1. What do you study related to biodiversity (what are your research questions, what organisms do you work on)?
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I study populations of lemon sharks in the western Atlantic. Our questions include:
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What is the population genetics of this species (how are populations genetically similar to one another)?
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What is the mating system of this species?
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How do individual females use specific nursery grounds throughout the range of this species.
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2. How do you study biodiversity (for example, what technological tools and methodologies do you use in your research)?
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 We are examining these questions almost exclusively based on genetic data. We use genetic markers known as microsatellites—highly variable regions of the genome that enable us to genetically identify individual sharks with several microsatellite loci.
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3. Where do you study biodiversity?
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Our study sites include:
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Atol das Rocas, an atoll located off the coast of Brazil
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Marquesas Key, Florida, located just west of Key West
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Glover's reef, Belize
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Our main study site is Bimini, Bahamas
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4. How might your research have implications for biological conservation?
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 One of the discoveries we made was that individual female lemon sharks use a nursery at Bimini to give birth to their young. They do this on a biennial cycle (meaning they come to these nurseries every other year). If females use specific nurseries throughout their range (we think they do and this is something we are currently examining), then not only do we have to conserve the animal itself, but the nurseries themselves are vital to the survival of this species.
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5. How did you become interested in science? What made you want to be a scientist, and how did you get to The Field Museum?
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There isn't one specific event that sparked my interest in science. I have always been fascinated with animals. I think what sparked my interest in sharks is the fact that my parent wouldn't let me see Jaws.
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