Wellington. B.S. 2004.
B.A. 2004. Suction generation in hatchling bamboo sharks. Veterinary School at
Tufts University.
Jeremy Wright. B.S. 2004. Prey
selection by skates. Ph.D. candidate
at the U. Michigan.
Stacey Getto. B.S. 2005.
Reproductive anatomy in vertebrates. B.U. School of Public Health, Maternal and
Child Health Program. Center Manager Isis Maternity.
Cynthia (Smith) Anderson. M.A.
Education, Secondary Education URI, 2006. Lesson plans for high school labs.
Ph.D. student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Lazaro Garcia.B.S. 2006. Prey
selection by skates. Suction feeding in skates.
Maura Allard. B.S. 2006.
Bioacoustics in manatees.
Kristine Kalapos. B.S. 2004. Suction generation in hatchling
sharks.
Samantha Kelly.B.S. 2006. Population ecology of manatees.
Internship training seals for the
U.S. Navy in San Diego.
Heather Smith. B.S. 2006. Anatomy of the brachial plexus.
Alexis Klepacki. B.S. URI. 2006. Ontogeny of mammalian heart
structure. Intern at Westerly Hospital. M.Sc. PA. 2008. Physician’s Assistant
Baystate Medical Center. MA.
Courtney Klenk. B.S. 2007. Suction feeding in skates. Research
Award. Doctor of Physical Therapy 2010, Westbrook College of Health Professions,
University of New England.
Jordan Balaban. B.S. 2006. Suction feeding in skates. Anatomy of
the brachial plexus. Research Assistant at NY Dept. Health, NY Psychiatric
Institute Columbia University, and Center for Alcohol and Addiction studies at
Brown University. Ph.D. student at URI in my lab.
Juliette Nash. B.A. 2006. Cetacean communication.
Dominic Moccia. B.S. 2006. Anatomy of the brachial plexus.
M.B.A. program at URI.
Katherine Devin. B.S. 2006, B.A. 2006. Anatomy of the hepatic
system.
Danielle Duquette. B.S. 2007. Mechanics of suction generation
during feeding in little skates. M.Sc. student at UNH.
Amanda Karch. B.S. 2007. Gill slit kinematics during
ventilation and feeding in bamboo sharks.
Ashley Stoehr. B.S. 2010. B.A. 2010. Prey processing mechanics in
skates. Ph.D. Student at UM Dartmouth.
Rebecca Allen. B.S. 2008. Suction and bite processing mechanics
during feeding in spiny dogfish. Medical School Student Ross University.
Corey Eddy. B.S. 2008. Hammerhead populations. Ph.D. Student at
UM Dartmouth.
Alexandra Widmer. B.S. 2010. Growth rate in newborn spiny
dogfish.
Andrea Scott. B.S. 2009. Muscle
activity during ventilation and feeding in dogfish. CT DEP.
Ashley Heinze. B.S. 2010. Swimming behavior in dogfish.
M.Sc. student at College of the Atlantic.
Lynn Ficarra. B.S. 2009-2011. Ventilation Mechanics in elasmobranchs.
Ph.D. student at U MA Boston.
Bonnie Witt. B.S. 2009. Swimming behavior in dogfish.
Ananda Fraser. B.S. 2010. B.S. 2010. Research Technician.
URI MESM student.
Jennifer Dautrich.B.S. 2010. Routine turning behavior in
spiny dogfish. M.Sc. student at Lehigh U. Save the Bay.
Amy Maynard. B.S. 2010. Routine turning behavior in
yearling spiny dogfish. Ventilation Mechanics in Sharks. Research Assistant for
Dr. Forrester at URI and Research Assistant for Pfizer Inc. .
Christopher Cilfone.
B.S. 2010. Feeding Mechanics in Spiny Dogfish. Naturalist/Deckhand. Dolphin Jet
Boat Tours and Harv and Marv's Alaska Whale Watching. Juneau. AK.
Callie Crawford.
B.S. 2010. Foraging in newborn dogfish.
Stephanie Gildea.
B.S. 2010. Feeding Mechanics in spiny dogfish.
Kimberly Arbonies.
B.S. 2010. Swimming behavior in sharks.
Louis Marchetti.
B.S. 2010. Anatomy Dissection Manual. Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Laboratory
Assistant.
Brittany McGee.
B.S. 2011. Swimming behavior in sharks.
Peter Lewis. B.S. 2010. Pectoral fin function in dogfish. MA
DEP.
Haley Filo. 2010. Muscle strain in dogfish during feeding.
Dave Nelson. 2010, 2011. Functional morphology of the pectoral fins in
sharks.
Aaron Hawkins. 2011. Aquarium Technician.
Dillon Rilley 2011. Aquarium Technician.
Tiffany Lewis. 2011. Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Laboratory
Assistant.
Tom Seckel. 2011. Summer Intern. Aquarium Technician.
Lynn Ficarro. B.S. 2011. Coordination of Ventilation and Feeding
Mechanics in Elasmobranchs.
Mark Billard. 2011. Morphology of the hyoid arch in sharks.
Dave Nelson. 2012. Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Lab
Technician.
K-12
STUDENT INTERNS
Ryan Iovino. Governors Award Winner of the R.I. Science Fair
Competition at the middle school level, chose, from many state and government
institutions, to intern in my laboratory for one week in the summer of 2004.
Ryan Iovino,conducted his science fair project in my lab during the Spring
2005 on feeding behavior in bamboo sharks.
Laura Cunningham. Governors Award Winner of the R.I. Science Fair
Competition, senior level competition. Chose, from many state and government
institutions, to intern in my laboratory for one week in the summer of 2006.
Alana Mercurio. Freshman at Scituate High School conducted her
science fair project in my lab during the Fall 2007 on determining differences
in drag on various swimsuit textures and styles.
