News

Join us for Whitney Laboratory's 50th Anniversary Soiree April 12!

Soiree graphic

Join us for an evening of heavy hors d’oeuvres, music and a marine focused silent auction. Read More


Ten questions to guide behavioral experiments

Date with a Fly credit: Julia Schlee, MPINB

The 10-step “guideline”, entertainingly written and published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, encourages researchers to (re-)engage with their animals’ ecology and lifestyle. Read More


Women's History Month - Margaret James, Ph.D.

Margaret James

Whitney Laboratory celebrates Women's History Month - Join us throughout March as we celebrate women who have helped shape the Whitney Laboratory to what it is today! As one of the lab’s first female faculty members, Dr. James helped expand its range of research. Read More


Registration Open for 2024 Summer Camps

Girl holding dna made from candy

Registration is now open for the 2024 Whitney Laboratory Science Summer Day Camps and Sea Turtle Summer Camp! Read More


Ctenophores deploy a rapid injury response dating back to the last common animal ancestor

Two juvenile ctenophores of the species Mnemiopsis leidyi

Congratulations to Whitney researchers Dorothy Mitchell, Dr. Allison Edgar, Julia Ramon Mateu, Dr. Joseph Ryan and Dr. Mark Martindale who published a paper titled "The ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi deploys a rapid injury response dating back to the last common animal ancestor" in Communications Biology. Read More


Women's History Month - Melba Caldwell, M.A.

Melba Caldwell

Whitney Laboratory celebrates Women's History Month - Join us throughout March as we celebrate women who have helped shape the Whitney Laboratory to what it is today! Melba C. Caldwell, a dolphin communication expert with 45 publications, helped persuade C. V. “Sonny” Whitney to build a new research facility that would eventually become the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience. Read More


Evenings at Whitney March 14

Evenings at Whitney graphic with speaker photo

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series continues Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 6 p.m. with the program titled “Fish Ecology in a Rapidly Changing World”. Robert Lamb, Ph.D., Marine Ecologist, Research Assistant Professor at the UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station, will be the speaker. Read More


Ryan Lab welcomes Dr. Urvashi Goswami

Goswami, Urvashi

Please welcome Dr. Urvashi Goswami to the Whitney Laboratory! Urvashi recently joined the Ryan Lab as a Postdoctoral Associate. Read More


Evenings at Whitney - YouTube Link, Tapeworm Tails: Understanding stem cells and regeneration in Hymenolepis diminuta

Tapeworm

If you missed our February Evenings at Whitney, "Tapeworm Tails: Understanding stem cells and regeneration in Hymenolepis diminuta" with Tania Rozario, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics and Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases at the University of Georgia, the YouTube link is below. Read More


Fish sensory cells have close evolutionary ties to sensory cells of humans and other vertebrates

Larval Zebrafish, credit: 7dpf larva, akiramuto.net/archives/458, CC BY 4.0, Credit: National Institute of Genetics

Congratulations to Whitney researchers Dr. Elias Lunsford, Dr. Yuriy Bobkov, Brandon Ray, Dr. James Liao and Dr. James Strother who published a paper titled "Anion efflux mediates transduction in the hair cells of the zebrafish lateral line" in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Read More


Stand Up & Holler, It's Gator Nation Giving Day!

Whitney Laboratory Giving Day Design

Join together with the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience on Giving Day – your gift can directly impact our areas of greatest need. 2 Bits, 4 Bits, Every Bit Counts! Read More


Schnitzler Lab Welcomes Dr. Zac Lane

Lane, Zac

Please welcome Dr. Zac Lane to the Whitney Laboratory!  He recently joined the Schnitzler Lab as a Postdoctoral Associate.  Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Summer Internship Application Deadline March 1

Collage of interns at the sea turtle hospital

The internship at The Sea Turtle Hospital at UF Whitney Lab is designed to be a career learning experience. Interns will gain first-hand experience in data collection, sanitation procedures, food preparation, and sea turtle husbandry. Read More


Whitney Lab 5K Registration Now Open!

Whitney Lab 5K Graphic

Lace up your shoes for marine science! Join us as we commemorate 50 years of science and discovery at UF Whitney Lab with a 5k Race! Run, walk, or jog with us at the beautiful River to Sea Preserve trails (or anywhere with our virtual option) to celebrate this historic anniversary and support marine conservation. Read More


Whitney Lab Sea Turtle Hospital's Devon Ramia Awarded UF Superior Accomplishment Award

Ramia, Devon

Congratulations to Sea Turtle Hospital Manager Devon Ramia for being nominated and selected through a very keen year of competition as a Superior Accomplishment Awardee by the University of Florida! Read More


Whitney Laboratory Turns 50!

Group of people standing in front of sign for future site of Whitney Laboratory

Five Decades of Discovery! Let's take a look back about how it all began..... Read More


Dr. Barbara Anne Battelle Excellence in Scientific Communication Fall Awards

Three women smiling

Congratulations to the fall semester recipients of the Dr. Barbara Anne Battelle Excellence in Scientific Communication Award - Lauren Kunselman, Seaver Lab (Graduate Student Winner) and Dr. Federica Scucchia, Martindale Lab (Postdoctoral Research Associate Winner) Read More


Evenings at Whitney February 8

Evenings at Whitney graphic with speaker photo

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series continues Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 6 p.m. with the program titled “Tapeworm Tails: Understanding stem cells and regeneration in Hymenolepis diminuta”. Tania Rozario, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics and Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases at the University of Georgia, will be the speaker. Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Welcomes Winter Intern Gracie Harris

Harris, Gracie

Welcome to our newest team member winter intern, Gracie Harris! Gracie is a St. Augustine native who discovered her love for the ocean very early in life. Read More


Bailey-Niblett Family Endowment Helps Fund Trip to SICB

Speaker presenting to a group of people

This January the Bailey-Niblett Family Endowment helped fund a Whitney Postdoctoral Research Associate's trip Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) conference from January 2- 6, 2024, in Seattle, Washington. Read More


Evenings at Whitney YouTube Link - Battle for the Bats: Development of Treatments for White Nose Syndrome

Four bats

If you missed our January Evenings at Whitney, "Battle for the Bats: Development of Treatments for White Nose Syndrome" with Christine Salomon, PhD, Associate Professor, Center for Drug Design, University of Minnesota, the YouTube link is below. Read More


Martindale Lab Welcomes Mayline Goëb

Goëb, Mayline

Please welcome Mayline Goëb to the Whitney Laboratory! Mayline Goëb is a visiting research scholar in the Martindale Lab and will be study adherens junctions in ctenophores at the Whitney Lab. Read More


Whitney Researchers publish article in Science of the Total Environment

Sea Turtle Hospital patient Colonel

Congratulations to Whitney Laboratory researchers who published an article in Science of the Total Environment -"Multicellular species environmental DNA (eDNA) research constrained by overfocus on mitochondrial DNA". Read More


Fluorescent micrograph by Alicia Boyd selected for the cover of Invertebrate Biology (December 2023 issue)

Invertebrate Biology 2023 Cover

In this issue, Alicia Boyd and Elaine Seaver investigate anterior and posterior regeneration potential in C. teleta larvae. Read More


Sea Turtle Pegasus Released

Woman releasing sea turtle into ocean

Sea Turtle Hospital patient Pegasus returned to their ocean home on January 4 and had a private release at Ormond Beach, Florida. Sponsor families and friends were invited to attend. Read More


Brent Foster Wins Art Awards at the Node - BSDB's Virtual Art Exhibition

Art of Nautilus and Octopus by Brent Foster

The exhibit showcased the variety of interests and artistic talents among the developmental biology community. Read More


Now Recruiting: Director of the Whitney Laboratory

Person with recruitment wording

The Whitney community seeks an innovative leader who has strategic and executive strengths to forge bold scientific directions, and to expand a culture that values and promotes diversity. The leader sought will bring passion to advance our mission to train, mentor, and empower the next generation of scientists.  Read More


Whitney Magnified was Magnificent!

Four art examples in a collage

Thank you to those who came out to our Whitney Magnified - Art of Science Silent Auction to support the Graduate Students at Whitney! These art pieces were created by our own scientists and the event was a resounding success.  Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital in USA Today

Woman holding turtle at Sea Turtle Hospital

Some species are at risk because of climate change and a decline in wild spaces. But what's next for those species? Veterinarians and staff at the Whitney Lab for Marine Bioscience in St. Augustine, Florida, are trying to answer that question. Read More


Evenings at Whitney Returns January 11 - Earlier Start Time 6 p.m.

Evenings at Whitney graphic with speaker photo

The first lecture of the spring series will be Thursday, January 11, 2024, at 6 p.m. with the program titled “Battle for the Bats: Development of Treatments for White Nose Syndrome”. Christine Salomon, PhD, Associate Professor, Center for Drug Design, University of Minnesota, will be the speaker. Read More


PhD Student Taryn Chaya Publishes in MDPI

 Chaya, Taryn

Congratulations to Taryn Chaya, Ph.D. student in the Osborne Lab for her recent publication on her MS research, "Assessing Water Quality Dynamics in Tidally Influenced Blackwater Rivers along a Rural–Urban Gradient" in MDPI. Read More


Ibarra-Castro Lab Welcomes Haley Roessling

Riesling, Haley

Please welcome Haley Roessling to Whitney Lab! She joins the Ibarra-Castro Lab as an aquaculture technician. Read More


Sea Turtle Hei Hei Released

Woman releasing sea turtle into the ocean

One of the Sea Turtle Hospital's fan favorites with his/her goofy personality returned to their ocean home on November 30. Sea Turtle Hospital patient Hei Hei received their swimming papers after six months of care and had a private release at Toronita Ave Beach Park in Wilbur by the Sea, Florida. Sponsor families and friends were able to attend. Read More


Lauren Kunselman Wins Poster Award at Florida Genetics Symposium

Student standing next to scientific research poster

Congratulations to Whitney Laboratory Ph.D. student Lauren Kunselman from the Seaver Lab for a 2nd place poster award at the 2023 Florida Genetics Symposium. Read More


A Chance Bobcat Sighting Leads to a novel eDNA Approach

Abby, an 8 year old bobcat (Lynx rufus) housed at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, photo by Jessica Stull

This paves the way for the rapid deployment of eDNA approaches for any species of interest, without requiring laborious development of targeted approaches, thereby increasing the ease and utility of eDNA research for endangered species conservation and management. Read More


Join us December 8 for Whitney Magnified - Art of Science

Graphic with Whitney Magnified, Art of Science wording

This event, benefitting Whitney's Graduate Student Association, is a silent auction fundraiser showcasing original art created by marine researchers at UF Whitney Laboratory. Read More


Whitney Welcomes Ethan Dunn to Facilities Team

Dunn, Ethan

Please welcome Ethan Dunn to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined the facilities team as a maintenance professional. Read More


Evenings at Whitney November 9

Evenings at Whitney graphic with speaker photo

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series continues Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “The Molecular Anatomy of Animal Body Plans”. Chris Lowe, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, will be the speaker. Read More


Local marine worms gain the ability to regenerate little by little over time

An amputated Capitella teleta larva, five days after amputating the tail. Dividing cells (green) are grouped at the cut site, indicating birth of new cells. (photo credit: Alicia Boyd)

UF Whitney Laboratory biologists show how a segmented marine worm found locally in muddy estuaries gradually gains the ability to regenerate during its life cycle. Their results highlight how developmental timing impacts the ability to regenerate missing tissues and structures, introducing a new angle on how regenerative abilities can change across time and hinting at potential mechanisms that could in theory be useful for switching regeneration on and off. Read More


Martindale Lab Biomineralization work covered by Science

A genetically engineered anemone produces a coral protein (red) that is concentrating calcium (blue)

Reefs are vibrant, living structures laid down over time by tiny tentacled animals. But how exactly corals construct the crystals that become the reefs’ craggy rocks—a process known as biomineralization—has long been a mystery. Now, researchers have finally made a breakthrough. Read More


Welcome Andrew Cross to Whitney Laboratory

Cross, Andrew

Please welcome Andrew Cross to Whitney Laboratory! Andrew joins the administration team as a research administrator, filling the vital role of assisting our PIs in submitting their grants. Read More


Support the Sea Turtle Hospital - Adopt a Washback Sea Turtle Until November 1!

Woman weighing washback sea turtle

Thank you to all who have joined us to support washback sea turtles cared for by the Sea Turtle Hospital staff each year by Adopting a Washback, each symbolically named! We are getting closer to our goal, and adoptions are only available until Wednesday, November 1, so don't delay!  Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Celebrates 8 Years!

Sea Turtle Hospital team at Taste of the Fun Coast Event

Happy 8th Anniversary of Saving Sea Turtles! Thank you for the steadfast support of all our guests, volunteers, interns, donors, followers, friends, family, and wonderful staff both past and present. The Sea Turtle Hospital's anniversary on October 24 was the same day as Taste of the Fun Coast, the foodie event at Hammock Beach Spa and Resort, that benefitted the Sea Turtle Hospital again this year. Read More


Join us October 27 to Celebrate the Sea Turtle Hospital's 8th Anniversary!

Flyer for Sea Turtle Hospital Open House

This year we would like to invite you to celebrate the Sea Turtle Hospital's 8th anniversary at our pop-up open house at the Sea Turtle Hospital at UF Whitney Lab on Friday, October 27 from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Read More


Evenings at Whitney YouTube Link - Bones, stones, and DNA: A Nature editor’s-eye view of human evolution

Cover of Nature Ecology

If you missed our October Evenings at Whitney, "Bones, stones, and DNA: A Nature editor’s-eye view of human evolution" with Luíseach Nic Eoin, Ph.D., Senior Editor at Nature Ecology and Evolution, the YouTube link is below. Read More


Liao Lab welcomes Glenn Greenwald

Greenwald, Glenn

Glenn Greenwald joined the Liao Lab as a part-time laboratory technician, where he is working on the snook and red drum movement projects. Read More


Grateful Gator Day!

Grateful Gator Day

Today we celebrate those who give back to the Whitney Laboratory and the University of Florida. Read More


Bringing Sea Turtle Conservation Into Focus - Whitney Lab and UF CITT launch online module

Sea turtle with module screenshots

The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience has launched its first Sea Turtle Conservation online learning module in partnership with the University of Florida Center for Instructional Design (CITT) team. Read More


Dr. David Duffy's eDNA Research Mentioned in Washington Post Article

Aerial view of the Whitney Laboratory campus

Assistant Professor of Wildlife Disease Genomics Dr. David Duffy and his lab's eDNA research were recently mentioned in the Washington Post Article - The high-tech hunt for one of the world’s most elusive sharks Read More


Adopt a Washback Sea Turtle!

Adopt a Washback Sea Turtle Graphic

Join the Sea Turtle Hospital at UF Whitney Laboratory to help support hundreds of washback turtles cared for by hospital staff each season by symbolically adopting a washback this fall, named* by you! When a gift of $20 or more is made to support the Sea Turtle Hospital, you will receive an email with your personalized washback adoption certificate. Read More


Strother and Loesgen Labs welcome Lucas Cathey

Cathey, Lucas

Please welcome Lucas Cathey to the Whitney Lab! Lucas joins the Strother and Loesgen labs as a Research Technician. Read More


Loesgen Lab welcomes Dr. Andri Frediansyah

Frediansyah, Andri

Please welcome Dr. Andri Frediansyah to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined ’s lab as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar Fellow sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and AMINEF (American Indonesian Exchange Foundation). Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Welcomes Fall Intern Morgan Flanagan

Flanagan, Morgan

Welcome to our newest team member, Morgan Flanagan! She’s a familiar face at the Sea Turtle Hospital as she’s been volunteering in the hospital's husbandry department since early spring 2023. She now joins the Sea Turtle Hospital team as the fall intern. Read More


Call to Artists! Apply by Oct. 13 - Art in State Buildings Bid for Whitney Laboratory

Rendering of building with call to artists wording

The Art in State Buildings Program at the University of Florida will commission an artist or artist team to create a site-specific work of art for the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida. Read More


Sea Turtle Abu Released

Sea turtle Abu being released into ocean

Sea Turtle Hospital patient Abu received their swimming papers and had a private release on September 28 at the beach side of River to Sea Preserve Boardwalk (Marineland Beach) in the town of Marineland, Florida. Read More


Catherine Eastman Quoted in National Geographic

Cat Eastman

Sea Turtle Hospital Program Manager Catherine Eastman was recently quoted in the National Geographic Story - Meet the dog who can find rare sea turtle nests at a shocking success rate. The terrier had a keen nose for turtles, identifying 560 turtle nests from three species. Read More


Schnitzler Lab welcomes Nina Mangor

Mangor, Nina

Please welcome Nina Mangor to the Whitney Lab! Nina joins the  lab as a Laboratory Technician where her main tasks involve regular animal husbandry of the marine invertebrate organism of study known as Hydractinia. Read More


Evenings at Whitney October 12

Evenings at Whitney graphic with speaker photo

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series continues Thursday, October 12, 2023, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Bones, stones, and DNA: A Nature editor’s-eye view of human evolution”. Luíseach Nic Eoin, Ph.D., Senior Editor at Nature Ecology and Evolution, will be the speaker. Read More


Evenings at Whitney YouTube Link: Tracking global biodiversity by harnessing the wind

Students set out air sampling devices to try and capture DNA left behind by mammals using the cave at night.

If you missed our September Evenings at Whitney, "Tracking global biodiversity by harnessing the wind” with Elizabeth Clare, PhD, Professor of Biology at York University, the YouTube link is below. Read More


Martindale Lab welcomes Raul Chavarria

Chavarria, Raul.

Please welcome Raul Chavarria to the Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined the Martindale Lab as a graduate student.  Read More


National Postdoc Appreciation Week

Postdoc appreciation week graphic

It's National Postdoc Appreciation Week! Please join us in celebrating Whitney Laboratory Postdocs and the contributions they make to the lab, research and discovery! Read More


Dr. Elaine Seaver Keynote Speaker at SESDB 2023

2023 SE SDB Flyer.

The Southeast Regional Meeting of the Society for Developmental Biology will be September 29 - October 1 in Mobile, Alabama. Read More


Dr. Mark Martindale Visits the Academia Sinica in Taipei, named ACC member for ICOB

ICOB Advisory Committee 2023

The Academia is the national PhD training research institute that consistently ranks in the Reuters top 20 “Most Innovative International Research Institutions” in life and physical sciences. Martindale was invited to be a member of the Academic Advisory Committee (ACC) for the Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology (ICOB). Read More


Celebrating 30 Years of Education - Help Us Reach $30,000!

30 for 30 logo

This year we celebrate 30 YEARS of Whitney Laboratory's education programs for youth learners! Join us by helping raise $30,000 to support and inspire our scientists of tomorrow.Take the 30 for 30 Challenge! Every gift made in 2023 is matched dollar for dollar for our K-12 education endowment fund, thanks to a generous donor. Read More


Whitney Graduate Student Association Elects New Officers

Group of graduate students standing in front of estuary

Congratulations to Whitney Laboratory’s newly elected graduate student officers! Read More


UF News: Ubiquitous human DNA opens Pandora's box of ethical questions

Fiona Duffy and David Duffy filtering water samples, Wicklow Ireland. DNA was found everywhere they sampled a river except the remote mountain top where the river starts. (Jenny Whilde)

UF scientists are raising ethical questions in a groundbreaking study, which demonstrated that high-quality human DNA is easily recoverable from our environment. The revelation opens up countless potential benefits for the public good, but the research also cracks open a Pandora’s box. Read More


Allen Institute Article: Comb jellies gives scientists hints of our nervous system’s past

Fragile ctenophores float in seawater

"Mucus always messes everything up." Allen Distinguished Investigator Dr. Joseph Ryan is making waves for his research on the biology of an extremely difficult creature to study - comb jellies. Read More


Sea Turtle Yzma Released

Veterinarian with sea turtle in container just prior to release

Sea Turtle Hospital patient Yzma received her swimming papers and was released on August 31 by Sea Turtle Hospital Veterinarian Dr. Brooke. Yzma had been cared for by Sea Turtle Hospital staff since April 2023. Read More


Martindale Lab welcomes Tessa Gebert

Gebert, Tessa

Tessa joins the Martindale lab to pursue a Ph.D. in Zoology, studying the biomineralization processes in cnidarians. Read More


Ibarra-Castro Lab welcomes Karen Carvajal

Carvajal, Karen

Karen joins the Ibarra-Castro Lab to pursue a Ph.D. in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.  Read More


Whitney Hall Demolition

Bulldozer tearing down building

Whitney Hall demolished to make way for the new Marine Research Institute Building and Sea Turtle Hospital! Read More


UF News Article: Environmental human DNA offers new opportunities for public good

Beach rock and sand with footprints

UF scientists recently announced they had unearthed high-quality, information-rich human DNA from nearly every spot they could think of. The era of human environmental DNA, or eDNA, has arrived. Read More


Carol Paullin Named to Whitney Laboratory Board of Trustees

Paullin, Carol

Whitney Laboratory is pleased to announce that Carol Paullin has joined its Board of Trustees. Read More


Marion Matthews Named to Whitney Laboratory Board of Trustees

Matthews, Marion

Whitney Laboratory is pleased to announce that Marion Matthews has joined its Board of Trustees. Read More


Global Coral Reef Ecosystem Health Focus of Newly Created Scientific Resource Available for International Research

Open polyps of the mesophotic soft coral Swiftia exserta held in aquaria at the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, FL, USA. Photo courtesy of Jayci Grosso, and edited by Mark McCauley, contractors to the USGS. Photo is in the public domain.

Scientists at the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience are working to further our understanding of microorganisms and their relationship with cnidarians, like corals and sea anemones. Their findings were recently published in a Nature Communications paper, "Systematic review of cnidarian microbiomes reveals insights into the structure, specificity, and fidelity of marine associations." Read More


UF Explore - When the right microscope doesn’t exist, these optical innovators invent it

Dr. Cez Borba leans in for a closer look at a comb jelly on a computer screen

Whitney Laboratory Postdoc Dr. Cez Borba, Graduate Student Dorothy Mitchell and other scientists are using groundbreaking microscopes developed by optical engineer and neurobiologist Dr. James Strother to explore questions like how tissues recover from injury and how nerve cells are wired together. Read More


Evenings at Whitney September 14

Evenings at Whitney graphic with speaker photo

The Whitney Laboratory is excited to announce the return of the Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series in fall 2023. The first lecture of the fall series will be Thursday, September 14, 2023, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Tracking global biodiversity by harnessing the wind”. Elizabeth Clare, PhD, Professor of Biology at York University, will be the speaker. Read More


Strother Lab welcomes Zain Khalid

Khalid, Zain

Please welcome Zain Khalid to the Whitney Laboratory! Zain joins the Strother Lab to pursue a M.S. in Neuroscience working on whole-brain imaging of zebrafish. Read More


Ryan Lab welcomes Leandra Toledo

Toledo, Leandra

Please welcome Leandra Toledo to the Whitney Laboratory!  She recently joined the Ryan Lab as a student researcher. Read More


Sea Turtle Colonel Released

Women holding a sea turtle walking toward ocean to release

Sea Turtle Hospital patient Colonel received her swimming papers and had a private release on July 20 at Toronita Avenue Beach Park in Wilbur-By-The-Sea, Florida.  Read More


Remembering Dr. Michael Greenberg

Dr. Michael Greenberg Photo

Michael J. Greenberg, Ph.D. fondly known as "Greenberg", former director of the University of Florida's Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, town of Marineland, Florida, passed away peacefully on the morning of July 19 in St. Augustine, at the age of 91. Greenberg was a highly regarded researcher, instructor, and administrator-as well as a beloved member of the St. Augustine community. Read More


Sea Turtles Zip-Tie and Bulldozer Released

Photos of turtles being held by staff prior to their release

Sea Turtle Hospital patients Zip-Tie and Bulldozer received their swimming papers and were released July 19 at the beach side of River to Sea Preserve Boardwalk (Marineland Beach) in the town of Marineland, Florida. Read More


Brendan Gibbs - 2023 Matthaei Ecological Scholar

 Gibbs, Brendan

This summer he is working under Dr. James Liao to set up a new project, with an additional 10 receivers, spearheaded by the FWC and the Rehage Lab at FIU to track snook movements in response to rising ocean temperatures. Read More


Sang Bobbitt Hanna - 2023 Matthaei Ecological Scholar

Bobbitt Hanna, Sang

This summer he is working under Dr. Leonardo Ibarra-Castro with various components of aquaculture such as the breeding processes of different species under controlled conditions, the behavior, preferences, and conditional effects of juveniles, wild stock sampling, tagging, and tracking, and the release processes of different species in various locations. He is also helping with husbandry of the organisms. Read More


Dr. Barbara Anne Battelle Excellence in Scientific Communication Spring Awards

Student Accepting award with faculty member

Congratulations to the spring semester recipients of the Dr. Barbara Anne Battelle Excellence in Scientific Communication Award - Justin Waletich, Schnitzler Lab Ph.D. Student, and Dr. Annika Jagels, Loesgen Lab past Postdoctoral Research Associate. Read More


Whitney Scientists and Collaborators Awarded National Science Foundation Grant to understand fundamental aspects of biomineralization

The tentacle of a one week old sea anemone expressing a coral biomineralizing protein (red) that was injected in its fertilized egg

"We hope to uncover universal rules that cells use to control their microenvironmental 'reaction spaces' and regulate the biomineralization process across animals," says Martindale. “From this knowledge we hope to generate biominerals new to man.” Read More


Dr. James Liao Promoted to Full Professor

Liao, James

A big congratulations to Dr. James Liao, Whitney Laboratory Associate Professor of Biology, who has received promotion to Full Professor from the University of Florida! Read More


The Register Article - Day at the Whitney Lab Celebrates 30 Years!

Teacher with group of students outside

Thousands of students have participated in the Day at the Whitney Lab over the last 30 years. This program, created by faculty and volunteers at University of Florida’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, is designed to help children experience what it’s like being a scientist. Read More


Dr. Annika Jagels and Colleagues Publish in Journal of Natural Products

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c00148

Jagels et al. discovered new fungal lipopeptides with potent in vitro and in vivo toxicity. The complex molecular structures were defined using state of the art techniques, including spectra from UF's Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Facility (AMRIS). Read More


Dr. Duffy and Dr. Whilde Attend President of Ireland's Event

Dr. Duffy and Dr. Whilde at President of Ireland’s Cherishing our Biodiversity and Sustainability Event

Drs. David Duffy and Jenny Whilde were recently invited participants to the President of Ireland’s Cherishing our Biodiversity and Sustainability Event. Read More


Sea Turtle Rajah Released

Woman holding sea turtle on beach with crowd getting ready to release the turtle to the ocean

Sea Turtle Hospital patient Rajah received their swimming papers and was released June 21 at the beach side of River to Sea Preserve Boardwalk (Marineland Beach) in the town of Marineland, Florida. Read More


Whitney Laboratory Names New Board Chair and Vice Chair

Board of Trustees Chair and Vice Chair wording with two headshots

We are pleased to announce that Danielle Fraser was recently named Chair of the Whitney Laboratory Board of Trustees and Doug Wiles was recently named Vice Chair. Read More


Catherine Eastman presents to the Jacksonville Herpetological Society

Woman standing by a podium presenting

Sea Turtle Program Manager Catherine Eastman presented about the Sea Turtle Hospital rehabilitation and Dr. David Duffy’s research to the Jacksonville Herpetological Society at the Museum of Science and History (MOSH). Read More


Remi Ketchum, PhD receives Graduate Dean’s Distinguished Dissertation Award from UNC Charlotte

Ketchum, Remi

Congratulations to Remi Ketchum, Ph.D, a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Ryan Lab, who received the 2023 Graduate Dean’s Distinguished Dissertation Award for the category of Biological Sciences/Life Sciences from UNC Charlotte’s Graduate School for her PhD work! Read More


Loesgen Lab Welcomes Dr. Federica Montesanto

Montesanto, Federica

Please welcome Dr. Federica Montesanto to the Whitney Laboratory!  She recently joined the Loesgen Lab as a Postdoctoral Research Associate.  Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Awarded Grant From Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program to Support Critical Surgical Equipment

Sea Turtle License Plate

The University of Florida Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory is pleased to announce that it received a grant from the Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program, which is funded by the sales of the sea turtle specialty license plate. The Sea Turtle Hospital received the grant Critical Surgical Equipment for Intensive Care, enabling the Hospital to purchase a much needed oxygen concentrator and ventilator to aid in surgical procedures.  Read More


Welcome 2023 Summer Interns!

Photos of six students, group of students standing on a dock

This summer's interns include six undergraduate students from colleges across the United States that have joined a Whitney Laboratory faculty member's lab to participate and conduct scientific research. Read More


Dr. David Duffy on BBC Inside Science

BBC Inside Science

Dr. David was recently on BBC Radio 4 - BBC Inside Science discussing the benefits and problems of environmental DNA (eDNA). Read More


Join us June 16 to Celebrate World Sea Turtle Day!

World Sea Turtle Day 2023 Flyer

This year we would like to invite you to celebrate World Sea Turtle Day during our pop up open house at the Sea Turtle Hospital at UF Whitney Lab on Friday, June 16 from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Read More


Dr. Elaine Seaver Receives Grant From National Science Foundation

Juvenile worm of Capitella teleta, credit - Elaine Seaver.

This project utilizes the favorable properties of this marine animal to provide a unique opportunity to experimentally investigate the relationship between germline and somatic stem cells and emphasizes the value of studying a diversity of animals to understand major trends in animal evolution. Read More


Strother Lab welcomes Dr. Leandra Hamann

Hamann, Leandra

Please welcome Dr. Leandra Hamann to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined Dr. James Strother's Lab as a Postdoctoral Research Associate.  Read More


Duffy Lab Welcomes Chris Nolte

Nolte, Chris

Please welcome Chris Nolte to the Whitney Laboratory and Dr. David Duffy's lab. While at Whitney Laboratory, Chris will collaborate with Dr. Dave Duffy, studying the population genetics of Hawksbill sea turtles in Florida. Read More


Loesgen Lab welcomes Dr. Bastien Petit

Petit, Bassein

Please welcome Dr. Bastien Petit to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined Dr. Sandra Loesgen's Lab as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Read More


Dr. Ibarra-Castro and Colleagues Publish Papers in Algal Research and Revista de Biología Tropical

Algal Containers in lab

Congratulations to Dr. Leonardo Ibarra-Castro and colleagues who published papers in Algal Research -"The effect of nitrogen limitation on carbohydrates and β-glucan accumulation in Nannochloropsis oculata" and in Revista de Biología Tropical - "Ontogeny of digestive enzymes in larvae of the Clown Anemonefish, Amphiprion ocellaris (Perciformes: Pomacentridae)." Read More


Ibarra-Castro Lab Welcomes Niko Kuncis

Kuncis, Niko

Please welcome Nikolas Kuncis to Whitney Lab! He joins the Ibarra-Castro Lab as an aquaculture technician. Read More


Whitney Lab Virtual 5K Thanks!

People wearing Whitney 5K shirts and holding medals

Thank you to everyone who supported us for the Whitney Lab Virtual 5K! We had over 170 virtual participants! If you selected your shirt and medal to be mailed, they mail this week. Tag us wearing your gear at #WhitneyLab5K Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Welcomes Summer Intern Lilli Longo

Longo, Lilli

Please welcome Lilli Longo to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined the Sea Turtle Hospital as the summer intern. Read More


Evenings at Whitney - YouTube Link The Evolution of Two Transmissible Cancers in Tasmanian Devils

Stammnitz, Max

If you missed our May Evenings at Whitney, "The Evolution of Two Transmissible Cancers in Tasmanian Devils” with Max Stammnitz, PhD, EMBO Postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre for Genomic Regulation, the YouTube link is below. Read More


Human DNA is everywhere. That’s a boon for science – and an ethical quagmire.

Two people on a boat taking a water sample

Published May 15 in Nature Ecology and Evolution, the paper by Dr. David Duffy and his group outlines the relative ease of collecting human DNA nearly everywhere they looked. Read the full article in UF News and other international and national news articles. Read More


Whitney Lab welcomes Dr. Jenny Whilde

Whilde, Jenny

Please welcome Dr. Jenny Whilde to the Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined the lab as an Environmental Grant Coordinator. Read More


ZDF Hannes Jaenicke Documentary featuring the Sea Turtle Hospital Released

ZDF Sea Turtle Documentary Screenshots

The award-winning ZDF documentary series with actor, animal advocate and environmentalist Hannes Jaenicke released their latest documentary featuring the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory showcasing staff, fibropapilloma (FP) research, and hospital patients. Read More


Dr. Leonid Moroz' research highlighted in Nature

Ctenophore

One of our favorite model organisms here at Whitney Laboratory is discussed in this Nature article. Read More


Leah Adelmann Joins the Sea Turtle Hospital Staff

Adelmann, Leah

Please welcome Leah Adelmann to Whitney Laboratory staff as the Sea Turtle Hospital's Animal Care Technician. Read More


Osborne Lab Welcomes Lexis Massey

Massey, Lexis

Please welcome Lexis Massey to Whitney Lab! Lexis joins the Osborne lab to pursue a M.S. in Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences working with slow-release phosphorus fertilizers. Read More


Beyond the Birds and the Bees - Brent Foster Publishes article in The Node

Cassiopea polyp undergoing asexual budding, photo credit: Bailey Steinworth

Brent spoke with Whitney Lab graduate student Bailey Steinworth about her “basic” biology research at the lab with the upside-down jellyfish, Cassiopea. Read More


PhD student Brendan Gibbs Publishes in the Journal of Neuroscience Methods

Student in laboratory working on fish

Congratulations to PhD Student Brendan Gibbs for his recent publication  "Recording central nervous system responses of freely-swimming marine and freshwater fishes with a customizable, implantable AC differential amplifier" in the Journal of Neuroscience Methods. Read More


Evenings at Whitney May 11

Evenings at Whitney

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series continues Thursday, May 11, 2023, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “The Evolution of Two Transmissible Cancers in Tasmanian Devils”. Max Stammnitz, PhD, EMBO Postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre for Genomic Regulation, will be the speaker. Read More


Evenings at Whitney - YouTube Link, Fountains of youth discovered through the biology of aging

Leeuwenburgh, Christiaan

If you missed our April Evenings at Whitney, "Fountains of youth discovered through the biology of aging” with Christiaan Leeuwenburgh, PhD, the YouTube link is below. Read More


Dr. Elaine Seaver Participates in International Workshop in Copenhagen

Dr. Elaine Seaver

Seaver initiated two new research collaborations as a result of this trip, and used her expertise to help both junior and established participants establish research priorities and problem solve technical challenges in each of their study animals. Read More


Dr. Todd Osborne in Brevard Zoo's Restore Our Shores Residential Clam Restoration Project video

Video snippet of Dr. Todd Osborne

The Residential Clam Restoration project is using "super clams" to help restore filter-feeding clam populations throughout the Indian River Lagoon. Read More


Sea Turtle Yardstick Released

Sea Turtle Yardstick prior to returning to the ocean

Sea Turtle Hospital patient Yardstick received their swimming papers and was released March 30 at the beach side of River to Sea Preserve Boardwalk (Marineland Beach) in the town of Marineland, Florida. Read More


Symposium Inspired by Whitney Emeritus Faculty Dr. Barry Ache on April 24

Symposium Flyer

The Neurophysiological Basis of Chemosensory Coding - A symposium inspired by the scientific legacy of Barry W. Ache, Ph.D. Read More


Dr. Sandra Loesgen Receives ASP Matt Suffness Young Investigator Award

Dr. Sandra Loesgen in laboratory

Congratulations to Whitney Laboratory Associate Professor of Chemistry for recently being selected as a recipient of the American Society of Pharmacognosy (ASP) Matt Suffness Young Investigator Award. Read More


Palm Coast Observer Article - Adults participate in ‘science camp’ at Whitney Lab

Man measuring soil in a lab, photo credit: Christine Rodenbaugh

Summer camp sign-ups are coming to a close — for grade school students. But adult learners still have opportunities to engage in Lifelong Learning Workshops at the UF Whitney Laboratory. Attendees at March 18 workshop learned about the impacts of phosphorus and nitrogen on estuaries and wetlands. Read More


Whitney Laboratory in Tallahassee for Florida Oceans Day

Two people stand on either side of a Whitney Laboratory tent

Florida Oceans Day is Florida Ocean Alliance’s annual conference of members, friends, officials and legislators who share common interests in Florida’s marine and coastal resources and their critical role in sustaining a healthy blue economy in the state. Read More


Martindale Lab welcomes Dr. Federica Scucchia

Scucchia, Federica

Please welcome Dr. Federica Scucchia to the Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined the Martindale Lab as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Read More


Evenings at Whitney YouTube Link: How to build an animal: Learning from the embryo

Developing skeleton in the chick embryo

If you missed our March Evenings at Whitney, "How to build an animal: Learning from the embryo", with Dr. Paula Murphy, the YouTube link is below.  Read More


Evenings at Whitney April 13

Evenings at Whitney graphic with speaker photo

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series continues Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Fountains of youth discovered through the biology of aging”. Christiaan Leeuwenburgh, PhD, Professor of Physiology and Aging, College of Medicine at the University of Florida, will be the speaker. Read More


Whitney Lab Virtual 5K Registration Now Open

 Whitney 5K 2023 Graphic

Join us for the 2023 Whitney Lab 5K - a virtual walk/run for marine science. Complete a 5K walk or run anywhere, anytime between May 20 - May 27 to celebrate the wonders of marine life with this year's featured animal - the jellyfish! Read More


Registration Open for 2023 Summer Camps

Girl with model sea turtle at camp

Registration is now open for the 2023 Whitney Laboratory Science Summer Day Camps and Sea Turtle Summer Camp! Read More


Adult Lifelong Learning Series Workshops Launch

Group of people in a laboratory setting looking at lab experiment

A new Whitney Laboratory Science Program is now available - for Adults! Spend the day with a Whitney faculty member and put your problem solving skills to the test at an Adult Lifelong Series Workshop. Module dates are March 18 and April 8. Read More


Tweaking a single gene can remind cells of their ancestral roots

Developing stinging cells (magenta and aqua) in a larva of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis

In an effort to understand how genes can drive the evolution of new cell types, UF Whitney Laboratory biologists have inactivated a gene from the starlet sea anemone and recreated an ancient cell type that is not normally found in this animal. Congratulations to former Whitney scientist Dr. Leslie Babonis (currently an Assistant Professor at Cornell University), Dr. Camille Enjolras, Brent Foster, Dr. Fredrik Hugosson, Dr. Joseph Ryan, Dr. Mark Martindale and colleagues who recently published in Nature Communications, "Single-cell atavism reveals an ancient mechanism of cell type diversification in a sea anemone". Read More


Evenings at Whitney March 9

Evenings at Whitney

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted continues Thursday, March 9, 2023, with the program titled “How to build an animal: learning from the embryo”. Dr. Paula Murphy, Professor in the Zoology Department at University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, will be the speaker. Read More


Stand Up & Holler, It's Gator Nation Giving Day!

Whitney Laboratory Giving Day Design

Join together with the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience on Giving Day – your gift can directly impact our areas of greatest need. 2 Bits, 4 Bits, Every Bit Counts! Read More


Evenings at Whitney YouTube Link Circadian clocks in muscle: time does matter

 Sunrise

If you missed our February Evenings at Whitney, "Circadian clocks in muscle: time does matter", with Dr. Karyn Esser, the YouTube link is below. Thank you to everyone who joined us in person and virtually. Read More


March 2-3 North Florida Marine Science Symposium

Marine Science Symposium Flyer 2023

Come celebrate the 10th year of synergies and positive interactions at the North Florida Marine Science Symposium at the Whitney Laboratory March 2-3, 2023. Read More


Duffy Lab Welcomes Dr. Sophie Dupont

Dupont, Sophie

Please welcome Dr. Sophie Dupont to the Whitney Laboratory! Dr. Dupont is a visiting researcher in the Duffy Lab and will be training in the viral detection and quantification lab techniques developed at the Whitney Lab. Read More


Sea Turtle Rocket Power Released

Sea Turtle swimming in tank

Sea Turtle Hospital patient Rocket Power received their swimming papers and was released February 2 on Ormond Beach! Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Welcomes Winter Intern Harrison Hobbs

 Hobbs, Harrison

Please welcome Harrison Hobbs to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined the Sea Turtle Hospital as the winter intern. Read More


Bailey-Niblett Family Endowment helps fund trip to RNA Symposium at UF Scripps Institute

Two men taking a photo behind a backdrop with UF logos

This January the Bailey-Niblett Family Endowment helped fund a Whitney Postdoctoral Research Associate's trip to the symposium “RNA: From Biology to Drug Discovery” held at The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology. Read More


Whitney welcomes Richard Rossi to Facilities Team

 Rossi, Richard

Please welcome Richard Rossi to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined the facilities team assisting with custodial services. Read More


Evenings at Whitney February 9

Evenings at Whitney graphic with speaker photo

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience continues Thursday, February 9, 2023, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Circadian clocks in muscle: time does matter”. Dr. Karyn Esser, Professor and Chair in the Department of Physiology and Aging at the University of Florida, will be the speaker. Read More


Evenings at Whitney YouTube Link, Preservation Institute St. Augustine

Group of people being shown the exterior of a historic building

If you missed our January Evenings at Whitney, "Preservation Institute St. Augustine: Exploring coastal heritage through research and pedagogy", with Dr. Cleary Larkin and Dr. Sujin Kim, the YouTube link is below. Read More


Sandra Loesgen Co-Authored Article featured in UF News - Natural product discoveries support drug discovery research

Close view of laboratory equipment

In a series of recent papers, including one published Jan. 2 in the journal Chem, Jeff Rudolf’s group, in collaboration with Sandra Loesgen, discovered how bacteria craft unusual versions of terpenoids, known as eunicellanes. The discoveries by the team could open up new avenues to explore the eunicellanes as drug candidates. Read More


Graduate Student Bailey Steinworth Publishes Paper with Cover Image

Cover of Genome Biology and Evolution Publication

Congratulations to Bailey Steinworth, graduate student in the Martindale Lab, for her publication and making the cover of Genome Biology and Evolution. Read More


Sea Turtles Union and Rafter Released

Sea Turtle Hospital staff each holding a turtle at the beach before the turtles being released into the ocean

Rafter and Union marked a total of 66 animals the Sea Turtle Hospital has released since opening in October 2015. Read More


Ryan Lab welcomes Natalia Padillo-Anthemides

Padillo-Anthemides, Natalia

Please welcome Natalia E. Padillo-Anthemides to the Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined the Ryan Lab as a Ph.D. student through the Genetics & Genomics program. Read More


Evenings at Whitney January 12

Evenings at Whitney

The first lecture of the spring series, hosted by the Whitney Laboratory, will be Thursday, January 12, 2023, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Preservation Institute St. Augustine: Exploring coastal heritage through research and pedagogy”. Dr. Cleary Larkin and Dr. Sujin Kim will be the speakers. Read More


Amy Biedenbach Appreciation!

Group of people standing behind a table

Brenda Cannaliato and the Docents recently threw an appreciation breakfast for our own Amy Biedenbach for her impact on our programming here. Read More


Osborne Lab welcomes Taryn Chaya

 Chaya, Taryn

Please welcome Taryn Chaya back to Whitney Lab! Taryn returns to the Osborne Lab to pursue a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Ecology, with a concentration in Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences. Read More


Happy Holidays!

Estuary with Happy Holidays wording and lights filled with marine animals

Happy Holidays and warm wishes for the New Year from Whitney Laboratory. Thank you for being a part of the Whitney community! ⛄️❄️ Read More


Join Us to Support STEM Education

Collage of van, children under a tent, hands holding urchins and a stuff animal sea turtle with wording K-12 education gifts matched

There is still time to give a year-end charitable gift in 2022 and we have an exciting match opportunity available for our K-12 education endowment fund. Read More


Evenings at Whitney - YouTube Link, Are Honey Bees Really Dying?

Dr. Jamie Ellis and Bee Hives

If you missed our December Evenings at Whitney, "Are Honey Bees Really Dying?", with Jamie Ellis, PhD, the YouTube link is below! Thank you to everyone who joined us in person and virtually. Read More


Dr. Sandra Loesgen Appointed Affiliate Associate Professor in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry

Dr. Sandra Loesgen in laboratory

Congratulations to Dr. Sandra Loesgen who is now appointed as an affiliate associate professor in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at the UF College of Pharmacy. Read More


Osborne and Ibarra-Castro Labs Welcome Jon Rueben

Rueben, Jon

Please welcome Jon Rueben to the Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined the Osborne and Ibarra-Castro Labs as a Biological Scientist. Read More


Evenings at Whitney Wednesday December 14 - Are Honey Bees Really Dying?

Evenings at Whitney November lecture graphic showing speaker photo

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience continues Wednesday, December 14, 2022, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Are honey bees really dying?”. Dr. Jamie Ellis, Gahan Endowed Professor of Entomology, Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory at the University of Florida, will be the speaker. Read More


First Coast News Story on Clam Larvae released into the Matanzas River

Microscopic clams viewed under a microscope

Thank you SACA for your support to help raise and release 40 million clam larvae into the Matanzas River! A portion of this amount was released during the First Coast News filming on boats provided by the Whitney Laboratory and the Matanzas Riverkeeper. Read More


Martindale Lab welcomes Anhadvir Singh

Singh, Anhadvir

Anhadvir is currently visiting the Ryan and Martindale labs as part of a collaborative project to synthesize Yeast two Hybrid cDNA libraries for early diverging animals including M. leidyi (ctenophore), E. mulleri (poriferan) and N. vectensis (cnidarian). Read More


Cancelled - Evenings at Whitney December 8

Evenings at Whitney graphic with speaker photo

Unfortunately, our speaker is not able to join us this Thursday, December 8, so we regret that we will have to cancel the lecture “Killer Snails: Agents of Change and Innovation” with Mandë Holford, Ph.D. We apologize for any inconvenience. Read More


Whitney Collaborates with Black in Marine Science for Beach Clean Up

Group of people on a boat getting ready to do a beach clean up with Whitney Lab and Black in Marine Science

On Sunday, November 28 Whitney Laboratory collaborated with Black In Marine Science (BIMS) for a beach clean up with over 347 pounds of trash collected! Read More


Jessica Long on Flagler Radio

Photo of woman with Flagler Radio logo in background

Whitney Laboratory Senior Director of Advancement Jessica Long was recently a guest on Flagler Radio's Lifeline radio show. She talks all things Whitney Lab including our research, the Sea Turtle Hospital, new building, clams, oysters and more! Read More


Support the Sea Turtle Hospital - Adopt a Washback Until November 18!

Adopt a washback wording and turtles swimming with certificate design

Thank you to all who have joined us to support washback sea turtles cared for by the Sea Turtle Hospital staff each year by Adopting a Washback, each symbolically named! We are halfway to our goal, and adoptions are only available until this Friday November 18th, so don't delay! Read More


Adopt a Washback Turtle!

Adopt a washback flyer with washback turtles swimming

Join us to help support washback sea turtles we care for at the Sea Turtle Hospital each season by symbolically Adopting a Washback, named by you*! When you make a gift of any amount you will receive a personalized washback adoption certificate within one business day of your donation via email. Your turtle support keeps the Sea Turtle Hospital going strong! Read More


Osborne Lab Paper Reveals Product to Enhance Seagrass Restoration

Scientist in tank with research experiment equipment

Congratulations to Postdoctoral Research Associate Conor MacDonnell, Ph.D., Todd Osborne, Ph.D., Anna Beard, and colleagues who published a paper in Science of the Total Environment -"Use of a wastewater recovery product (struvite) to enhance subtropical seagrass restoration" A news story covering the research was also recently in Futurity. Read More


Justin Waletich and Jingwei Song win best poster awards at the Florida Genetics Symposium

Group of people holding their awards for best posters at the UFGI Symposium

Congratulations to Whitney Laboratory Ph.D. student Justin Waletich and postdoctoral research associate Jingwei Song, Ph.D. from the Schnitzler Lab as well as the rest of the recipients for their awards for best posters at the 2022 Florida Genetics Symposium. Read More


Taste of the Fun Coast Event Benefits the Sea Turtle Hospital

Sea Turtle Hospital staff standing at their booth at Taste of the Fun Coast event.

The Taste of the Fun Coast event held on October 26 raised over $12,000 to support the Sea Turtle Hospital! Thank you to Flagler Broadcasting, Hammock Beach Resort and Coastal Cloud for your continued support of sea turtles and our Hospital. Read More


Dr. Schnitzler and Dr. Moroz to Speak at the Florida Genetics Symposium

Poster for the 2022 Florida Genetics Symposium

The 2022 Florida Genetics Symposium hosted by the University of Florida Genetics Institute will be held on November 2 and 3 at the Cancer & Genetics Research Complex. Read More


Whitney Welcomes Ellie Padgett

Padgett, Ellie

Please welcome Ellie Padgett to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined the advancement team as the Development Coordinator. Read More


Lucas Guttieres Receives UF Grinter Fellowship

Guttieres, Lucas

Congratulations to Lucas Guttieres, graduate student in the Martindale Lab, for receiving a University of Florida Grinter Fellowship! Read More


Evenings at Whitney - YouTube Link, Big Ideas From Little Brains

Microscope view of a zebrafish brain

If you missed our October Evenings at Whitney, Big Ideas from Little Brains, with James Strother, PhD, the YouTube link is below! Read More


Osborne Lab welcomes Sean Westley

Westley, Sean

Please welcome Sean Westley to the Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined the Osborne Lab as a Research Technician. Read More


Loesgen Lab published in Advances in Cancer Biology - Metastasis

Elizabeth Kaweesa, Sandra Loesgen

Congratulations to Dr. Elizabeth Kaweesa and Prof Sandra Loesgen at Whitney Laboratory, who recently published with collaborators in Advances in Cancer Biology - Metastasis - "Combination of the natural product mensacarcin with vemurafenib (Zelboraf) combats BRAF mutant and chemo-resistant melanoma in vitro by affecting cell metabolism and cellular migration." Read More


Strother Lab Welcomes Dr. Cezar Borba

 Borba, Cezar

Please welcome Dr. Cezar Borba to the Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined the Strother Lab as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Read More


Duffy Lab Welcomes Gianna Fanelli

Fanelli, Gianna

Please welcome Gianna Fanelli to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined the Duffy Lab as a graduate student. Read More


Dr. Schnitzler contributes to new paper in PNAS detailing the full complexity of an invertebrate histocompatibility gene region in the marine invertebrate Hydractinia

Hydractinia Rejection

Congratulations to Dr. Christine Schnitzler and her co-authors from the University of Pittsburgh and the National Human Genome Research Institute of the NIH for publishing a new paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) – “A family of unusual immunoglobulin superfamily genes in an invertebrate histocompatibility complex” Read More


Sea Turtles Allen Wrench and Engineer Released September 27

Sea Turtle Release

Sea Turtle Hospital patients Allen Wrench and Engineer received their swimming papers and were released on September 27. Allen Wrench was a public release at River to Sea Preserve Boardwalk (Marineland Beach) in the town of Marineland, Florida and Engineer was a private release at Gamble Rogers State Park, Florida. Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Welcomes Fall Intern Kendra Trezona

 Trezona, Kendra

Please welcome Kendra Trezona to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined the Sea Turtle Hospital as the fall intern. Read More


Osborne Lab Welcomes Dr. Conor MacDonnell

 MacDonnell, Connor

Please welcome Dr. Conor MacDonnell to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined the Osborne Lab as a postdoctoral research associate. Conor MacDonnell is a marine ecologist with a focus in seagrasses, an important ecosystem for both our charismatic megafauna and our coastal communities. Read More


Ryan Lab Welcomes Dr. Adolfo Lara

 Lara, Adolfo

Please welcome Dr. Adolfo Lara to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined the Ryan Lab as a postdoctoral research associate and will be focused on the evolutionary genomics of doliolids. Read More


Ibarra-Castro Lab Welcomes María Laura Tejeda Miramontes

 Tejeda Miramontes, María Laura

Please welcome María Laura Tejeda Miramontes, a visiting scholar, to the Whitney Laboratory. While at Whitney, Maria Laura will be joining the Ibarra-Castro lab to continue her master's training under the direction of Dr. Leonardo Ibarra-Castro. Read More


Evenings at Whitney October 13

Evenings at Whitney with Dr. James Strother picture

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience continues Thursday, October 13, 2022, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Big Ideas From Little Brains”. Dr. James Strother, Assistant Professor of Biology at the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, will be the speaker. Read More


National Postdoc Appreciation Week

Postdoc Powered Lab Badge 2022

Thank you to our Whitney Laboratory Postdoctoral Associates, you really power the Whitney lab's research and efforts! We appreciate you! Read More


Evenings at Whitney - YouTube Link, The Evolution of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Chest X-ray

If you missed our September Evenings at Whitney, The Evolution of the COVID-19 Pandemic, with Michael Lauzardo, MD, and Cindy Prins, PhD, the YouTube link is below! Read More


New Look for Discovery Walk Signs!

Discovery Walk Sign

New look for the Whitney Laboratory Discovery Walk signs! Enjoy a scenic and educational walk along the Whitney Laboratory shoreline Read More


Schnitzler Lab members publish new paper in Open Biology investigating the evolution and function of important stem cell gene GNL3 in Hydractinia

Hydractinia GNL3 colony

Congratulations to Dr. Gonzalo Quiroga-Artigas, for his recently published paper with Dr. Danielle de Jong and Dr. Christine Schnitzler in Open Biology – “GNL3 is an evolutionarily conserved stem cell gene influencing cell proliferation, animal growth and regeneration in the hydrozoan Hydractinia” Read More


Dr. David Duffy and Lab's Environmental DNA Research in USA Today Story

Loggerhead post-hatchling washback turtle

Congratulations to Dr. David Duffy and his lab for being highlighted in the USA Today story about research on Environmental DNA. Duffy hopes their work will shed light on what causes the tumors to spread, why the tumors afflict some turtles more than others – and may hold a key to unlocking those same questions in human tumors. Read More


New Shirts in Whitney Store

Whitney Laboratory Shirts

New Whitney shirts are in! All proceeds benefit The Sea Turtle Hospital at UF Whitney Lab. Read More


Guy Harvey Resort St. Augustine Beach Sponsors Sea Turtle Hospital Patient Allen Wrench

Sea Turtle Allen Wrench

In keeping with its Guy Harvey marine-life conservation brand, Guy Harvey Oceanfront Resort St. Augustine Beach is sponsoring Sea Turtle Hospital patient Allen Wrench’s care and medical supplies as he is nursed back to health. The resort is introducing various informational and promotional programs to encourage guests to participate in Allen Wrench’s rehab and receive updates on his future release. Read More


Dr. Todd Osborne and Citizen Scientist Dr. Eric Smith on NBC News NOW

Dr. Todd Osborne holding clams

Dr. Todd Osborne talks Oyster and Clam Restoration on NBC News NOW along with oyster restoration citizen scientist Dr. Eric Smith who shares how citizen scientists are helping restore the reefs. Read More


Evenings at Whitney Begins September 8

Evenings at Whitney

The University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience is excited to announce the return of the Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series in fall 2022. The first lecture of the fall series will be Thursday, September 8, 2022, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “The Evolution of the COVID-19 Pandemic”. Michael Lauzardo, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Deputy Director of Emerging Pathogens Institute at the University of Florida and Cindy Prins, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Florida, will be the speakers. Read More


Bailey-Niblett Family Endowment helps fund graduate student Trip to European Evolutionary Biology Meeting

 euro-evo-devo

This summer the Bailey-Niblett Family Endowment helped fund a graduate student trip to the European Evolutionary Biology Meeting (EuroEvoDevo) in Napoli, Italy from May 31-June 3. Read More


Duffy Lab's Environmental DNA research in National Geographic

Lucas Meers, a citizen scientist, Professor David Duffy and Catherine Eastman, Sea Turtle Program Hospital manager, collecting samples at River to Sea Preserve. Photo: UF/Zach Read

Congratulations to the Duffy lab whose eDNA research was featured in the National Geographic article - Hidden DNA is revealing secrets of animals’ lives Read More


Martindale Lab welcomes Lucas Guttieres

Guttieres, Lucas

Please welcome Lucas Guttieres to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined the Martindale Lab as a graduate assistant. Read More


Dr. Allison Edgar Talks Ctenophores at the Alachua County Library Ocean Tales Program

Alachua Library Ctenophore

Whitney Lab Postdoctoral Research Associate Dr. Allison Edgar talks ctenophores (commonly known as comb jellies) at the Alachua County Library District Ocean Tales summer program. The program includes learning, reading, and exploring the ocean! 🌊 Read More


Sea Turtles Artichoke and Granny Smith Released July 14

Sea Turtles Granny Smith, Artichoke Release

Sea Turtle Hospital patients Artichoke and Granny Smith received their swimming papers and were released at River to Sea Preserve on July 14. Thank you to everyone who helped welcome Artichoke and Granny Smith home! Read More


Paper Published in eLife reveals evolutionary convergence of a neural mechanism in the cavefish lateral line system

Surface fish and cavefish lateral lines are anatomically similar in early development.

Congratulations to Dr. Elias Lunsford who published a paper with Dr. James Liao and coauthors in the Proceedings in eLife - "Evolutionary convergence of a neural mechanism in the cavefish lateral line system." Read More


Dr. Jingwei Song talks snail fur at the Alachua County Library Ocean Tales program

Alachua Library Snail Fur Presentation Graphic

Postdoctoral Research Associate Dr. Jingwei Song talks snail fur at the Alachua County Library District Ocean Tales summer program. Each week the library spotlights a different sea creature and talks to their caretakers. Read More


Sea Turtle Patients Artichoke and Granny Smith to be Released Thursday, July 14

Sea Turtle Release Artichoke and Granny Smith graphic

We are excited to announce that Artichoke and Granny Smith plan to be released on Thursday, July 14 at 11:00 a.m. at the beach side of River to Sea Preserve Boardwalk (Marineland Beach) in the town of Marineland, Florida. Both animals are happy, heathy, and ready to return home to their ocean home! Read More


Liao Lab Review on Fish Swimming Efficiency in Current Biology Magazine

Figure 1. Structural modifi cations of the body enhance the ability to reduce drag and increase thrust.

In this primer Dr. James Liao highlights multiple strategies that fish use to swim more efficiently. Some involve structural properties like tail shape and body stiffness, while others involve higher order behaviors to exploit the energy already available in the environment. Read More


Dr. Elias Lunsford of the Liao Lab Defends his PhD!

Student and Faculty in Cap and Gown

On June 14, Elias Lunsford, a graduate student advised by James Liao, Associate Professor of Biology, successfully defended his Ph.D. entitled ““Mechanisms and evolution of sensory feedback and signal transduction in lateral line hair cells”. Read More


Whitney's Christine Schnitzler Promoted to University of Florida Associate Professor of Biology with Tenure

Dr. Christine Schnitzler

We are pleased to announce that Whitney Faculty Dr. Christine Schnitzler was granted promotion and tenure by the University of Florida Board of Trustees to Associate Professor of Biology. Read More


First Coast News: UF scientists collect sea turtle DNA from sand, water to solve conservation issues

Beach

You’ve heard of crime scene investigations. One team of scientists is applying that same kind of technology used to find criminals as a way to help sea turtles. The University of Florida Whitney Laboratory in St. Johns County have figured a way to collect sea turtle DNA from the water, even when they don’t see any sea turtles around. Read More


Join us June 17 to Celebrate World Sea Turtle Day!

World Sea Turtle Day graphic

This year we would like to invite you to celebrate World Sea Turtle Day during our mini open house at the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab on Friday, June 17 from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Read More


Liao Lab Welcomes Dr. Subhra Shankha Koley

Shankha Koley, Subhra

Please welcome Dr. Subhra Shankha Koley to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined the Liao Lab as a postdoctoral associate and will be exploring the various fluid mechanical aspects of the hydrodynamics of fish schooling behind the wake of multiple cylinders and other flow conditions. Read More


Paper Published in Microbiology Spectrum Explores Heat Stress in Cnidarian-Agal Interaction

FIG 1 Heat-stressed symbionts have decreased ability to colonize aposymbiotic hosts.

Congratulations to the Loesgen Lab for their contributions to a recent paper entitled, "Heat Stress of Algal Partner Hinders Colonization Success and Alters the Algal Cell Surface Glycome in a Cnidarian-Algal Symbiosis" published in Microbiology Spectrum that has implications of ocean warming on corals. Read More


Osborne Lab Welcomes Summer Intern Kendall Breland

 Breland, Kendall

Please welcome Kendall Breland back to Whitney Laboratory! She joins Dr. Todd Osborne's lab for another summer internship. Read More


Ibarra-Castro and Osborne Labs welcome Catalina Williams

 Williams, Catalina

Please welcome Catalina Williams to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined the Ibarra-Castro and Osborne Labs as an aquaculture technician. Read More


UF News Article: Sea turtle conservation gets boost from new DNA detection method

The research project is also the first to successfully collect animal eDNA from beach sand. Photo: UF/Dylan Taylor

A study led by University of Florida researchers is the first to sequence environmental DNA, or eDNA, from sea turtles — genetic material shed as they travel over beaches and in water. “We wanted to test the boundaries of this technology, which hadn't really been applied to sea turtles before and certainly not on sand,” said David Duffy, UF Whitney Laboratory Assistant Professor of Wildlife Disease Genomics and Rising Star Condron Family Endowed Assistant Professor. Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Welcomes Summer Intern Bridget Ausley

Ausley, Bridget

Please welcome Bridget Ausley to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined the Sea Turtle Hospital as the summer husbandry/education intern. Read More


Ryan Lab Welcomes Lana Dykes

Dykes, Lana

Please welcome Lana Dykes to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined Dr. Joseph Ryan's lab as an undergraduate researcher. Read More


Whitney welcomes Lane Greene to Facilities Team

 Greene, Lane

Please welcome Lane Greene to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined the facilities team as a maintenance professional. Read More


Volunteers Make a Difference!

Volunteers Make a Difference Graphic

Our dedicated volunteers are a key foundation of the Whitney Laboratory! Read More


Liao Lab Welcomes Esra Goturk

Goturk, Esra

Please welcome Esra Goturk to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined Dr. James Liao's lab as the laboratory manager. Read More


Paper Published in PNAS Reveals How New Cell Type Can Arise

Nematostella in lab

Congratulations to Dr. Leslie Babonis, Dr. Camile Enjolras, Dr. Joseph Ryan and Dr. Mark Q. Martindale for their contributions to a recent paper entitled, "A novel regulatory gene promotes novel cell fate by suppressing ancestral fate in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis" published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Read More


Dr. Newkirk and Dr. Martindale Publish New Paper investigating the relationship between corals and algae with genetic approach

Figure 1. Breviolum minutum infect and are maintained within sea anemones kept in dark

Congratulations to Dr. Casandra Newkirk and Dr. Mark Q. Martindale for their contributions to a recent paper entitled, "Cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis establishment is independent of photosynthesis" published in the journal Current Biology. Read More


Dr. Allison Edgar and Coauthors publish paper with new insights on the ctenophore life cycle

Appearance of reproductive cydippids’ gonads and progeny

Congratulations to Dr. Allison Edgar who published a paper with Dr. Mark Martindale and coauthors in the Proceedings in the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) - "Ctenophores are direct developers that reproduce continuously beginning very early after hatching." Read More


100,000 clams planted in the Indian River Lagoon on Earth Day

IRL Clam Restoration team

Whitney Laboratory joined with Star Brite Solutions, Coastal Conservation Association Florida, and the IRL Clam Restoration Project to plant 100,000 clams, along with dozens of red mangroves, in the Indian River Lagoon on Earth Day! The clams planted on Friday added to the 13 million clams put into the lagoon over the last three years. Read More


Sponsor the Care of a Turtle on Earth Day!

Three turtle patients from the Sea Turtle Hospital

Want to make a difference? You can sponsor some of our current Sea Turtle Hospital patients! Your sponsorship goes directly into the care of your selected patient. Help make a difference today on this very special Earth Day! Read More


Evenings at Whitney Update: April Lecture Rescheduled for Fall

People in the Lohman Auditorium for Evenings at Whitney lecture

The April Evenings at Whitney Lecture scheduled for this Thursday is being rescheduled for fall so there will not be a lecture this month. We look forward to seeing everyone when Evenings at Whitney starts up again on September 8, 2022! Read More


Sea Turtle Pesto Released March 22

Sea Turtle Pesto prior to release

Sea Turtle Hospital patient "Pesto" was released at Marineland Beach on March 22, 2022. Pesto had been in our care since May 2021, after arriving from New Smyrna. Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital at Turtle Fest April 2

TurtleFest

The Sea Turtle Hospital team will be shellebrating at Turtle Fest in support of the Volusia Turtle Patrol this Saturday. Stop by and help them gear up for nesting season! Read More


Evenings at Whitney with Joe Kistel - YouTube Link Below

 Kistel, Joe

If you missed our March Evenings at Whitney, What's Underwater St. Augustine, with Joe Kistel, the YouTube link is below! Read More


New Shirts in Whitney Store

Whitney Laboratory Shirts

Whitney shirts are in! All proceeds benefit The Sea Turtle Hospital at UF Whitney Lab. Read More


Dr. Ibarra-Castro Receives Award for his contributions to the development of aquaculture in Mexico

Ibarra-Castro, Leonardo

Congratulations to Dr. Leonardo Ibarra-Castro who has been selected to receive the "Eric Pederson" for Innovation and Technological Development Award for his contribution to the development of aquaculture in Mexico. Read More


Lauren Kunselman Publishes in Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Blog

 Kunselman, Lauren

Congratulations to Seaver Lab graduate student and sci comm blogger Lauren Kunselman for her recent blog post on Dr. Mikhail Matz's research on DNA methylation in invertebrates, "Epigenetics -Mikhail Matz- letting the data lead" for the blog affiliated with the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB). Read More


Dr. Ibarra-Castro Publishes Paper in Aquaculture Reports

 Ibarra-Castro, Leonardo

Congratulations to Dr. Leonardo Ibarra-Castro who recently published a paper with colleagues titled "Technical-economic viability of white snook Centropomus viridis culture in floating cages in a coastal lagoon in northwestern Mexico" in Aquaculture Reports. Read More


Sifting through the mud: A tale of building the annelid Capitella teleta for EvoDevo studies

Dr. Elaine Seaver

Congratulations to Dr. Elaine Seaver, Professor of Biology and Whitney Lab faculty, who published an article entitled ‘Sifting through the mud: A tale of building the annelid Capitella teleta for EvoDevo studies’. This special volume highlights emerging animal models for Evolution and Development research. Read More


Welcome Bonnie Maxwell to Whitney

 Maxwell, Bonnie

Please welcome Bonnie Maxwell to the Whitney Laboratory! Bonnie joins the administration team as a receptionist and will help with travel, reimbursements, shipments and other administrative support. Read More


Evenings at Whitney March 10 - Joe Kistel

Boat in water with sea life

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience continues Thursday, March 10, 2022, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “What’s Underwater St. Augustine”. Joe Kistel, Underwater Cinematographer and TISIRI Founder, will be the speaker. Read More


Cat Eastman Presents at Sea Turtles and Microplastics Lunch and Learn Webinar Feb. 22

Cat Eastman

Join Catherine Eastman, Sea Turtle Hospital Program Manager, for a Sea Turtles and Microplastics Lunch and Learn Webinar on February 22 from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. Learn why microplastics are a hazard for sea turtles and what you can do to help. Read More


Palm Coast Observer Article: Whitney Laboratory releases 100,000 juvenile redfish into local waters

Redfish by Brent Woronoff

On Feb. 9, after months of preparation, Whitney Laboratory, with the help of volunteers and local boat captains, released over 100,000 juvenile redfish in waters within a 15-mile radius of the facility. Read More


Stand Up & Holler, It’s Gator Nation Giving Day!

Whitney Laboratory Giving Day Design

Join together with the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience on Giving Day – your gift can directly impact our areas of greatest need. 2 Bits, 4 Bits, Every Bit Counts! Read More


Evenings at Whitney with Cynthia Barnett - YouTube Link Below

 Sound of the Sea COVER

If you missed our February Evenings at Whitney, The Sound of the Sea: Seashells and the Fate of the Oceans, with Cynthia Barnett, the YouTube link is below! Read More


Dr. Joseph Ryan, Dr. Mark Martindale, and Dr. James Strother Named Allen Distinguished Investigators!

James Strother, Joseph Ryan, Mark Martindale

This grant will allow researchers to better understand the brains and nervous systems of animals and humans by studying gelatinous ocean comb jellies, sea creatures that can lead us to insights about how brains began. This is the first time the foundation has awarded the grant to the University of Florida! Read More


Whitney Lab Releases 100K Red Drum in an effort to increase fish populations in local Florida waters

100,000 Red Drum Fish

In an effort to increase Red Drum populations in local Florida waters, the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience released 100,000+ Red Drum (known to many as Redfish) into the waterways near and in the area of the lab on February 9, 2022. Laboratory staff, volunteers and local boat captains participated in this initiative. Read More


Jessica Farrell of the Duffy Lab Defends her Phd! 

Jessica Farrel and Group

On January 24th, Jessica Farrell, a graduate student advised by David Duffy, Assistant Professor of Wildlife Disease Genomics, successfully defended her Ph.D. entitled “Assessing Florida Sea Turtle Populations and their Fibropapillomatosis Tumor Pandemic”. Read More


One segment at a time: Scientists at Whitney Laboratory study regeneration in marine worms

Capitella Worms by Lauren Kunselman

The research done by Boyd and Kunselman in the Seaver Lab represent important early steps for understanding the basic biological principles of regeneration and restoring regenerative potential when and where it has been lost. Read More


Whitney Lab's Patrick Thompson and Jesse Grosso Awarded UF Superior Accomplishment Awards

Patrick Thompson, Jesse Grosso

Our very own Jesse Grosso, Research Administrator II, and Patrick Thompson, Operations Manager were nominated and selected through a very keen year of competition as Superior Accomplishment Awardees by the University of Florida! Read More


Evenings at Whitney February 10 - Cynthia Barnett

Barnett, Cynthia

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience continues Thursday, February 10, 2022, at 7 p.m. with author Cynthia Barnett’s latest program, “The Sound of the Sea: Seashells and the Fate of the Oceans.” Read More


Evenings at Whitney with Dr. Cassandra Quave - YouTube Link

Quave, Cassandra

If you missed our January Evenings at Whitney, The Plant Hunter: A Scientist's Quest for Nature's Next Medicines with Dr. Cassandra Quave, the YouTube link is below! Read More


Elias Lunsford wins Best Student Presentation at The Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB)

Lunsford, Elias

Congratulations to Liao Lab Ph.D. student Elias Lunsford for winning the Best Student Paper competition at The Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) last week in the Division of Neurobiology, Neuroethology and Sensory Biology. Read More


Sea Turtle Avocado Released January 4

Sea Turtle Hospital Patient Avocado

Sea Turtle Hospital patient Avocado received her swimming papers and was released at Gamble Rogers State Park in Flagler County on January 4. Read More


Loesgen Lab Welcomes Anon Boonkerd

 Boonkerd, Anon

Please welcome Anon Boonkerd, a visiting scholar, to the Whitney Laboratory! While at Whitney, Anon will be joining Dr. Sandra Loesgen’s lab and investigating fungal natural products, bioassays, and compound identification. Read More


Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series Back in Person Beginning January 13!

Quave, Cassandra

The Whitney Laboratory is excited to announce the return of the Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series in spring 2022. The first lecture of the spring series will be Thursday, January 13, 2022, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “The Plant Hunter: A Scientist's Quest for Nature's Next Medicines”. Cassandra Quave, PhD, Herbarium Curator and Associate Professor of Dermatology and Human Health at Emory University, will be the speaker. Read More


Dr. Loesgen and Colleagues Publish in Journal Cancers

 Loesgen, Sandra

Congratulations to Dr. Sandra Loesgen and colleagues who recently published a paper in the special issue 'Pediatric Cancers' in the open access Journal Cancers entitled 'Altertoxin II, a Highly Effective and Specific Compound against Ewing Sarcoma'. Read More


Dr. James Liao and Colleagues Publish Paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

PNAS Paper Figure 1

Congratulations to Dr. James Liao and colleagues for the paper "Convergence of undulatory swimming kinematics across a diversity of fishes" published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The team includes past Liao Lab post doc Dr. Otar Akayeti, now faculty in Wales, as well as Liao's colleagues at Harvard, who looked at the swimming kinematics of 44 fishes and challenge assumptions on previous swimming locomotion. Read More


Dr. Leonid Moroz Publishes Paper with Cover Image

Journal of Morphology Cover Ctenophore Dr. Leonid Moroz

The paper, ""Development of the nervous system in the early hatching larvae of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi," is the analysis of nervous system evolution in ctenophores and other basal animal groups and is the major focus of the Moroz Lab. Read More


Sea Turtle Kiwi Released December 9

Sea Turtle Kiwi

Sea Turtle Hospital patient Kiwi was released at Washington Oaks State Park on December 9. The release was shown live on the Sea Turtle Hospital's Facebook. Read More


Sponsor the Care of Pesto or Brussels Sprout!

Sea Turtle Hospital patients Pesto and Brussels Sprout

If you love sea turtles, and want to help us in our efforts at the Sea Turtle Hospital, you can sponsor some of our current patients! On average a patients stay is anywhere between six months to 15 months and a lot goes into their devoted care. Essential items like medical supplies, medications, and food are able to be purchased by our sea turtle sponsorship program. Read More


Strother and Loesgen Labs welcome Amelia Bunnell

Bunnell, Amelia

Please welcome Amelia Bunnell to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined Dr. Sandra Loesgen's Lab and Dr. James Strother's Lab as a laboratory technician. Read More


Dr. Leonid Moroz and Moroz Lab Publish Paper in Science

Fig. 6 FIB-SEM of neuroid-choanocyte interactions

A new research paper was just published in Science by the Moroz lab (Prof. Leonid Moroz and Dr. Andrea Kohn) as a part of long-term collaboration with EMBL (Germany). The paper provides the first deciphering the genealogy of the main cell types in descendants of early animals such as sponges using single-cell sequencing and advanced bioinformatics. Unexpectedly, this research led to the discovery of a new cell type - Read More


Alexandra Hernandez of the Ryan Lab Defends her PhD!

Dr. Alexandra Hernandez

On November 12, Alexandra M. Hernandez, a Ph.D. student working in the laboratory of Joseph Ryan, successfully defended her Ph.D. entitled “Unraveling Ctenophorology and its Implications on Early Animal Evolution". Read More


Hiring for Ctenophore Neural Circuit / Neurogenesis Evolution Project

 Ctenophore

The Whitney Laboratory is hiring three postdocs and one technician to work on a cutting edge evolutionary neuroscience project studying neurogenesis and neural circuits in ctenophores. Read More


Jessica Farrell Receives University of Florida International Center Award

Jessica Farrell with award

Congratulations to Whitney Laboratory Ph.D. candidate Jessica Farrell for receiving the University of Florida International Certificate of Outstanding Merit at the 2021 International Student Achievement Award Ceremony on November 16, during International Education Week. Read More


Sea Turtle Grape Released November 18

Sea Turtle Grape Release

Sea Turtle Hospital patient Grape was released at Marineland Beach, directly across the street from Whitney Lab on November 18. Grape is a small juvenile green turtle that was found buoyant and struggling to dive in St. Augustine at Camachee Cove Marina on March 18. Read More


Dr. Elaine Seaver and Dr. Danielle de Jong Publish Paper in Genes

Adult Capitella Teleta

Congratulations to Dr. Elaine Seaver and Dr. Danielle de Jong who recently published a paper in Genes entitled ‘Regeneration in the Segmented Annelid Capitella teleta'. Read More


Welcome Jocelyn Klucar to Whitney

 Klucar, Jocelyn

Please welcome Jocelyn Klucar, Research Administrator II to the Whitney Laboratory! Jocelyn will be helping our faculty with a portfolio of grants, post awards and submissions in concert with Jesse Grosso our current Research Administrator II. Read More


Last week 3.7 million red drum (Redfish) larvae released in the Matanzas River

Red Drum larvae being released into the Matanzas River

Last week 3.7 million red drum (Redfish) larvae were released in the Matanzas River as part of Whitney Lab's fish conservation efforts. Adult, breeding red drum were collected as part of the Dr. Jimmy Liao Lab's ongoing fish migration and conservation project. Read More


We are Grateful Gators!

Grateful Gator Day graphic

This week we celebrate those who give back to the Whitney Laboratory and the Gator Nation – Thank you for your support of Whitney’s people and programs! Read More


Liao Lab Publishes Paper in Plos Biology

Liao Lab Paper Figure

Congratulations to the Liao Lab who recently published a paper in PLOS Biology on the importance of the lateral line for efficient swimming entitled ‘Corollary discharge enables proprioception from lateral line sensory feedback'. Read More


Adopt a Washback Until October 31 & Thank you!

Washback turtle

Thank you to all who have joined us to support hundreds of washback sea turtles cared for by the Sea Turtle Hospital staff each year by Adopting a Washback, each symbolically named! Adoptions available until October 31. Read More


Two Million Red Drum Larvae Released into the Indian River Lagoon

Crew preparing to release 2 million red drum larvae into the Indian River Lagoon

Fish release - round two! Two million red drum larvae went into the Indian River Lagoon this week with the help of Blair Wiggins Outdoors, Jamie Glasner, Star Brite Solutions, Fishbites, Retrax, Whitney Laboratory Osborne Lab members Dr. Todd Osborne, Sabrina Schofield and Norman Kolsch. Read More


Millions of Red Drum Larvae Spawned at Whitney Released

Ibarra Castro and Osborne Lab Members release juvenile red drum into the Matanzas River

Last week the Ibarra-Castro Lab (Dr. Leonardo Ibarra-Castro, Dr. Samantha Koda and Maddie Morrison) and Osborne Lab (Dr. Todd Osborne and Sean Goggin) along with Whitney staff released red drum larvae into the Matanzas River close to the Whitney Laboratory. Read More


University of Florida led expedition retracing Darwin’s Route Sets Sail in October

Dr. Leonid Moroz leaving on the voyage retracing the same route as Charles Darwin performed more 180 years ago

Through a private donation to the University of Florida Foundation an expedition will further launch UF Distinguished Professor Leonid Moroz’ research in functional marine genomics, including understanding neuronal evolution and biodiversity. Through a private donation to the University of Florida Foundation an expedition will further launch UF Distinguished Professor Leonid Moroz’ research in functional marine genomics, including understanding neuronal evolution and biodiversity. Read More


Taste of the Fun Coast Event Benefits the Sea Turtle Hospital

Taste of the Fun Coast

The Taste of the Fun Coast event at Hammock Beach Resort is tomorrow, October 26 - food, drinks and fun benefiting the Sea Turtle Hospital! Read More


Adopt a Washback!

Adopt a Washback

TODAY is the day! It is your chance to virtually ADOPT A WASHBACK sea turtle to support the care of turtles! Click below to name a cute little washback - but pick your name and hurry, our campaign ends 10/31! Read More


Tori Summers Joins the Sea Turtle Hospital Staff

 Summers, Tori

Please welcome Tori Summers to Whitney Laboratory staff as the Sea Turtle Hospital's Animal Care Technician. Read More


St. Augustine Record Article - Rare blue button jellyfish washing up on St. Johns County beaches

Matanzas Inlet

Whitney Laboratory Director Dr. Mark Martindale talks with the St. Augustine Record about Porpita porpita or blue buttons, a colony of hydrozoan polyps that were recently appearing on St. John's County beaches. Read More


UF Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month

We would like to recognize our Hispanic/Latino/Latinx members of the Whitney community this month! Read More


Dr. David Duffy Awarded Grant from Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program to Study Health Impacts in Florida's Young Turtles

Post-hatchling with scale

The Whitney Laboratory is pleased to announce that Assistant Professor of Wildlife Disease Genomics and Rising Star Condron Family Endowed Assistant Professor Dr. David Duffy received a grant for $26,355 from the Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program, which is funded by the sales of the sea turtle specialty license plate. He received the grant for a project to study the health impacts of near-ubiquitous plastic ingestion in Florida’s young turtles. Read More


New Shirts in Whitney Store

 Whitney Laboratory Shirts

Whitney shirts are in! All proceeds benefit The Sea Turtle Hospital at UF Whitney Lab. Read More


Jessica Long Receives Outstanding Leadership Award at 25th Annual UF Cares Infectious Disease and HIV Conference

Long, Jessica

Congratulations to Whitney Laboratory Senior Director of Advancement Jessica Long for receiving the 2021 Outstanding Leadership Award in recognition of her years of dedication, leadership, and outstanding performance at UF CARES and within the HIV/AIDS community. Read More


Whitney welcomes Mike Ramia to Facilities Team

 Ramia, Mike

Please welcome Mike Ramia to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined the facilities team as a maintenance professional. Read More


National Postdoc Appreciation Week

Postdoc Week

Thank you to our Whitney Laboratory Postdoctoral Associates, you really power the Whitney lab's research and efforts! We appreciate you! Read More


Congratulations to Dr. James Liao for NSF award and election as SICB Officer

James Liao, Ph.D.

Congratulations to Dr. James Liao for his new National Science Foundation (NSF) Physics of Living Systems grant award: Schooling through vortex streets: a biological and computational approach to understanding behavior of wild fish Read More


Martindale Lab welcomes Dr. James Townsend

 Townsend, James

Please welcome Dr. James Townsend to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined Dr. Mark Martindale's lab as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Read More


Schnitzler Lab welcomes Dr. Jingwei Song

Song, Jingwei

Please welcome Dr. Jingwei Song to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined Dr. Christine Schnitzler's Lab as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Read More


Duffy Lab and International Colleagues publish a paper in Wellcome Open Research

 Wellcome Paper Image

Congratulations to Kelsey Yetsko, Jessica Farrell, Dr. David Duffy and their colleagues who recently co-published a paper titled 'Genotype data not consistent with clonal transmission of sea turtle fibropapillomatosis or goldfish schwannoma' in Wellcome Open Research. The paper involved researchers in the UK, US and Italy. Read More


Judge Joe Boatwright Named to Whitney Laboratory Board of Trustees

Boatwright, Judge Joe

Whitney Laboratory is pleased to announce that Judge Joe Boatwright has joined its Board of Trustees. Judge Joe Boatwright is a state court trial judge in the Seventh Judicial Circuit in Florida, and has previously been assigned as an associate judge on Florida’s 4th and 5th District Court of Appeals. Read More


Dr. Ibarra-Castro Publishes Paper in Fish Physiology and Biochemistry

Snapper at Whitney Laboratory

Congratulations to Dr. Leonardo Ibarra-Castro who recently published a paper titled "Effect of salinity on growth, survival, and serum osmolality of red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus" in Fish Physiology and Biochemistry. Fish used during the experiment were sourced from wild brood-stock spawned at the University of Florida and grown at Whitney Laboratory. Read More


Osborne Lab Welcomes Sean Goggin

Goggin, Sean

Please welcome Sean Goggin to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined Dr. Todd Osborne's lab as a Laboratory Technician. Read More


Schnitzler Lab Welcomes Amanda Yeo

 Yeo, Amanda

Please welcome Amanda Yeo to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined Dr. Christine Schnitzler's lab as a Post Bac Researcher. Read More


Sea Turtle Patient Goya Release Thursday, September 2

Sea Turtle Hospital patient Goya

We are excited to announce that we will release Goya on Thursday, September 2 at 1 p.m. at the beach side of River to Sea Preserve Boardwalk (Marineland Beach) in the town of Marineland, Florida. Read More


Duffy Lab Welcomes Dr. Samantha Koda

 Koda, Samantha

Please welcome Dr. Samantha Koda to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined Dr. David Duffy's lab as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Read More


Duffy Lab and Colleagues publish paper in Animals

Image from Duffy Lab MDPI Paper - Patient Yucca at Intake

Congratulations to Liam Whitmore, Jessica Farrell, Kelsey Yetsko, Devon Rollinson Ramia, Dr. Brooke Burkhalter, Dr. David Duffy and their colleagues who recently published a paper titled 'Evolutionary Comparisons of Chelonid Alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) Genomes from Fibropapillomatosis-Afflicted Green (Chelonia mydas), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and Kemp’s Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) Sea Turtles' in Animals. Read More


Sea Turtle Asparagus' Journey in St. Augustine Record

Sea Turtle Asparagus with tracking

After five months of treatment, recovery and rehab, Asparagus, a 32-pound juvenile green sea turtle, swam back into the ocean not far from where she was stranded in Flagler County in early spring. Read More


Liao Lab's Red Drum Tagging Project in NERRdsontheWater Blog

otn-receivers

The Liao Lab's Red Drum Tagging Project in one of the 29 National Estuarine Research Reserves in the country was recently shared in the NERRdsontheWater Blog Post: Drumming up Data. Read More


Whitney REU Program in Palm Coast Observer

West, Omar

In case you missed it - the St. Augustine Record recently featured Whitney's Research Experiences for Undergraduates program and shared some of the scientific research that was underway at the lab this summer. Read More


Congratulations to Drew Thompson, 2021 REU Poster Contest Winner

Drew Thompson REU Poster 2021 Winner

Drew worked with Dr. David Duffy this summer on genetic drivers of turtle fibropapillomatosis. Read More


Schnitzler Lab Welcomes Sue Xu

 Xu, Sue

Please welcome Sue Xu to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined Dr. Christine Schnitzler's Lab as a Ph.D. Student. Read More


Registration Now Open - Virtual Sea Turtle Fibropapillomatosis Research Symposium

Sea Turtle Eugenie Clark

Registration and abstract submission are now open for the Sea Turtle Fibropapillomatosis Research Symposium 2021. The 2021 meeting will be held virtually on October 14 and 15, 2021. Read More


Congratulations to Dr. Sandra Loesgen on New National Science Foundation Award

 Loesgen, Sandra

Congratulations to Associate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Sandra Loesgen who was awarded a new three year National Science Foundation (NSF) Award in collaboration with Dr. Virginia Weis. Read More


I can see clearly now: unexpected benefits of Rain-X discovered by Whitney Lab scientists

Dorothy Michell and Dr. Alison Edgar

Palm Coast Observer Article - Whitney Laboratory Martindale Lab graduate student Dorothy Mitchell made a discovery while trying to take pictures of comb jellies with a microscope. Read More


Sea Turtle Asparagus is on the move!

Sea Turtle Asparagus with satellite tracking on her release day

Asparagus, a green sea turtle and the Hospital’s 1st release of 2021, was outfitted with a satellite transmitter and released from the beach on the border of St Johns and Flagler counties. Follow along on her incredible journey. Read More


Loesgen Lab Publishes Paper in Molecules

 Loesgen Lab Paper Image

Congrats to Loesgen Lab members Mahsa Khoshbakht (co-advised at OSU), Dr. Annika Jagels (Whitney Lab), and former Loesgen Lab members Jason Srey (undergraduate researcher) and Dr. Donovon Adpressa whose paper "Precursor-Directed Biosynthesis of Aminofulvenes: New Chalanilines from Endophytic Fungus Chalara sp." was recently published in Molecules. Read More


Duffy Lab Welcomes Dr. Narges Mashkour

 Mashkour, Narges

Please welcome Dr. Narges Mashkour to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined Dr. David Duffy's Lab as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. She joined the Duffy lab to continue working on the genetics behind FP and the possible roles of this papillomavirus. Read More


Loesgen Lab Welcomes Dr. Oh-Seok Kwon

 Kwon, Oh-Seok

Please welcome Dr. Oh-Seok Kwon to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined Dr. Sandra Loesgen's Lab as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Read More


Sea Turtle Patient Asparagus Release Tuesday, July 20

 Sea Turtle Asparagus

We are excited to announce that we will release Asparagus on Tuesday, July 20 at 12 p.m. at the beach side of River to Sea Preserve Boardwalk (Marineland Beach) in the town of Marineland, Florida. Prior to release, Asparagus will be fitted with a satellite tag from a partnership between the Sea Turtle Conservancy and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources! Read More


Maddie Morrison Joins Whitney's Fish Aquaculture Program

 Morrison, Maddie

Please welcome Maddie Morrison to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined Whitney's Fish Aquaculture Program with Dr. Leonardo Ibarra-Castro as an Aquaculture Technician. Read More


Evenings at Whitney - Coming this Fall!

Sunset at Whitney Laboratory

We are excited to announce we are preparing for the in-person Evenings at Whitney fall lecture series to begin in September! Read More


Loesgen Lab Publishes Collaborative Papers in MDPI and The Journal of Organic Chemistry

Introductory figure of the Chalaniline B total synthesis

Congratulations to the Loesgen Lab, who collaborative papers "Total Synthesis of Chalaniline B: An Antibiotic Aminoxanthone from Vorinostat-Treated Fungus Chalara sp. 6661" and "Comparative Genomics of Eight Fusarium graminearum Strains with Contrasting Aggressiveness Reveals an Expanded Open Pangenome and Extended Effector Content Signatures" were recently published. Read More


Cody Miner Joins the Martindale Lab

Miner, Cody

Please welcome Cody Miner to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined Dr. Mark Martindale's lab as a graduate student. Read More


Sponsor the Care of a Turtle

Sea Turtle Kiwi

Please join us to support the Sea Turtle Hospital by sponsoring the care of one of these current hospital patients. Your sponsorship can provide them with important medical supplies, nutritious food, critical exams and other types of care provided while at the Sea Turtle Hospital. Read More


Steven Longmire Joins the Liao Lab

 Longmire, Steven

Please welcome Steven Longmire to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined Dr. James Liao's lab as Lab Manager. Read More


Plans move forward for new research building at Whitney Laboratory

Lab Building Rendering

Congratulations to Brent Foster who recently published an article in the Palm Coast Observer on the new research building plans at Whitney Laboratory. With the construction of the new building, Whitney Laboratory administrators and staff are responding to the nation’s growing demand to inspire and train STEM investigators, both young and old. Read More


Automotive Product Preserves Ctenophores for Study - Martindale Lab Discovery Published in Frontiers in Zoology

M. leidyi cydippid

Congratulations to Dorothy Mitchell, Dr. Allison Edgar and Dr. Mark Q. Martindale who recently published a paper in Frontiers in Zoology entitled ‘Improved histological fixation of gelatinous marine invertebrates'. They discovered that the commercial product used to treat automotive glass allows for thorough tissue fixation and morphological preservation of ctenophore and other delicate specimens. Read More


Welcome Emilia Cayelli, Cliff Townsend Scholar

Cayelli, Emilia

Emilia is spending a month interning in Dr. Mark Martindale’s Lab this summer, studying the early development stages of Cassiopea. Emilia notes “Having the opportunity to work in Dr. Mark Martindale’s lab at Whitney has not only taught me endless information about Cassiopea and Ctenophores, but also has given me a sneak peek into what a future career in Marine Sciences may hold.” Read More


Moroz Lab contributes to sequencing the American Lobster genome

Dr. Leonid Moroz

An important species in the history of Whitney Laboratory research, Leonid Moroz, Ph.D. and Andrea Kohn, Ph.D. publish in Science Advances with key collaborators. Read More


Martindale Lab Publishes Paper in Genes

Ctenophores

Congratulations to Dr. Allison Edgar, Dorothy Mitchell and Dr. Mark Q. Martindale who recently published a paper in Genes entitled ‘Whole-Body Regeneration in the Lobate Ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi’. Read More


Former Martindale Lab Ph.D. Graduate Receives NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology

Cassandra Newkirk

Former Ph.D. graduate with Dr. Mark Martindale at Whitney Laboratory, Dr. Casandra Newkirk, recently received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology, in the area of Broadening Participation of Groups Underrepresented in Biology. Read More


Dr. Sandra Loesgen Receives Grant from National Science Foundation National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

 Loesgen, Sandra

Congratulations to Associate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Sandra Loesgen who was awarded a new three year grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. Read More


Welcome 2021 REU Summer Interns!

2021 Whitney Laboratory REU Students

Welcome to the 2021 Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) summer interns! Funded by the National Science Foundation, this year's summer program offers eight students the opportunity to participate in scientific research at Whitney Laboratory. Read More


Dr. Moroz and Dr. Kohn publish in Science on 3D resolution genomes with a multidisciplinary team

Fig. 1 A comprehensive overview of nuclear architecture across evolution

An interdisciplinary team (Hoencamp et al. May 28, Science, 2021, including the University of Florida/Whitney Lab (Prof. Leonid L. Moroz and Dr. Andrea Kohn), reconstructed of twenty four genomes at three dimensional resolution (3D). Read More


Buried Treasure: How a Bit of Soil Led to a Rare Discovery for Microbial Chemistry

 Streptomyces strain, producer of Benditerpenoic acid

Researchers from the Whitney Laboratory and the University of Florida Department of Chemistry identified a new molecule that could have medicinal purposes. Read More


Duffy Lab on Bioscience Talks Podcast

Bioscience Talks

Jessica Farrell, Dr. David Duffy and Liam Whitmore have a discussion of environmental DNA and RNA (eDNA and eRNA, respectively) and its potential for pathogen monitoring. Read More


Anne Marie Moquin Named to Whitney Laboratory Board of Trustees

Moquin, Anne Marie

Whitney Laboratory is pleased to announce that Anne Marie Moquin has joined its Board of Trustees. Read More


Dr. James Strother Publishes Paper in Biomedical Optics Express

Strother, James

Congratulations to Dr. James Strother for his recent publication titled "Reduction of spherical and chromatic aberration in axial-scanning optical systems with tunable lenses" in Biomedical Optics Express. Read More


Let's Talk Turtle - Join us Friday, May 21

Graphic for Let's Talk Turtle Event

Join us for a physically distanced talk about everybody’s favorite endangered species, the sea turtle. Registration required. Read More


Nature Portfolio Ecology and Evolution: Tracking an oncogenic sea turtle virus with Environmental DNA

Saltwater for eDNA extraction, Credit David Duffy

Congratulations to Whitney PhD student Jessica Farrell, Kelsey Yetsko and Dr. David Duffy for their article in Nature Portfolio Ecology and Evolution Community - Tracking an oncogenic sea turtle virus with eDNA. How to better understand the role of an oncogenic virus in driving a debilitating sea turtle disease? By applying genomics to sea turtle tumor tissues and environmental DNA (eDNA) to rehabilitation tank water. Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Staff and Whitney Faculty and Students Publish Paper in Communications Biology

 Communications Biology Paper Images

Congratulations to Sea Turtle Hospital Staff and Whitney Faculty and Students who recently published a paper titled "Environmental DNA monitoring of oncogenic viral shedding and genomic profiling of sea turtle fibropapillomatosis reveals unusual viral dynamics" in Communications Biology. Read More


St. Augustine Record Article - Sea turtle crossing: Environmentalists urge caution during St. Johns County nesting season

Sea Turtle Artichoke Underwater

Sea Turtle Hospital Program Manager Catherine Eastman talks with the St. Augustine Record about nesting season that began May 1 and what you can do to ensure turtles and their hatchlings stay safe as they come ashore to lay eggs. Read More


Loesgen Lab Publishes Paper in Angewandte Chemie

benditerpenoic acid

Congratulations to the Loesgen Lab, in collaboration with Dr. Jeffrey Rudolf, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Florida, and his lab for a paper titled "Discovery and biosynthesis of a structurally dynamic antibacterial diterpenoid." Read More


Elizabeth Kaweesa of the Loesgen Lab Defends her PhD!

 Kaweesa, Elizabeth

On March 9th, Elizabeth N. Kaweesa, a graduate student advised by Sandra Loesgen, Associate Professor of Chemistry, gave her Ph.D. defense seminar entitled “Screening and In Vitro Assessment of Cytotoxic Natural Products” and successfully earned her doctorate degree. Read More


Whitney Lab Virtual 5K - Price Increases Monday, May 10

Whitney Lab Virtual 5K Shirt

Exclusive shirt design release! This Sunday is the last day for the Whitney Lab Virtual 5K early registration with the option to pick up your shirt at Whitney June 5. Don’t wait to register – Price increases Monday and only the first 125 registrants will receive a finisher medal too. All registrants will receive the inaugural shirt pictured. Read More


Dr. Danielle de Jong in Stat Article on pipette tip shortage

de Jong, Danielle

Dr. Danielle de Jong, Lab Manager of the Schnitzler Lab, was recently quoted in the Stat article, How Blackouts, Fires, and a Pandemic are Driving Shortages of Pipette Tips — and Hobbling Science. Read More


Jessica Farrell Earns Outstanding PhD Oral Presentation Award

Jessica Farrell

Congratulations to Whitney PhD Student Jessica Farrell who recently won an award for Outstanding PhD Oral Presentation at the The Dauphin Island Sea Lab Marine Science Graduate Student Symposium. Read More


Sip 'N Science YouTube Link - Using Native Shellfish to Improve Water Quality & Economic Resiliency in the Indian River Lagoon

Prepping aquaculture leases for outplanting of clams

If you missed our Sip 'N Science recently with Dr. Todd Osborne the webinar is now on our YouTube channel. Read More


Whitney Marine Mondays - Locomotion

Animal on rocks

Animals use various methods to create movement! Read More


The Conversation: Environmental DNA – how a tool used to detect endangered wildlife ended up helping fight the COVID-19 pandemic

Laboratory

Congratulations to Jessica Farrell, Dr. David Duffy and Liam Whitmore recently featured their research in The Conversation article, Environmental DNA – how a tool used to detect endangered wildlife ended up helping fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More


Dr. Sandra Loesgen in NPR Article

 Loesgen, Sandra

Dr. Sandra Loesgen was recently interviewed for the NPR article, UF Researchers Say Marine Products Show Promising Future In Medical Advancements Read More


Jessica Farrell and Colleagues Publish Paper in Bioscience

 What is eDNA figure

Congratulations to Jessica Farrell, Dr. David Duffy and Liam Whitmore who recently published a paper titled "The Promise and Pitfalls of Environmental DNA and RNA Approaches for the Monitoring of Human and Animal Pathogens from Aquatic Sources" in Bioscience. Read More


Dr. David Duffy and Colleagues Publish Paper in Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

Developing zebrafish embryo, treated with the epigenetic inhibitor JQ1

Congratulations to Dr. David Duffy and colleagues who recently published a paper titled "A chemo-genomic approach identifies diverse epigenetic therapeutic vulnerabilities in MYCN amplified neuroblastoma" in Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. Read More


Whitney Lab Virtual 5K Registration Now Open!

Whitney Lab 5K Design

Join us for our inaugural Whitney Lab 5K - a virtual walk/run for marine science! Complete a 5K walk or run anywhere, anytime between May 30 - June 5 to celebrate the wonders of marine life with this year's featured animal - the green sea turtle! Read More


Whitney Sip 'N Science Free Webinar April 22 - Dr. Todd Osborne | Using native shellfish to improve water quality and economic resiliency in the Indian River Lagoon

Sip N Science Osborne

Join us on Earth Day for our April Webinar! Dr. Todd Osborne will share the current Indian River lagoon Clam Restoration initiative that combines proven aquaculture techniques with sound science to bring clams back into their role as water purifiers on Florida’s Space Coast. Read More


Fun with Plankton Summer Camp Spots Still Available!

Boy looking into microscope

Students entering 5th, 6th or 7th grade in fall 2021 will experience the fun of science learning and discovery with plankton. Read More


Catherine Eastman and Taryn Chaya Present at GTM Research Reserve State of the Reserve Symposia

 State of the Reserve Presentation Screenshots

Catherine Eastman and Taryn Chaya recently presented at this symposia that brings together the community and offers the opportunity to gain greater insight into the research, education and stewardship activities taking place throughout the GTM Research Reserve by their staff, partners and academic institutions. Read More


Brent Foster Publishes Article in the Palm Coast Observer on Dr. Elizabeth Kaweesa's research

Kaweesa observing media with cancer cell

Another one bites the dust: Scientist in Flagler investigates how bacteria in the soil can help combat skin cancer Read More


Yamaha Rightwaters™ Powers Redfish Study at University of Florida

 Yamaha Rightwaters Boat for UF

Yamaha Rightwaters is teaming up with Skeeter Boats to provide a SX2250 center console boat with a 250-horsepower Yamaha V MAX SHO outboard to the University of Florida. Scientists in the University’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience will use the boat and outboard to conduct a study on redfish activities and numbers to gather better data on the species in Northern Florida. Read More


Dr. Sandra Loesgen in GEO kompakt Magazine

GEO Kompakt Article

Congratulations to Dr. Sandra Loesgen, who was recently featured in an article in GEO kompakt Magazine, Die Unterwasserapotheke, or Underwater Pharmacy. The article highlights the natural products community efforts to find new medications from marine sources. Read More


Whitney Marine Mondays - Estuary Organisms, Tiny Snails

Tiny snail in estuary

Take a closer look at tiny snails found in the estuary! Read More


First Coast News Story - UF sea turtle hospital flooded with sick turtles

Cold stun turtle

Already this year, the hospital has cared for more than half of last year's case load. Read More


Sip 'N Science YouTube Link - Tracking Cells Through Space and Time

Cell

If you missed our Sip 'N Science recently with Dr. Elaine Seaver the webinar is now on our YouTube channel. Read More


Sea Turtle Program Manager Catherine Eastman Presents for Scientist in Every Florida School Program

 Scientist in a Classroom Presentation

On February 24 Sea Turtle Program Manager Catherine Eastman presented to a classroom of eager students from Rymfire Elementary as part of the Scientist in Every Florida School program. Her thirty minute talk focused on different species of sea turtles, how the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory treats sea turtle patients, and how sea turtles are unique reptiles. Read More


Whitney Sip 'N Science Free Webinar March 11 - Dr. Elaine Seaver, Tracking Cells Through Space and Time

Sip N Science

Join us for our March Webinar! Tracking animals has historically been a major focus throughout the millennia, whether for obtaining food or understanding environmental fluctuations, and much has been learned by merely watching. The same can be said about looking at small things, such as cells in an embryo. Dr. Elaine Seaver will give examples of important principles of normal embryo development by simply ‘watching’ cells move through space and time. Read More


News Loesgen Lab Paper in Chemistry and Biodiversity

Strains

Congratulations to current and former members of the Loesgen Lab who recently published a collaborative paper titled "Biodiversity, bioactivity, and metabolites of high desert derived Oregonian soil bacteria" in Chemistry and Biodiversity. Read More


Brent Foster Publishes article in the Palm Coast Observer about Dr. Allison Edgar's Ctenophore research

 Ctenophore

Combing through science with comb jellies, at Whitney Laboratory - Allison Edgar, a post-doc at the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, is researching the life cycle and regeneration abilities of these simple animals, also known as sea walnuts. Read More


Registration Open for 2021 Summer Camps

Whitney Summer Camp Flyer

Registration is now open for the 2021 Whitney Laboratory Fun with Plankton Summer Day Camp and Sea Turtle Summer Camp! Read More


New Whitney Shirts in Online Store

Whitney Laboratory Shirts

New Whitney long and short sleeve shirts are now available in the online store to support the Sea Turtle Hospital at UF Whitney Laboratory. Read More


Whitney Marine Mondays - Species Spotlight, Sea Hare

Sea hare

Have you ever seen a snail without a shell? Read More


Stand Up & Holler, It’s Gator Nation Giving Day!

Whitney Laboratory Giving Day Graphic

Join together with the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience on Giving Day – your gift can directly impact our areas of greatest need. 2 Bits, 4 Bits, Every Bit Counts! Read More


Sip 'N Science YouTube Link - Secrets of Local Fish Migration in Northeast Florida

Redfish

If you missed our Sip 'N Science recently with Clark Morgan the webinar is now on our YouTube channel. Read More


Dr. Mark McCauley Joins the Loesgen Lab

 McCauley, Mark

Please welcome Mark McCauley, Ph.D. to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined Dr. Sandra Loesgen’s lab as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Read More


Whitney Hosts IUPAC Global Women's Breakfast to Celebrate Women in Science

 Women in Science Breakfast 2021

On February 9, Whitney participated in their second International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Global Women's Breakfast with 62 Countries to promote and celebrate Women and Diversity in Science. Thank you Dr. Sandra Loesgen and her lab for hosting again this year! Read More


New Loesgen Lab Collaborative Paper in mBio

mBio Loesgen Paper

Congratulations to the Loesgen Lab who recently published a collaborative paper titled "Transcriptomic, Protein-DNA Interaction, and Metabolomic Studies of VosA, VelB, and WetA in Aspergillus nidulans Asexual Spores" in mBio. Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Staff and Whitney Faculty Publish Paper in Communications Biology

Sea Turtle

Congratulations to Sea Turtle Hospital Staff and Whitney Faculty who recently published a paper titled "Molecular characterization of a marine turtle tumor epizootic, profiling external, internal and postsurgical regrowth tumors" in Communications Biology. Read More


Whitney Sip 'N Science Free Webinar Feb. 11 - Clark Morgan, Secrets of Local Fish Migration in Northeast Florida

 Sip N Science

Join us for our February Webinar! Clark will share the Whitney Lab's project of tracking and monitoring red drum fish movement and migration patterns in Northeast Florida. He will provide details of how acoustic telemetry is used to understand local fish habitat usage, and how this work is helping identify and protect critical spawning and nursery areas to impact conservation. Read More


Dr. William Carr, Whitney's First Faculty Has Passed Away

 Carr, William

Whitney's own Professor William E.S. Carr, PhD, the first UF Faculty at Whitney Laboratory has passed away. Dr. Carr received his PhD at Duke University, and was recruited by our first director Dr. Gurin, prior to the Whitney Laboratory opening. He served as our first faculty and helped develop the laboratory building plan and the idea of a biomedical research focus of Whitney Lab. He studied chemosensing and olfaction in spiny lobster, shrimp, and fish. Read More


New Sea Water Cistern

New Sea Water Cistern at Whitney Laboratory

Our new 13,000 gallon sea water cistern installation is in the final stretch! This will greatly improve our sea water system originally installed at Whitney Laboratory in 1974. Read More


Dr. Ibarra-Castro Publishes Paper in Aquaculture

 Ibarra-Castro, Leonardo

Congratulations to Dr. Leonardo Ibarra-Castro who recently published a paper titled "Characterization of digestive enzymes during early ontogeny of white Snook (Centropomus viridis)" in Aquaculture. Read More


Liao Lab Collaborative Research Published in Scientific Reports

Image from published paper

Congratulations to the Liao Lab for their collaborative research on the numerical simulation of fish swimming recently published in Scientific Reports. The paper is entitled ‘A numerical study of fish adaption behaviors in complex environments with a deep reinforcement learning and immersed boundary–lattice Boltzmann method’. Read More


Erin Marshall Joins the Loesgen Lab

 Marshall, Erin

Please welcome Erin Marshall to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined Dr. Sandra Loesgen’s lab as a PhD Student. Read More


Whitney Marine Mondays - Species Spotlight, Horse Conch

Horse Conch

Learn all about Florida's state shell and largest marine snail! Read More


Dr. Ibarra-Castro Publishes Paper in Zootaxa

Snook

Congratulations to Dr. Leonardo Ibarra-Castro who recently published a paper titled "Revision of the diagnostic characters of two morphologically similar snook species, Centropomus viridis and C. nigrescens (Carangiformes: Centropomidae)" in Zootaxa. Read More


Kaylee Hargis joins the Sea Turtle Hospital

 Hargis, Kaylee

Please welcome Kaylee Hargis to Whitney Laboratory as the Sea Turtle Hospital's Animal Care Technician. Kaylee Hargis grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and is a recent 2020 graduate from the University of Dayton. Read More


2021 REU Application Deadline (Feb. 22) Fast Approaching

REU Students Swimming

The Whitney Laboratory Research Experience for Undergraduate program (REU), funded by the National Science Foundation (Site Award 0648969), offers an exceptional opportunity for the motivated undergraduate to participate in scientific research. Read More


Whitney Sip 'N Science Free Webinar Jan. 14 - Dr. Mark Martindale | The Value of Marine Labs in Discovering Diverse Animals of the Sea

Sip N Science

Join us for our January Webinar! Dr. Martindale will share the role of marine laboratories in discovery, animal evolution, and biodiversity. Read More


Dr. Ferhat Karakas joins the Strother Lab

 Karakas, Ferhat

Please welcome Dr. Ferhat Karakas to Whitney Laboratory! He joins Dr. James Strother's lab as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Read More


Dr. Todd Osborne in Florida Today

Clams

Dr. Todd Osborne and the Indian River Lagoon Clam Restoration Team were recently featured in the Florida Today article - Transplanted 'super clams' thrive, sparking hope of cleansing gunked-up Indian River Lagoon. Read More


Dr. Ibarra-Castro Publishes Paper in Revista de Investigaciones Marinas

Snapper

Congratulations to Dr. Leonardo Ibarra-Castro who recently published a paper titled "Advances in spotted rose snapper (Lutjanus guttatus, Steindachner, 1869) juveniles production" in Revista de Investigaciones Marinas. Read More


Osborne Lab Publishes Paper in Soil Biology and Biochemistry

Mangrove

Congratulations to Whitney visiting researcher Dr. Hailey Craig, Dr. Todd Osborne and previous Osborne lab Postdoc Dr. Lorae Simpson who recently published a paper titled "Nitrogen addition alters composition, diversity, and functioning of microbial communities in mangrove soils: An incubation experiment" in Soil Biology and Biochemistry where they looked at N enrichment effects in mangrove soils. Read More


Happy Holidays from Whitney Laboratory

Holiday graphic

Happy Holidays from Whitney Laboratory! Thank you for being an important part of the Whitney Family. We appreciate your support of Whitney's mission as we continue our research, education and conservation efforts. Read More


Dr. Ibarra-Castro Publishes Paper in Aquaculture Reports

 Ibarra-Castro, Leonardo

Congratulations to Dr. Leonardo Ibarra-Castro who recently published a paper titled "A new efficient method for the mass production of juvenile spotted rose snapper Lutjanus guttatus" in Aquaculture Reports. Read More


Sip ‘N Science YouTube Link – Drugs from Dirt and Oceans

Strains

If you missed our Sip 'N Science recently with Dr. Sandra Loesgen the webinar is now on our YouTube channel. Read More


Sea Turtle Edward Scissorhands Released Dec. 3

Sea Turtle Hospital patient Edward Scissorhands

Sea Turtle Hospital patient Edward Scissorhands returned to her ocean home on December 3, after one year of intensive and interesting care at the Sea Turtle Hospital. Edward Scissorhands was a social media favorite and captured the hearts of everyone who learned her unique story. Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Plastics Paper Data in Oceana Report

Sea Turtle Hospital patient in Oceana report

Oceana recently published a report, "Choked, Strangled, Drowned: The Plastics Crisis Unfolding in Our Oceans," that included data from the Sea Turtle Hospital's recently published paper on Plastic Ingestion in Post-hatchling Sea Turtles. Oceana reveals for the first time the available data on marine mammals and sea turtles swallowing or becoming entangled in plastic in U.S. waters. Read More


Whitney Sip 'N Science Free Webinar Dec. 10 - Dr. Sandra Loesgen | Drugs from Dirt and Oceans

Sip 'N Science

Join us for our December Webinar! Dr. Sandra Loesgen will share the interesting origins of some of our current health care pharmaceuticals, and why her lab focuses on microscopic organisms, or microbes for drug discovery. We will then take a global journey with Dr. Loesgen to discover where the microbes they work with are found, along with their chemistry and how they could help human health. Read More


Loesgen Lab Publishes Paper in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

Image for Loesgen Lab paper

Congratulations to previous Loesgen lab members and Dr. Sandra Loesgen for a new paper titled ""Biolayer interferometry provides a robust method for detecting DNA binding small molecules in microbial extracts." Read More


First Coast News Story on Plastics and the Sea Turtle Hospital

Sea turtle hatchlings

Sea Turtle Hospital Program Manager Cat Eastman and Dr. David Duffy talk with First Coast News about sea turtle hatchlings that come to the hospital and what they have discovered in the First Coast News story. Read More


Dr. James Strother's Manta Ray research discussed in Scishow

Strother, James

Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. James Strother's Manta Ray research is discussed in the Scishow series piece "How giant creatures eat tiny meals: filter feeders." Read More


Sip 'N Science YouTube link - Sea Turtle Care Spotlight

Washback turtles

If you missed our Sip 'N Science recently with Catherine Eastman the webinar is now on our YouTube channel. Read More


Whitney Marine Mondays - Classroom Critters, Cnidarians

Marine Monday Intro

Take a closer look at cnidarians - find out which of our classroom critters belong to this group and some of their interesting characteristics. Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital in Daytona News Journal

Cat Eastman measuring a turtle

The Sea Turtle Hospital was recently featured in the Daytona News Journal article - Sea Turtle Hospital sees increasing number of injured turtles Read More


Elizabeth Kaweesa Panelist at The American Society of Pharmacognosy's Diversity and Inclusion Committee Webinar

 Kaweesa, Elizabeth

Elizabeth Kaweesa, Ph.D. Student in the Loesgen Lab, was recently a panelist at The American Society of Pharmacognosy's Diversity and Inclusion Committee Webinar - Fostering Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Scientific Research Groups Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital in Palm Coast Observer

Sea turtle picture taken by the Palm Coast Observer at the Sea Turtle Hospital

The Sea Turtle Hospital was recently featured in the Palm Coast Observer article - Sea Turtle Hospital researches illness affecting green sea turtles. Read More


Grateful Gator Day!

Grateful Gator Day Graphic

We are grateful gators! Thank you for all the ways you support and strengthen UF Whitney Laboratory’s Impact! Read More


New Date Nov. 19 - Whitney Sip 'N Science Free Webinar - Catherine Eastman | Sea Turtle Care Spotlight

Sip N Science Webinar graphic

Due to Eta storm bands/conditions we are receiving a lot of turtles and have to postpone tonight's talk to November 19 at 6 p.m. We hope to see you then! Catherine Eastman will be sharing our recent sea turtle stories and their care, and latest news from the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory. We will have an interactive Q & A after the update to discuss sea turtles and your questions about them. Come prepared with your sea turtle questions! Read More


Paige Mandelare of the Loesgen Lab Defends her Phd!

Paige with Loesgen Lab at PhD Defense

On November 5th, Paige E. Mandelare, a graduate student advised by Sandra Loesgen, Associate Professor of Chemistry, gave her Ph.D. defense seminar entitled “Chemical Signaling in Marine Fungal and Coral Systems” and successfully earned her doctorate degree. Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Outfits First Turtle with Satellite Tracking

Sea Turtle Hospital patient Richard with Satellite Tracking

Sea Turtle Hospital at UF Whitney Laboratory staff released a very special sea turtle November 4, 2020 at 12:56 p.m. “Richard Dawkins,” a mid-sized juvenile green sea turtle, the Hospital’s 36th patient of 2020, was outfitted with a satellite transmitter and released from the beach on the border of St Johns and Flagler counties. This is the first satellite tagged patient rehabbed from the Sea Turtle Hospital. Read More


Dr. James Strother Publishes Paper in the Journal of Experimental Biology

Strother, James

Congratulations to Dr. James Strother, Assistant Professor of Biology at the Whitney Laboratory, who recently published a paper titled "Prolonged exposure to stressors suppresses exploratory behavior in zebrafish larvae" in the Journal of Experimental Biology. Read More


Taste of the Fun Coast Event Benefits the Sea Turtle Hospital

Group holding a check at the Taste of the Fun Coast event

Thank you to Flagler Radio Beach 92.7 FM, Hammock Beach Resort and Coastal Cloud for benefiting the conservation of sea turtles and our Sea Turtle Hospital! Read More


Whitney's Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility (IDEA) Committee

Whitney Laboratory sign and lab building

The Whitney Laboratory's Inclusion Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee aims to foster inclusive policies and practices at the Whitney Lab that promote equity and diversity, and to make sure that the laboratory and its resources are accessible to students, employees, visitors, and volunteers. Read More


Adopt a Washback Until Oct. 31 & Thanks!

Washback turtles

Thank you to all who have joined us to support hundreds of washback sea turtles cared for by the Sea Turtle Hospital staff each year by Adopting a Washback, each symbolically named! Adoptions available until Oct.31. Read More


Dr. Danielle de Jong joins the Schnitzler Lab

de Jong, Danielle

Please welcome Dr. Danielle de Jong back to Whitney Laboratory! She joins Dr. Christine Schnitzler’s lab as lab manager and will work with members of the Schnitzler lab as they research various questions regarding regeneration and cell biology in the cnidarian, Hydractinia. Read More


Adopt a Washback!

Washback turtle

TODAY is the day! It is your chance to virtually ADOPT A WASHBACK sea turtle to support the care of turtles! Click below to name a cute warrior washback - but pick your name and hurry, our campaign ends 10/31! Read More


Liao Lab in Today's Science

James Liao, Ph.D.

Congratulations to the Liao Lab, who was recently featured in an article in Today's Science, "Trout go with the Flow (Sometimes)". The article was a write up of the lab's recent publication in the Journal of Experimental Biology, “Oxygen consumption of drift-feeding rainbow trout: the energetic tradeoff between locomotion and feeding in flow". Read More


Whitney Marine Mondays - Classroom Critters

Marine Monday Classroom Critters Hermit

Learn some interesting facts about one of our social classroom critters, the marine hermit crab. Read More


New Whitney Program - Fish Aquaculture

Fish Aquaculture

Learn more about what Dr. Leonardo Ibarra Castro and team are doing to improve fish aquaculture here in Florida and beyond! Read More


Welcome Drew Smith

 Smith, Drew

Please welcome Drew Smith to Whitney Laboratory! He joins the maintenance team as a maintenance mechanic and comes to us with a wide range of experience, from construction to electrical. Read More


Sip 'N Science YouTube link - Whitney Animal Meet & Greet

Brenda holding a horseshoe crab in webinar

If you missed our Sip 'N Science recently with Brenda Cannaliato the webinar is now on our YouTube channel. Read More


Driving for Turtles - New Sea Turtle Stranding and Transport Van

 Sea Turtle Hospital Van

We are so excited for the funding awarded from the Sea Turtle Grants Program this year to purchase our spiffy new Sea Turtle Stranding and Transport Van. The van helps us with turtle transport, triage, and standings. We are very grateful for this year's grant from the Sea Turtle Grants Program. Read More


Congratulations to Dr. Alexis Lanza and Dr. Elaine Seaver on their new publication in the journal Development!

 Seaver, Lanza

In their new publication entitled ‘Functional evidence that Activin/Nodal signaling is required for establishing the dorsal-ventral axis in the annelid Capitella teleta’, Dr. Lanza and Dr. Seaver used recently developed tools for embryos of the annelid Capitella to perturb the function of molecular signals that might be the organizing activity signal. Read More


Dr. Annika Jagels Awarded Walter Benjamin Fellowship from the German Research Foundation

Annika Jagels

Congratulations to Dr. Annika Jagels, postdoctoral research associate in the Loesgen Lab, for receiving a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship from the German Research Foundation (DFG). Read More


Whitney SIp 'N Science Free Webinar Oct. 8 Brenda Cannaliato | Whitney Animal Meet and Greet

Sip 'N Science

Join us for Whitney Animal Meet and Greet at our Next Sip 'N Science! We will be live sharing creatures from our lab's backyard, the Matanzas River Basin. Registration is required. We hope you can join us! Read More


Sip 'N Science YouTube link with Dr. James Liao

 Sip 'N Science

If you missed our Sip 'N Science recently with Dr. James Liao here is the YouTube link below. We got great feedback from the participants and are looking forward to the next one! Read More


Dr. Leonid Moroz Awarded Grant from National Institutes of Health

Dr. Leonid Moroz

Congratulations to Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience, Genetics, Biology and Chemistry Dr. Leonid Moroz for receiving a $2+ millon grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for his project titled: Development of neuron-specific nanoscale toolkits for single-cell recognition Read More


Dr. Paul Linser in St. Augustine Record

Dr. Paul Linser

Recently retired Whitney Laboratory Professor of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Neuroscience, Microbiology & Cell Science, Entomology & Biology, Dr. Paul Linser, was featured in the St. Augustine Record. Read More


Dr. Seaver and Dr. Martindale publish in Nature Communications

Brachiopod and Annelid Larvae

Congratulations to Whitney scientists Dr. Elaine Seaver and Dr. Mark Q. Martindale for their collaborative research recently published in Nature Communications. The paper is entitled ‘Genes with spiralian-specific protein motifs are expressed in spiralian ciliary bands’. Read More


Welcome New Faculty Dr. David Duffy to Whitney

David Duffy

Please welcome Assistant Professor of Wildlife Disease Genomics and Rising Star Condron Family Endowed Assistant Professor, Dr. David Duffy, to Whitney Laboratory! The Duffy Lab focuses on questions at the interface between wildlife and human health, with the aim of identifying disease mechanisms and novel therapeutic treatments. Read More


National Postdoc Appreciation Week Schnitzler Lab Postdoc Spotlight

Postdoc Appreciation Week Graphic

Please join us in celebrating Whitney Laboratory Postdocs and the contributions they make to the lab, U.S. research and discovery! Today we spotlight postdocs in the Schnitzler Lab. Read More


National Postdoc Appreciation Week - Loesgen Lab Postdoc Spotlight

Postdoc Appreciation Week Graphic

Please join us for in celebrating Whitney Laboratory Postdocs and the contributions they make to the lab, U.S. research and discovery! Today we spotlight a postdoc in the Loesgen Lab. Read More


National Postdoc Appreciation Week Martindale Lab Postdoc Spotlight

Pictures of postdocs at Whitney Laboratory

Please join us in celebrating Whitney Laboratory Postdocs and the contributions they make to the lab, U.S. research and discovery! Today we spotlight postdocs in the Martindale Lab. Read More


Daniel Groso joins the Ryan Lab

Daniel Groso

Please welcome Daniel Groso to the Whitney Laboratory! Daniel joined Dr. Joseph Ryan's laboratory as an undergraduate researcher in May of 2020. Read More


Dani Hayes joins the Ryan Lab

Danielle Hayes

Please welcome Dani Hayes to the Whitney Laboratory. Dani is working as a post-baccalaureate researcher in the Ryan Laboratory and is applying to Ph.D. programs for Fall 2021. She is broadly interested in phylogenetics and bioinformatics. Read More


Whitney Marine Mondays - Classroom Critters

Whitney Classroom Critters Spiny Sea Star and Chocolate Chip Sea Star Read More


Whitney Sip 'N Science Free Webinar Sept. 17 - Dr. James Liao | The Tao of Fish Swimming

 Sip 'N Science

Join us virtually as Whitney Laboratory scientists and educators share our research and animals. Please join us for Sip 'N Science - until we can get back together again! There will be a 20 minute webinar with a Q&A interactive discussion afterwards. Registration is required. We hope you can join us! Read More


News4Jax Story on Plastics Found in Post Hatchling Sea Turtles

Post-hatchling with scale

Sea Turtle Hospital Program Manager Cat Eastman talks with News4Jax about discovering potentially harmful quantities of plastic in post hatchling turtles. Read More


New Collaboration for Whitney Laboratory and UF IFAS

 McGuire, Maia

Whitney Laboratory and IFAS have started a new collaboration. Dr. Maia McGuire, recently named Florida Sea Grant's new Associate Director of Extension and Education, and the APL for Coastal and Marine Extension for UF IFAS, now has her office on the Whitney Laboratory campus. Read More


Congratulations Dr. Sandra Loesgen on new National Science Foundation Award

 Loesgen, Sandra

Congratulations to Associate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Sandra Loesgen who was awarded a new three year National Science Foundation (NSF) Award: URoL: MTM 1: Chemistry of cnidarian symbiosis: microbiomes role in association, morphogenesis, and protection Read More


Dr. Christine Schnitzler Publishes Paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Dr. Christine Schnitzler

Congratulations to Dr. Christine Schnitzler for co-authoring a paper titled "The genetic basis for PRC1 complex diversity emerged early in animal evolution." Read More


Plastic Ingestion in Post-hatchling Sea Turtles: Assessing a Major Threat in Florida Nearshore Waters

Post Hatchling Gut Plastic

Congratulations to Sea Turtle Hospital and Whitney Laboratory faculty and staff who recently published a paper in Frontiers in Marine Science on plastic ingestion by post-hatchlings. This research was also featured in an article in The Conversation. Read More


Dr. Christine Schnitzler awarded MIRA grant from the National Institutes of Health

Dr. Christine Schnitzler

Congratulations to Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Christine Schnitzler for receiving a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for her project titled: Characterizing the molecular regulators of stem cell populations during homeostasis and regeneration in Hydractinia, an emerging cnidarian research organism Read More


Sea Turtle Eugenie Clark Released Aug. 20

Sea Turtle

Sea Turtle Eugenie Clark was released August 20 on Facebook Live. Eugenie Clark is our first release of 2020 and her name is from our 5th year naming theme where we name turtles after marine scientists or scientists that specialized in marine organisms as part of their life's work. Read More


Seaver Lab Publishes New Paper in EvoDevo

Graduate student showing UF students annelid

Congratulations to recent Whitney Ph.D. graduate, Dr. Alexis Lanza and Whitney Laboratory's Dr. Elaine Seaver who recently published a paper in EvoDevo titled “Activin/Nodal signaling mediates dorsal-ventral axis formation before third quartet formation in embryos of the annelid Chaetopterus pergamentaceus.” Read More


Whitney Marine Mondays - Cassiopea

Marine Monday Intro

Join Amy from our education department as she shares some fun facts about cassiopea, or the upside down jellyfish! Read More


New publication by former Whitney PhD student Miguel Salinas-Saavedra

Miguel Salinas

Congratulations to former Whitney PhD student Miguel Salinas-Saavedra for his recent publication in the journal eLife. While a graduate student in Mark Martindale’s lab, Dr. Salinas-Saavedra investigated the spatial distribution of members of the Par system in one of the most ancient groups of animals called ctenophores (or comb jellies). Read More


Welcome Sean Crow to Whitney

Crow, Sean

We are pleased to announce that Sean Crow has joined Whitney Laboratory as our new IT Manager. Sean will be managing and fulfilling information technology needs at the Lab. Read More


Schnitzler Lab Publishes Paper in Scientific Reports

Gonzalo Quiroga Artigas

Congratulations to the Schnitzler Lab for their recently published paper in Scientific Reports titled "Gene knockdown via electroporation of short hairpin RNAs in embryos of the marine hydroid Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus." Read More


Osborne Lab Recent Clams Deployment at the Indian River Lagoon Covered by Florida Today

Clams in baskets on shoreline before deployment

Dr. Todd Osborne talks with Florida Today about the Indian River Lagoon Clam Restoration Initiative and the recent planting of 56,000 baby clams in the IRL. Read More


David Sparks Joins the Liao Lab

David Sparks

Please welcome David Sparks to Whitney Laboratory! He joins Dr. James Liao’s lab as a Ph.D. student. Read More


Dr. Alexandrea Duscher Discusses her research at St. Johns County Public Library Online Event

Lexi Duscher

Dr. Alexandrea Duscher, Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Schnitzler Lab, was recently interviewed for a St. Johns County Public Library online event. Find out all about the Whitney Laboratory and Dr. Duscher's research and role at the lab! Read More


First Coast News Story on new fish aquaculture start up

Fish

Dr. Leonardo Ibarra-Castro talks with First Coast News about Whitney Laboratory's new fish aquaculture start up in the story - Go Fish! Researchers work to restock red snapper in the wild. Read More


Former Martindale Lab Post Docs Earn Tenure at their Universities

Two men

Congratulations to Dr. Michael Layden of Lehigh University and Dr. Dave Q. Matus of Stonybrook University who recently earned tenure and promotion to Associate Professor at their universities. Read More


Dr. Allison Edgar Awarded Fellowship from the National Science Foundation

Allison Edgar

Congratulations to Dr. Allison Edgar, postdoctoral research associate in the Martindale Lab, for receiving a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology from the National Science Foundation for the project titled: "Evolution of genomic regulatory control of ctenophore development and regeneration" Read More


Dr. David Duffy Publishes Article - How the rate of pandemics has grown due to human activities

David Duffy

Dr. David Duffy, Whitney Laboratory Assistant Professor of Wildlife Disease Genomics, and Dr. Jenny Whilde provide some perspective on pandemics and zoonotic diseases as they relate to human activities. Read More


UF News Story: Closed but still Caring

Whitney Laboratory Staff

Our essential staff keep us going in tough times! How the people of UF's Whitney Laboratory protected their animals — and each other — during COVID-19. Read More


First Coast News Story on Horseshoe Crabs and COVID-19 Research

Horseshoe Crab

Whitney Laboratory Director Dr. Mark Martindale talks with First Coast News and Whitney horseshoe crabs make their news debut! Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Awarded Grant from Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program to Support New Sea Turtle Transport Vehicle

Sea Turtle License Plate

The University of Florida Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory is pleased to announce that it received a grant for $28,987.14 from the Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program, which is funded by the sales of the sea turtle specialty license plate. The Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory received the grant to support a new sea turtle transport vehicle. Read More


Two Million Clams Deployed to Date for Indian River Lagoon Restoration

Two men deploying clams into the Indian River Lagoon

Whitney’s Clams Restoration was in action on Friday, June 26 at a project site in the Northern Indian River Lagoon. Nearly 60,000 clams were deployed, bringing to date almost two million clams that have been raised by Whitney Laboratory and deployed to help improve water quality! Read More


Dr. James Liao Publishes Paper in Current Biology

James Liao, Ph.D.

Congratulations to Dr. James Liao, who recently published a paper in Current Biology titled "An Algorithmic Approach to Natural Behavior." Read More


Dr. Schafer and Dr. Osborne Publish Paper in Journal of Marine Science and Engineering

Impacts of hurricane disturbance on water quality diagram

Congratulations to recent Whitney Ph.D. graduate Dr. Tracey Schafer and Whitney Laboratory's Dr. Todd Osborne who recently published a paper in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering titled "Impacts of Hurricane Disturbance on Water Quality across the Aquatic Continuum of a Blackwater River to Estuary Complex." Read More


Whitney's Joseph Ryan Promoted to University of Florida Associate Professor of Biology with Tenure

Dr. Joseph Ryan

We are pleased to announce that Whitney Faculty Dr. Joseph Ryan was granted promotion and tenure by the University of Florida Board of Trustees to Associate Professor of Biology. Read More


Green Kids: Virtual Dive into the Florida Keys with Dr. Martindale on June 17

Green Kids Dive Into the Keys

Tell your kids to grab their drawing kits and imaginary snorkels as guest host Dr. Mark Q. Martindale, Director of the UF Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, takes them on a tour through NOAA’s virtual dives of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Read More


Dr. Joseph Ryan Awarded Grant from the National Science Foundation

Dr. Joseph Ryan

Congratulations to Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Joseph Ryan for receiving a three year grant from the National Science Foundation for the project titled "Interrogating Molecular and Physiological Adaptations in Antarctic Marine Animals." Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Celebrates World Sea Turtle Week

Scavenger Hunt Challenge 3

We are so grateful for all the support you've given us and we hope you enjoy the next week starting with World Oceans Day on Monday and ending on World Sea Turtle Day next Tuesday. Join in on all the fun as we participate in daily themes on Facebook and Instagram to help raise awareness on the many challenges sea turtles face in the ocean today including a Sea Turtle Hospital Scavenger Hunt - details below! Read More


Don’t step on me! Local ecosystem engineer provides opportunities for biomedical research

Two ends of a tube from a single individual protruding above the sandy substrate taken at low tide at the Matanzas inlet.

Chaetopterus pergamentaceus or ‘parchment tube worm' is an annelid worm present in local coastal habitats that the Seaver Lab studies. It lives its entire adult life inside a soft U-shaped tube that is mostly buried beneath the ocean floor, and only the tips of the tubes are directly exposed to sea water. Chaetopterus is a great example of leveraging biodiversity to understand human health related questions. Read More


Dr. Newkirk, Dr. Martindale and Dr. Schnitzler Publish Paper in Frontiers in Microbiology

Cassiopeia

Congratulations to recent Whitney Ph.D. graduate Dr. Newkirk, Whitney Laboratory's Dr. Martindale, Dr. Schnitzler, along with Dr. Thomas Frazer, Professor and Director of UF’s School of Natural Resources and Environment, who recently published a paper in the Frontiers in Microbiology titled "Adaptation to Bleaching: Are Thermotolerant Symbiodiniaceae Strains More Successful Than Other Strains Under Elevated Temperatures in a Model Symbiotic Cnidarian?" Read More


Moroz Lab Publishes Paper in Journal of Morphology

Dr. Leonid Moroz

Congratulations to the Moroz Lab who recently published a paper in the Journal of Morphology titled "Mapping of neuropeptide Y expression in Octopus brains." Read More


Expanding Our Facilities to Meet Research and Conservation Demands

Lab Building Rendering

Our goal is to build a new Marine Research Institute Building and the Nancy Condron Family Sea Turtle Research Center and Hospital that brings high-technology to the shores of UF Whitney Laboratory's valuable environmental location that produces world-class findings in marine bioscience and conservation. Read More


Dr. Joseph Ryan Receives UF 2020 Graduate Education Diversity Champion Award

Dr. Joseph Ryan

This award is presented annually to a UF faculty or staff member who has excelled in promoting diversity and inclusivity in the university environment through their positive interactions with others in graduate education. Read More


Dr. Leslie Babonis Accepts Faculty Position at Cornell University!

Leslie Babonis

Congratulations to Dr. Leslie Babonis of the Whitney Laboratory who recently accepted a tenure track faculty position as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Cornell University beginning January 1, 2021. Read More


Dr. Barry Ache Receives Professor Emeritus Status

Dr. Barry Ache

Whitney Laboratory and Center for Smell and Taste Distinguished Professor of Biology and Neuroscience, Dr. Barry Ache, has been granted emeritus status in recognition of meritorious service by the University of Florida. Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Receives Ultrasound Machine

Turtle receiving an ultrasound at the Sea Turtle Hospital

Thank you to Dr. Liz Watson, DVM MS DACVR of Veterinary Imaging in Flagler Beach who recently donated an ultrasound machine to the Sea Turtle Hospital, that the Sea Turtle staff named Eve. Read More


Research Sea Stars Donated to Whitney's K-12 Program

Small Spine Sea Star

Thank you to Dr. Nicole Stacy and Dr. Sarah Wahltinez from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine for donating your research sea stars to our K-12 education program. Although we aren’t open to the public right now, care for our educational marine life continues daily. Read More


Updated: Public Programs Postponed Until April 30

Matanzas Inlet

In response to COVID-19 and in order to promote the safety and wellness of our visitors, volunteers, students, faculty and staff, all of our public programs have been postponed until April 30th. We will reevaluate in April our public offerings for the community. Read More


Helping During COVID-19

Loesgen Lab making hand sanitizer at Whitney Laboratory

We are pleased to share that Dr. Sandra Loesgen Lab's hand sanitizer has been distributed to volunteers at Whitney as well as some key locations around town that were in need. Read More


Interactive Journey Through the Matanzas River

Screenshot of Matanzas Biodiversity Journey Home Page

Would you like to journey through the Matanzas River and learn more about biodiversity with Tanzi the sea turtle? This interactive journey was made for 4-6 grade but adults can learn and enjoy too! Read More


When is a lab animal not a lab animal?

Turtle

Congratulations to Dr. David Duffy and Dr. Brooke Burkhalter who recently published a paper about rehabilitation of tumor-afflicted sea turtles, and their utilization as a natural model for human and wildlife cancers in Springer Nature titled "When is a lab animal not a lab animal?" Read More


The Sea Turtle Hospital is Beaver Toyota's WOW PARTNER of the Month

Beaver Toyota and Sea Turtle Hospital staff receiving check

Congratulations to the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory who was Beaver Toyota's WOW Partner of the Month for February! Read More


Seaver Lab Paper nominated for the 2019 Developmental Biology Outstanding Paper Award

Caplarva

Congratulations to Dr. Marleen Klann and Dr. Elaine Seaver! Their recently published paper titled “Functional role of pax6 during eye and nervous system development in the annelid Capitella teleta” was nominated for the 2019 Developmental Biology Outstanding Paper Award. Read More


Cancelled - Evenings at Whitney March 12

Deep colony

Due to unforeseen travel challenges due to COVID-19, tonight's Evenings at Whitney will be cancelled and will be rescheduled at a later date. We apologize for the inconvenience. We look forward to seeing you soon! Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Manager Devon Ramia Featured in Unity College's Alumni Stories

Devon Rollinson

Congratulations to Sea Turtle Hospital Manager Devon Ramia who was recently featured in Unity College’s Alumni Stories. Read More


Whitney Laboratory in Tallahassee for Florida Oceans Day

Whitney Laboratory Booth at Oceans Day

The Whitney Laboratory and Sea Turtle Hospital joined other organizations and partners in the Capitol Rotunda in Tallahassee for Florida Oceans Day on February 25, 2020. Read More


Dr. Annika Jagels Joins the Loesgen Lab

Annika Jagels

Please welcome Annika Jagels to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined Dr. Sandra Loesgen’s lab as a postdoctoral research associate. Read More


Registration Open for 2020 Marine Biology and Sea Turtle Summer Camps

Flyer

Registration is now open for the 2020 Whitney Laboratory Marine Biology and Sea Turtle Summer Camps! Read More


Stand Up & Holler, It’s Gator Nation Giving Day!

Turtle with Tie

Join together with the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience on Giving Day – your gift can directly impact our areas of greatest need. 2 Bits, 4 Bits, Every Bit Counts! Read More


New Oyster Restoration Initiative Video is Live

Core modules used in Whitney Laboratory's Oyster Restoration Initiative

The Whitney Laboratory Oyster Restoration Initiative is a community-based program to engage citizen scientists, advance our understanding of oyster ecology and restore local oyster habitats in our coastal ecosystem. Read More


Tracey Schafer of the Osborne Lab Defends her PhD!

Tracey Schafer

On February 7, Tracey Schafer, a graduate student in the Osborne Lab gave her exit seminar entitled “Hurricane Impacts on Water Quality and Dissolved Organic Matter Cycling Along an Aquatic Continuum” and successfully earned her Ph.D. Read More


Dr. Christine Schnitzler Publishes on Germ Cells in Science

Hydractinia colony

Congratulations to Assistant Professor of Biology at Whitney Laboratory, Dr. Christine Schnitzler, who co-authored a paper in Science Magazine titled "Transcription factor AP2 controls cnidarian germ cell induction." In this study, the authors found that a single gene, Transcription factor AP2 (Tfap2), is sufficient to induce germ cell identity when expressed in adult stem cells in the clonal cnidarian Hydractinia. Read More


Anchor Boutique Supports Whitney's Oyster Restoration Initiative

 Oyster Necklace

Laurel Baker, jewelry designer and owner of St. Augustine's Anchor Boutique created an exclusive mini oyster necklace with sales of this necklace supporting Whitney Laboratory's Oyster Restoration Initiative. Read More


Alexis Lanza wins Best Student Oral Presentation for the Division of Evolutionary & Developmental Biology at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology conference

Woman in lab

Congratulations to Alexis Lanza who won Best Student Oral Presentation for the Division of Evolutionary and Developmental Biology at this year’s Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology annual conference! The title of Alexis’s talk was "Activin/Nodal signaling is required for establishing the dorsal-ventral axis in Capitella teleta”. Read More


Ryan Lab Graduate Student Alex Hernandez on Antonio Farias’ podcast Level Up

Alexandra Hernandez

Alex Hernandez, a grad student studying comb jellies at Whitney Laboratory, was recently on Antonio Farias’ podcast Level Up. Are comb jellies the earliest animal on the Tree of Life? Tune in to find out! Read More


Dr. Sandra Loesgen Publishes Paper in Microbial Ecology

 Loesgen, Sandra

Congratulations to Dr. Sandra Loesgen, Associate Professor of Chemistry at the Whitney Laboratory, who recently published a paper about the chemistry of coral-algae recognition in Microbial Ecology titled "N-Linked Surface Glycan Biosynthesis, Composition, Inhibition, and Function in Cnidarian-Dinoflagellate Symbiosis." Read More


Sea Turtles Mars Released Jan. 24 at River to Sea Preserve

 Mars Release

Sea Turtles Mars was released January 24 at River to Sea Preserve in the town of Marineland. Read More


Brendan Gibbs Joins the Liao Lab

 Gibbs, Brendan

Please welcome Brendan Gibbs to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined Dr. James Liao's lab as a laboratory technician who will be investigating sensory modulation of multiple stimuli in freely swimming fish. Read More


Evenings at Whitney Feb. 13

Bader, Gary

The next Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience will be February 13, 2020, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “The Human Cell Atlas Project – Mapping the Human Body Cell by Cell”. Gary Bader, Ph.D., Professor at The Donnelly Centre at the University of Toronto, will be the speaker. Read More


2020 REU Application Deadline (Feb. 17) Fast Approaching

Students in lab

The Whitney Laboratory Research Experience for Undergraduate program (REU), funded by the National Science Foundation (Site Award 0648969), offers an exceptional opportunity for the motivated undergraduate to participate in scientific research. Read More


JAN. 23-24 NORTH FLORIDA MARINE SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM

Join researchers, resource management agencies, and students for one and a half days of cutting-edge marine science – right next to the sea! Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Featured in Explore Magazine

UF Research recently featured the Sea Turtle Hospital in their magazine Explore. The article discusses fibropapillomatosis and how the viral disease is affecting sea turtles. Read More


Osborne Lab Manager Anna Thornton Featured in Daytona State College Magazine

Magazine Article

Congratulations to Osborne Lab Manager Anna Thornton who was recently featured in Daytona State College Magazine's Alumni Profiles. Anna graduated from Daytona State College before transferring to Stetson University where she earned her BS in Marine Biology. Read More


Whitney Research Village Designated a Certified Florida Green Home from the Florida Green Building Council

FGBC Certification

This is UF's first FGBC certification. The Research Village has achieved the requirements in energy efficiency, resource conservation, health and durability. Read More


Dr. Leonid Moroz Publishes New Paper in the Journal of Comparative Neurology

Dr. Leonid Moroz

Congratulations to Dr. Leonid Moroz, Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience, Genetics, Biology and Chemistry at the Whitney Laboratory, who recently published a paper in the Journal of Comparative Neurology titled "Atlas of the neuromuscular system in the Trachymedusa Aglantha digitale: Insights from the advanced hydrozoan." Read More


Evenings at Whitney Jan. 9

Akanyeti, Otar

The next Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience will be January 9, 2020, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Multidisciplinary Approach to Quantify Behavior: From Fish Locomotion to Stroke Recovery”. Otar Akanyeti, Ph.D., Lecturer in Computer Science at Aberystwyth University, will be the speaker. Read More


Congrats Whitney Gator Grads!

Graduation

Congratulations to Whitney Laboratory Gator Grads Dr. Alexis Lanza and Dr. Casandra Newkirk. We wish you the best in your scientific career and further pursuits in science! Read More


Lauren Kunselman joins the Seaver Lab

 Kunselman, Lauren

Please welcome Lauren Kunselman to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined Dr. Elaine Seaver's lab as a graduate student. Read More


Evenings at Whitney Dec. 12

McClintock, James

The next Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience will be December 12, 2019, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “From Penguins to Plankton – The Dramatic Impacts of Climate Change on the Antarctic Peninsula”. Read More


Jessica Farrell and Alexis Lanza Receive Florida International Center Awards

Students

Congratulations to Whitney Laboratory Ph.D. candidate Jessica Farrell and recent Ph.D. graduate Alexis Lanza for receiving the University of Florida International Certificate of Excellence at the 2019 International Student Achievement Award Ceremony on November 19. Read More


Grateful Gator Day!

We are grateful gators! Thank you for all the ways you support and strengthen UF Whitney Laboratory’s Impact! Read More


Congratulations to Alexis Lanza of the Elaine Seaver Laboratory for successfully completing her PhD!

Alexis Lanza

Alexis graduated with a PhD in Zoology from the College of Arts and Sciences, and defended her dissertation on Halloween Day. The title of Alexis’s dissertation is ‘Insights into the role of TGF-beta superfamily signaling in annelid dorsal-ventral axis formation’. Read More


Casandra Newkirk of the Martindale Lab defends her PhD!

Cassandra Newkirk

On October 28th, Casandra Newkirk, a graduate student co-advised by Tom Frazer, Professor and Director of UF’s School of Natural Resources and Environment, (and the State of Florida’s first Chief Science Officer), and Mark Q. Martindale, Professor and Director of the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, gave her exit seminar entitled “Experimental system for the ecological and cellular study of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis” and successfully earned her Ph.D. Read More


Whitney Online Store Now Open

Whitney Store

Want to purchase some Whitney Laboratory or Sea Turtle Hospital merch? Our online store is now open! Every purchase helps support the care of our sea turtles. Read More


Cassidy Manzonelli Joins the Schnitzler Lab

Manzonelli, Cassidy

Please welcome Cassidy Manzonelli to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined Dr. Christine Schnitzler's lab as a lab technician. Read More


Sea Turtles Autumn and Dumbo Released Oct. 16 at River to Sea Preserve

Sea Turtle Release

Sea Turtles Autumn and Dumbo were released October 16 at River to Sea Preserve. Autumn came to us on the first day of fall after stranding in Huguenot Memorial Park. Dumbo came to us on Sunday, September 29th after a fisherman caught him on hook and line. Read More


Evenings at Whitney Nov. 14, 2019

 Smith, Clay.

The next Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience will be November 14, 2019, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Gene Therapy of Retinal Degeneration: What We Can Learn by Listening to the Biology of the Eye”. Read More


Whitney Laboratory Receives Proclamation from the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners

Whitney Proclamation

Thank you to the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners for the October 2019 proclamation recognizing Whitney Laboratory for its partnerships with St. Johns County and its efforts to study and protect marine life. Read More


Martindale Lab Publishes Paper in BMC Biology

 Ctenophore

Congratulations to Dr. Mark Martindale and Julia Ramon, who recently published a paper in BMC Biology titled "Regeneration in the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi occurs in the absence of a blastema, requires cell division, and is temporally separable from wound healing." Read More


Whitney Laboratory Sea Turtle Research Published in Testudo

Turtle

Congratulations to the Sea Turtle Hospital team, Veterinarian Brooke Burkhalter, Dr. Mark Martindale and Dr. David Duffy on their recent paper "Behaviour of juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) before and after fibropapillomatosis tumour removal" in Testudo. Read More


Dr. Sandra Loesgen has new paper in the Journal of Natural Products

Congratulations to Dr. Sandra Loesgen, Associate Professor of Chemistry at the Whitney Laboratory, who recently published a paper in the Journal of Natural Products titled "Polyketides from Marine-Derived Aspergillus porosus: Challenges and Opportunities for Determining Absolute Configuration." Read More


Dr. Christine Schnitzler and Dr. Elaine Seaver Receive National Science Foundation EDGE Program Awards

SchnitzlerSeaver

Congratulations to Dr. Christine Schnitzler and Dr. Elaine Seaver for recently receiving National Science Foundation Enabling Discovery through Genomic Tools (EDGE) Program Awards. Read More


Welcome Dr. Radim Zidek to Whitney Laboratory

 Zidek, Radim

Please welcome Dr. Radim Zidek to Whitney Laboratory! Radim joins the Martindale Lab as a Research Scholar where he will investigate the formation of body axes in cnidarians, acoels and other early branching marine invertebrates in order to achieve better understanding of the evolution of animal body plans. Read More


Dr. Elaine Seaver has New Paper in Developmental Biology

 Capitella teleta larva

Animals use their eyes to detect light. How do eyes develop? Are there similarities in how eyes develop in different animals? The Seaver lab recently published a paper investigating for the first time the role of a gene called pax6 in eye development in the marine worm Capitella teleta. Read More


Welcome New Faculty Dr. James Strother and lab to Whitney Laboratory

Strother lab members

Please welcome Assistant Professor of Biology, Dr. James Strother, and his lab to Whitney Laboratory! The Strother Lab is interested in questions at the interface between neurobiology and physiology using fishes as model organisms. His lab focuses on understanding processes at multiple levels of organization, from the properties of individual cells to the responses of the whole animal. Read More


Welcome New Faculty Dr. Sandra Loesgen and lab members to Whitney

Loesgen Lab

Please welcome Associate Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Sandra Loesgen, and her lab to Whitney! The Loesgen Lab is focused on understanding the diversity and bioactivity of the chemicals produced by microorganisms, with an emphasis on compounds with medical applications. They employ a multi-disciplinary approach to isolate compounds produced by under-explored groups of microorganisms, and identify chemicals with anticancer, antibacterial, or antiviral activity. Read More


Evenings at Whitney Oct. 10, 2019

KSHV replication in B cell lymphoma

The next Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience will be October 10, 2019, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Of Viruses That Cause Cancer, and Genes That Do Not Make Proteins”. Rolf Renne, Ph.D., Professor at the University of Florida, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, will discuss how human viruses and specifically herpesviruses contribute to a wide range of human cancers. Read More


Whitney on the River K-12 Program Fundraiser Oct. 22

This fall fundraiser benefits UF Whitney Laboratory’s K-12 Education Program, which focuses on STEM Education for students from seven area counties, including the Putnam 3rd Grade Initiative. Whitney Laboratory researchers will share some amazing marine creatures and discuss research at the lab while guests tour the St. Johns River Center! Read More


Katie Feerst Joins the Seaver Lab

Feerst, Katie

Please welcome Katie Feerst to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined Dr. Elaine Seaver's lab as a lab technician. Read More


Brent Foster Joins the Martindale Lab

 Foster, Brent.

Please welcome Brent Foster to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined Dr. Mark Martindale's lab as a lab technician. Read More


Dr. James Liao in Hakai Magazine

James Liao, Ph.D.

Congratulations to Dr. James Liao who was recently featured in Hakai Magazine, as part of their Coastal Jobs Series. Read More


Dr. Lexi Duscher Joins the Schnitzler Lab

Lexi Duscher

Please welcome Dr. Lexi Duscher to Whitney Laboratory! Dr. Duscher joins Dr. Christine Schnitzler's lab where she looks forward to expanding her molecular and microscopy skills using the Hydractinia model system and potentially focusing on the immune system’s involvement in stem cell regeneration. Read More


Mackenzie Simon-Collins, 2019 Cliff Townsend Scholar

Townsend Scholar

For a recent Nease high school graduate, the summer of 2019 was spent immersed in marine research at the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience. Mackenzie Simon-Collins, who will attend Johns Hopkins University in the fall, received the Whitney Laboratory’s Cliff Townsend Family Scholarship. Read More


Dr. Allison Edgar joins the Martindale Lab

Allison Edgar

Please welcome Dr. Allison Edgar to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined Dr. Mark Martindale's lab where she will work with a variety of marine invertebrates to examine the evolution of gene expression in early development. Read More


Welcome: Shawn Ashley

Shawn Ashley

Please welcome Shawn Ashley to Whitney Laboratory! Shawn is Whitney Lab’s new maintenance mechanic. Read More


Welcome to Whitney Lab, Dr. Leonardo Ibarra-Castro!

 Ibarra-Castro, Leonardo

Please welcome Research Assistant Scientist Dr. Leonardo Ibarra-Castro to Whitney Laboratory! Dr. Ibarra will be working toward developing Whitney's Marine Hatchery Program. Read More


Congratulations to Jennifer Ortiz, 2019 REU Poster Contest Winner!

Faculty with Student

Congratulations to Jennifer Ortiz for being selected as the 2019 Whitney Laboratory REU Program’s poster contest winner. Jennifer worked with Dr. Joseph Ryan, assistant professor of biology at Whitney Laboratory, this summer during the program. Read More


Caleb Bostwick of Moroz Lab Completes PhD

Caleb Bostwick

Congratulations Caleb Bostwick of the Leonid Moroz Laboratory for completing your PhD! Caleb graduated with a PhD in Biomedical Sciences with Neuroscience Concentration and did his research in Leonid Moroz’ Lab at Whitney Laboratory. Read More


Evenings at Whitney Sept. 12, 2019

Shipwreck

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series returns for the fall season on September 12 at 7 p.m. with the program “Wonderful Wooden Wrecks and the Mysteries Within” presented by Brendan Burke, Associate Director of Archaeology at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. Read More


Registration for the seventh annual Science by the Shore Symposium now open

Whitney CMS

Open to all scientific disciplines, this student and post-doc symposium will be held Saturday, September 21, 2019, at the UF Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience in St. Augustine, Florida. Enjoy a Saturday filled with casual research discussion and presentations, friendly competition, sunshine, tours, and the beach. Read More


Dr. Christine Schnitzler has new paper in Science

Dr. Christine Schnitzler

In a study appearing in Science, Christine Schnitzler, Assistant Professor of Biology, Whitney Lab, UF, and her colleagues from the University of California-Davis and Harvard University used single-cell sequencing techniques to explore the genetic trajectory for nearly 25,000 Hydra cells. Read More


Dr. Joseph Ryan Publishes Paper in GigaScience

 Box_Stalked_UpsideDown credit: Joseph Ryan

Congratulations to Whitney Laboratory's Dr. Joseph Ryan for his recent publication in Gigascience. A international collaboration involving 8 institutions led by Joseph Ryan at the Whitney Laboratory describes sequencing and analyses of genomes of three disparate jellyfish species: a box jellyfish (Alatina alata), a stalked jellyfish (Calvadosia cruxmelitensis), and an upside down jellyfish (Cassiopea xamachana). Read More


Welcome Amy Biedenbach to Whitney Laboratory

 Amy Biedenbach

We are pleased to announce that Amy Biedenbach has joined Whitney Laboratory as our new Education Program Coordinator. Read More


Taryn Chaya Joins the Osborne Lab

Taryn Chaya

Please welcome Taryn Chaya to Whitney Laboratory! Taryn recently joined Dr. Todd Osborne’s lab, working on a master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Ecology. She will be working on the iCoast project, maintaining the advanced water sensors in the intracoastal, while collecting and analyzing the ensuing data. Read More


New Van for Whitney's Traveling Zoo School Program

Traveling Zoo Van

The Whitney Laboratory's Traveling Zoo School Program has a new van thanks to a generous donation! The Traveling Zoo school program takes a suite of marine animals to local K-3 classes. Read More


Sea Turtle Mantis Released July 16 at Wilbur-by-the-Sea in Volusia County

Sea Turtle

Sea Turtle Mantis was released Tuesday July 16 at Wilbur-by-the-Sea in Volusia County. Mantis was recovered on the beach of Ponce Inlet and came to us with a very interesting story. Read More


Congratulations to the 2019 Carl and Marcella Matthaei Scholar

Man

The Carl and Marcella Matthaei Ecological Scholarship Fund at the Whitney Laboratory provides support for University of Florida scientists-in-training to have access to the Matanzas River Basin, where they can engage in its biodiversity, ecology, and conservation. Read More


Liao Lab Publishes Paper The pursuit strategy of predatory bluefish

How do bigger fish attack and capture smaller fish? Or for that matter, your fishing lure? The Liao Laboratory, in collaboration with colleagues at UC Irvine, set out to investigate and found that local predatory bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) cannot anticipate intercepting their fleeing prey, mudminnows (Fundulus heteroclitus). Read More


iCoast Initiative collaboration to help coastal communities featured in Explore Magazine

The UF Office of Research recently featured the iCoast Initiative in their magazine Explore. Explore Magazine engages readers in the journey of scientific discovery, scholarship and creativity at the University of Florida. Read More


Dr. Brooke Burkhalter Authors Chapter in Book Laser Surgery in Veterinary Medicine

Laser Surgery in Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Brooke Burkhalter, Sea Turtle Hospital Veterinarian, and colleagues recently published the book, Laser Surgery in Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Burkhalter and Dr. Terry Norton authored the chapter "Laser Surgery in Aquatic Animals (Sea Turtles)" in Part IV Laser Surgery in Exotics Species. Read More


Sea Turtle Kadarius Released June 27 at Gamble Rodgers State Park

Sea Turtle

Kadarius was released back home to the Atlantic Ocean on June 27th at Gamble Rogers State Park. Kadarius was recovered by a fisherman who found him floating in Ponce Inlet on January 24th, 2018. Read More


Whitney's Todd Osborne Promoted to University of Florida Associate Professor of Biogeochemistry with Tenure

Dr. Todd Osborne

We are pleased to announce that Whitney Faculty Dr. Todd Osborne was granted promotion and tenure by the University of Florida Board of Trustees to Associate Professor of Biogeochemistry. Read More


Seaver Lab Publishes Paper in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Congratulations to the Seaver Lab for the recent paper published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B titled "CRISPR/CAS9 mutagenesis of a single r-opsin gene blocks phototaxis in a marine larva." Read More


Clark Morgan Joins the Liao Lab

Clark Morgan

Please welcome Clark Morgan to Whitney Laboratory! He recently joined Dr. James Liao's lab as a research technician and will be leading the red drum acoustic telemetry project, which will focus on investigating migration and habitat utilization patterns of adult red drum in St. Augustine waters. Read More


Dr. Liao Receives UF Office of Research Award

James Liao, Ph.D.

Congratulations to Dr. Jimmy Liao for recently receiving a UF Office of Research Award. Two out of only fifteen funded UF Office of Research awards were made to Whitney Laboratory faculty's research - both awards are collaborative with other colleges on campus! Read More


Sea Turtle Discovery Day on June 15

The Whitney Laboratory Sea Turtle Hospital along with Sea Turtle Conservancy will hold Sea Turtle Discovery Day at the Whitney Laboratory on Saturday, June 15. Read More


Whitney Graduate Student Association Elects New Officers

Group of students

Congratulations to Whitney Laboratory’s newly elected graduate student officers. We hope it is a successful year for the Whitney Graduate Student Association! Read More


Dr. Martindale and Dr. Schnitzler receive UF Office of Research Award

Two people

Congratulations to Dr. Mark Martindale and Dr. Christine Schnitzler for recently receiving a UF Office of Research Award. Two out of only fifteen funded UF Office of Research awards were made to Whitney Laboratory faculty's research - both awards are collaborative with other colleges on campus! Read More


Welcome: Collin Blakney

Collin Blakney

Please welcome Collin Blakney to Whitney Laboratory. Collin is Whitney Lab’s new maintenance mechanic. Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Awarded Grant from Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program to Support Onsite X-Ray Equipment

turtle license plate

The University of Florida Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory is pleased to announce that it received a grant starting in May for $16,695 from the Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program, which is funded by the sales of the sea turtle specialty license plate. Read More


Welcome 2019 REU Summer Interns!

Group of students

Welcome to the 2019 Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) summer interns! Funded by the National Science Foundation, this year's summer program offers seven students the opportunity to participate in scientific research at Whitney Laboratory. Read More


Welcome: Gianna Stewart

Gianna Stewart

Please welcome Gianna Stewart back to Whitney Laboratory! Gianna will be assisting with animal husbandry and other lab tasks for the Seaver Lab this summer. Read More


Dr. Elaine Seaver featured in photography series "Women" by Savannah College of Art and Design student Emerson Scheerer

Elaine Seaver

Dr. Elaine Seaver was recently photographed in her lab as part of Savannah College of Art and Design student Emerson Scheerer's ongoing series entitled, “Women,” featuring environmental portraits of women of power. Read More


June 13 Evenings at Whitney - Movie Night "A Plastic Ocean" with Panel Discussion for Whitney Laboratory's World Sea Turtle Week

A Plastic Ocean

The University of Florida Whitney Laboratory will hold a special Evenings at Whitney on Thursday, June 13, 2019. As part of Whitney’s World Sea Turtle Week events, Whitney Laboratory will show the movie, “A Plastic Ocean”, in the Lohman Auditorium with a panel discussion to follow. This Evenings at Whitney will have an earlier start time of 6 p.m. Read More


Osborne Lab and Partners Breeding Clams for Indian River Lagoon Restoration

Clams

Take a look at our one million babies! We are raising special brood clam stock to help restore the Indian River Lagoon with our partners. Read More


Dorothy Mitchell joins the Martindale Lab

Dorothy Mitchell

Please welcome graduate student Dorothy Mitchell to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined Dr. Mark Martindale's lab where she is investigating stem cell development in relation to reproduction and regeneration in Mnemiopsis leidyi. Read More


Dr. Christine Schnitzler Publishes Article in Nature Ecology & Evolution

Jellyfish

Dr. Christine Schnitzler, Assistant Professor of Biology at the Whitney Laboratory recently published the article "What makes a jellyfish" in Nature Ecology & Evolution. Read More


First Whitney Research Village Cottage Goes Solar

Cottage with Solar

We are starting our solar journey! The first Whitney Research Village Cottage, the Trustee Cottage (Jellyfish Residence), now has solar. We hope to have all solar cottages by next year. Read More


Casandra Newkirk shares her research with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during University of Florida visit

Group discussion

Prior to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' press conference, Ph.D. candidate Casandra Newkirk of the Whitney Laboratory Martindale lab and other UF student researchers participated in a roundtable discussion with Governor DeSantis and UF President Kent Fuchs. Read More


Eric Cochran Named to Whitney Laboratory Board of Trustees

Eric Cochran

Whitney Laboratory is pleased to announce that Eric Cochran has joined its Board of Trustees. Read More


Sea Turtle Holly Released April 18 at Ponce Inlet

Sea Turtle

Holly stranded in Ponce Inlet in Volusia County during the holiday season, which led this sea turtle to be named Holly. Upon arrival to the Sea Turtle Hospital, Holly was a cold stun and suffering from a mild case of fibropapillomatosis. Read More


Whitney Laboratory Showcases Matanzas Biodiversity Touchscreen in West Palm Beach

On March 23 Whitney Laboratory showcased the Matanzas Biodiversity Journey Touchscreen that was created by the Whitney Laboratory and installed at the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach. Over 65 people attended and speakers included Dr. James Liao, Dr. Mark Martindale, Leslie Randolph, Lew Crampton and Jessica Long. Thank you to Leslie and Skip Randolph and the event committee for a great welcome in Palm Beach County! Read More


Whitney Laboratory to Hold Oyster Gardening Workshops

Oyster Cages off Dock

Whitney Laboratory is seeking volunteers to become oyster gardeners as part of the lab’s oyster restoration initiative. Gardeners will grow, maintain and record data on their oyster habitats for one year, then return the oysters to the lab for use in restoration projects. Read More


Next Evenings at Whitney on May 9, 2019

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience returns on May 9, 2019, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Florida and Water: A History.” Steven Noll, master lecturer at the University of Florida in the Department of History, will talk about the relationship between humans and water throughout Florida history. Read More


Jacksonville’s Museum of Science and History exhibit “Florida’s Deadliest Insects” Showcases Dr. Paul Linser

MOSH Exhibit

The Museum of Science & History (MOSH) in Jacksonville is now displaying a “Florida’s Deadliest Insects” panel exhibit that gets up close and personal with mosquitoes in their larval and adult stages and discusses how they transmit such disease-causing viruses as West Nile and Zika. Read More


Welcome: Phil Cubbedge

Phil Cubbedge

Please welcome Phil Cubbedge, who joins the Whitney Laboratory to assist with oyster and clam restoration projects. Read More


Sea Turtle Hartley Released April 3 in the Indian River Lagoon

Sea Turtle

Hartley was found floating in the Indian River Lagoon, unable to completely dive due to buoyancy issues. Upon arrival, this sea turtle had a severe case of FP tumors on both eyes, both front flippers, neck, shell and had a thin body condition. Read More


Welcome to Whitney Lab, Ashley!

Ashley Taylor

Please welcome Ashley Taylor to Whitney Laboratory as the Sea Turtle Hospital's Veterinary Technician. She graduated from Hawaii Pacific University with a bachelor’s degree in marine biology. Read More


Briana Schaffner joins the Sea Turtle Hospital

Woman

Please welcome Briana Schaffner to Whitney Laboratory as the Sea Turtle Hospital's Animal Care Technician. She received a Bachelor’s of Science in Biological Sciences from Florida Atlantic University with a concentration in pre-veterinary medicine. Read More


Evenings at Whitney on April 11, 2019

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience returned on April 11, 2019, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “A Deep Dive Into the Past, Present and Future of Sea-Level Rise Along the Florida Coast.” Andrea Dutton, associate professor at the University of Florida in the Department of Geological Sciences, talked about sea-level rise and the long-term and short-term future of the Florida coastline. Read More


Registration Open for 2019 Marine Biology and Sea Turtle Summer Camps

Registration is now open for the 2019 Whitney Laboratory Marine Biology and Sea Turtle Summer Camps Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital on Action News Jax

Sea Turtle with Barnacles

The UF Whitney Laboratory Sea Turtle Hospital discusses sea turtle strandings and what you can do on Action News Jax. Read More


Welcome Emily Gordon to Whitney Laboratory

Emily Gordon

We are pleased to announce that Emily Gordon has joined Whitney Laboratory as our new development coordinator. Read More


Whitney Lab Represented at TEDx in Gainesville

Whitney Lab represented at TEDx in Gainesville at the CADE museum. In the session, Modern Explorers Graduate Student Jessica Welpley and Associate Professor James Liao led roundtable discussions on what it means to be an explorer in science. Read More


Recent Publication in Communications Biology Shares Sea Turtle Research by Dr. David Duffy and Dr. Mark Martindale

Congratulations to Dr. David Duffy, courtesy faculty at Whitney Lab, and Dr. Mark Martindale, director and professor of biology at Whitney Lab, for their recent publication in Communications Biology titled “Perspectives on the expansion of human precision oncology and genomic approaches to sea turtle fibropapillomatosis.” Read More


Evenings at Whitney on March 14, 2019

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience returned on March 14, 2019, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Resilience and Restoration of Coastal Ecosystems in a Changing Climate.” Christine Angelini, assistant professor in environmental engineering sciences at the University of Florida, talked about the valuable services that vegetated coastal ecosystems - marshes, mangroves and sand dunes - as well as oyster reefs provide to the overall environment. Read More


Moroz Lab Publishes two Articles, Including One Cover Article

Congratulations to Dr. Leonid Moroz and the Moroz Lab for two recent publications in The Journal of Comparative Neurology. Read More


Welcome: Christine Brennan

Woman

We are pleased to announce that Christine Brennan has joined Whitney Laboratory as our new IT Professional. Read More


Summer Intern Studied Hermit Crab Behavior

Holly Keepers, one of our summer interns, shared about her experience here at Whitney Lab in a blog post. During her time at Whitney Lab, Holly studied hermit crab behavior and how the hermit crabs were affected by noise pollution. Read More


The UF Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience Celebrates New Housing and is Expanding Marine Research Laboratory and Sea Turtle Hospital

Whitney supporters, public officials and the University Florida Provost Dr. Joseph Glover joined the UF Whitney Laboratory faculty, students and staff on Dec. 8, 2018, at a ribbon cutting for the new Whitney Research Village. The Whitney is a research institute of the University of Florida established in 1974 on the shores of the intracoastal waterway on the border of St. Johns and Flagler counties. Read More


Evenings at Whitney on Feb. 14, 2019

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience returned on Feb. 14, 2019, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Saving an Endangered Species: The Life and Lore of the Sturgeon.” Frank Chapman, associate professor of the Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences at the University of Florida, talked about the unique characteristics of the sturgeon, a species of fish that has been in existence for more than 160 million years. Read More


Whitney Lab Participates in St. Augustine Film Festival

This Thursday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m. at Lewis Auditorium at Flagler College, Whitney Laboratory will be tabling and supporting a free event to kick off the St. Augustine Film Festival. Read More


Mark McGowan Named to Whitney Laboratory Board of Trustees

Mark McGowan

Whitney Laboratory is pleased to announce that Mark McGowan has joined its Board of Trustees. Read More


Lost Springs Concert & Documentary

Join the Gamble Rogers Concert Series for this event at the Whitney Laboratory Lohman Auditorium on Jan. 19, 2019, at 7 p.m. Read More


Evenings at Whitney on Jan. 10, 2019

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience returned for the spring season on Jan. 10, 2019, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Engineering 'Selfish' Genes in Mice: Benefits and Risks.” Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Staff and Researchers Present at Florida Keys Sea Turtle Workshop

This year staff and researchers of the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab were proud to present at the Florida Keys Sea Turtle Workshop held the first weekend in December. Read More


Welcome Alicia Boyd to Whitney Laboratory

Alicia Boyd

Please welcome Alicia Boyd to Whitney Laboratory! She recently joined Dr. Elaine Seaver’s lab to study regeneration in Capitella teleta. Read More


WHITNEY RESEARCH VILLAGE RIBBON CUTTING & GRAND OPENING

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Whitney Research Village Ribbon Cutting - Grand Opening on Dec. 8, 2018. This project of six sustainably built cottages supported by the Florida Legislature, private donors and the University of Florida expands our campus by 24 beds. Read More


Liao Lab Publishes Paper in Journal of Experimental Biology

Models of Fish Heads

Congratulations to the Liao Lab for the recent paper published in the Journal of Experimental Biology titled “Head width influences flow sensing by the lateral line canal system in fishes.” Read More


Gators Give Thanks Day

Collage of people

It’s Gators Give Thanks Day! Thank you for all the ways you support and strengthen UF Whitney Laboratory’s impact! Read More


Evenings at Whitney on Dec. 13, 2018

The fall Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience returned on Dec. 13, 2018, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Ecosystem Challenges in Florida: The Diadema Story (A Case Study…).” Ruth Francis-Floyd, professor and extension veterinarian of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences at the University of Florida, talked about the complex challenges of assessing health in Florida’s changing ecosystems. Read More


Welcome: Gail White

Gail White

We are pleased to announce that Gail White has joined Whitney Laboratory as our new events coordinator. Read More


Danielle Fraser Named to Whitney Laboratory Board of Trustees

Danielle Fraser

Whitney Laboratory is pleased to announce that Danielle Fraser has joined its Board of Trustees. Read More


Solar Simulator at Whitney Laboratory

We have a new instrument here at Whitney Laboratory! The Atlas CPS+ is an all-wave solar simulator that allows us to simulate natural sunlight in the laboratory and manipulate the different portions of the spectrum for experimental purposes. Read More


The Whitney Lecture in St. Augustine and Gainesville

The Whitney Lecture, an annual science event hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, brings renowned scientists to St. Augustine and Gainesville to share significant research and contributions to society. This year’s topic took a deep look at the discoveries of science and how simple but important questions matter for human health and the health of the planet. The St. Augustine lecture took place on Nov. 15, 2018, at 7 p.m. at Whitney Laboratory. The Gainesville lecture took place on Nov. 16, 2018, at noon at the University of Florida McKnight Brain Institute DeWeese Auditorium. Read More


Whitney Laboratory Selected in University-Wide Initiative to Tackle the World’s Largest Problems

A UF News story titled “UF launches bold initiative to tackle society’s biggest problems,” shares about the University of Florida’s goal of improving life today through this initiative that involves comprehensive research and collaboration. Whitney Laboratory is involved in one of the initiative's projects. Read More


Whitney on the River NEW Date Nov. 6

This fall fundraiser benefits UF Whitney Laboratory’s K-12 Education Program, which focuses on STEM Education for students from seven area counties, including the Putnam 3rd Grade Initiative. Whitney Laboratory researchers will share some amazing marine creatures and discuss research at the lab while guests tour the St. Johns River Center! Read More


Open Studio Exhibit Benefiting Whitney Lab Oyster Restoration Initiative on Nov. 8

New date! Please join us for an Open Studio Exhibit with artist Jenna Alexander on Nov. 8 from 5-8 p.m. The event will benefit the Whitney Laboratory Oyster Restoration Initiative. Read More


Welcome Dr. Fredrik Hugosson to Whitney Laboratory

Fredrik Hugosson

Please welcome Dr. Fredrik Hugosson to Whitney Laboratory! Fredrik is a molecular biologist whose main research interest is to understand cell signaling during development. Read More


Whitney Oyster Workshop for "New" Gardeners on Oct. 25

Become an oyster gardener! The University of Florida’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience is seeking volunteers to become oyster gardeners as part of the lab’s oyster restoration initiative. Read More


Evenings at Whitney on Oct. 11

The Oct. 11, 2018, lecture in the fall Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience took place at 7 p.m. and was titled “Many Ways to Regenerate: Cell Fate Plasticity and Migratory Stem Cells in Marine Hydroids.” Christine Schnitzler, assistant professor of biology at Whitney Laboratory, talked about her work that looks at the multiple ways marine hydroids, small colony-forming invertebrates that commonly grow as polyps, regenerate or regrow tissues. Read More


Jessica Whelpley Featured in Fearless Science Article

Congratulations to Jessica Whelpley, graduate student at Whitney Laboratory, for being highlighted in the article titled Fearless Science by UF News. Read More


Martindale Lab Publishes Paper in Journal of Experimental Marine Biology

Congratulations to Casandra Newkirk, graduate student at Whitney Laboratory, and Mark Martindale, director at Whitney Laboratory, on the recently published paper in the Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. Read More


Congratulations to 2018 Cliff Townsend High School Scholar Robie Carrascosa

Congratulations to Robie Carrascosa who served as the Cliff Townsend High School Scholar at Whitney Laboratory this summer. Read More


Congratulations to 2018 Carl and Marcella Matthaei Ecological Scholarship Fund Recipient Emily Sharkey

The Carl and Marcella Matthaei Ecological Scholarship Fund at the Whitney Laboratory provides support for University of Florida scientists-in-training to have access to the Matanzas River Basin, where we can engage in its biodiversity, ecology and conservation. Read More


Nature Article Highlights Dr. Mark Martindale's Work

Confocal micrograph of a tentacle of a juvenile Florida Pleurobrachia ctenophore stained for filamentous actin (green) and neurons (red)

A recent article in Nature titled What is a Lab Animal? shares information about using marine models and ctenophores in research. Read More


Welcome Home to Seafoam and Gene Johnson

Seafoam and Gene Johnson, patients of the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory, were released back home to the Atlantic Ocean on August 14, 2018. Read More


Welcome: Ricky Morais

Ricky Morais

Please welcome Ricky Morais to Whitney Laboratory! Ricky is Whitney Lab’s new nighttime custodial worker. Read More


Todd Osborne Receives 2018 University of Florida Water Institute Faculty Fellowship

Congratulations to Todd Osborne, assistant professor of biogeochemistry at Whitney Laboratory, for being selected as a 2018 University of Florida Water Institute Faculty Fellow. Read More


Congratulations to Alex Wyeth, 2018 REU Poster Contest Winner!

Congratulations to Alex Wyeth for being selected as the 2018 Whitney Laboratory REU Program’s poster contest winner. Read More


Science by the Shore: Sept. 22, 2018

The graduate students of the UF Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience would like to invite you to our sixth annual Science by the Shore Symposium (formerly biology at the beach), which is open to all scientific disciplines. Read More


Evenings at Whitney on Sept. 13: Sharks and Rays on the Brink – Half a Billion Years of Innovation Under Threat

Gavin Naylor

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory returned for the fall season on Sept. 13, 2018, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Sharks and Rays on the Brink - Half a Billion Years of Innovation Under Threat.” Read More


Martindale Lab Publishes Paper in eLife

Congratulations to the Martindale Lab for the recent article published in eLife titled “Germ layer specific regulation of cell polarity and adhesion gives insight into the evolution of mesoderm.” The authors are Miguel Salinas-Saavedra, graduate student at Whitney Laboratory, Amber Rock, REU 2016 Whitney Laboratory summer intern and Choose Development! Fellow from the Society of Developmental Biology, and Mark Martindale, director at Whitney Laboratory. Read More


The Sea Turtle at Whitney Laboratory Featured in UF at Work

The work by the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory team was featured in an article by UF at Work. The article is titled “The Whitney Lab Sea Turtle Hospital: Helping some of Florida’s endangered residents heal and head back home.” Read More


Welcome Justin Waletich to Whitney Laboratory!

Justin Waletich

Justin joins Whitney Lab as a PhD student in Dr. Christine Schnitzler’s lab. His research will focus on stem cells and regenerative biology using Hydractinia as a model system. Read More


Martindale Lab Publishes Paper in Nature’s Protocol Exchange

Mark Martindale, director and professor of biology at Whitney Lab, and Miguel Salinas-Saavedra, graduate student at Whitney Lab, recently published a paper in Nature’s Protocol Exchange. Read More


Liao Lab Publishes Paper in Integrative & Comparative Biology

Dr. Otar Akanyeti and Dr. James Liao

Congratulations to James Liao and Otar Akanyeti for authoring the paper titled “Behavior, Electrophysiology and Robotics Experiments to Study Lateral Line Sensing in Fishes.” Read More


Article Written by Graduate Student Jessica Farrell Receives National Press

An article written by Jessica Farrell, graduate student here at Whitney Lab, was written for The Conversation and picked up by Smithsonian.com. Read More


A Day in the Life of the Seaver Lab

Have you ever wondered what a day is like working in one of the labs at Whitney Laboratory? Read More


Registration Now Open for Cnidofest 2018

Cnidofest 2018: The Cnidarian Model Systems Meeting is scheduled for Sept. 6-9, 2018, at Whitney Laboratory. Registration is now open until Aug. 1. Abstracts are due July 15. Read More


Welcome: Patrick Thompson

We are pleased to announce that Patrick Thompson has joined Whitney Laboratory as our new operations manager. Patrick will be managing our fiscal, human resources and other key operations and planning responsibilities for the lab. Read More


Roxane R. Kennedy Named to Whitney Laboratory Board of Trustees

Roxane Kennedy

Whitney Laboratory is pleased to announce that Roxane R. Kennedy has joined its Board of Trustees. Kennedy brings extensive experience to the board while also being a fellow Gator, graduating from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. Read More


New Walkway on Whitney Laboratory Campus

There’s a new walkway on the Whitney Laboratory campus that now connects the lab building, Sea Turtle Hospital buildings and Center for Marine Studies (CMS) building. Read More


Whitney Laboratory Supporter and Volunteer Nancy Condron Featured in UF Advancement Story

The article titled “Spirit of the Deep Blue Sea” by University of Florida Advancement shares the story of Nancy Condron, a Florida Gator, and her continued support of Whitney Laboratory and the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory. Read More


Ryan Lab Publishes Paper in PeerJ

The Ryan Lab published the paper titled "Horizontally transferred genes in the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi" today in PeerJ. Read More


Whitney Laboratory Director Mark Martindale Spoke at Regenerative Medicine UF Summit on June 15

Dr. Mark Martindale

Mark Martindale, director at Whitney Laboratory, spoke at the inaugural Regenerative Medicine UF Summit on June 15, 2018, at the Harrell Medical Education Building. Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory Awarded Grant from the Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program

Sea Turtle License Plate

The University of Florida Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory is pleased to announce that it received a grant starting in May for $20,581 from the Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program, which is funded by the sales of the sea turtle specialty license plate. Read More


Evenings at Whitney on June 14: Emerging Research and Conservation of Sea Turtles - in Honor of World Sea Turtle Day

The spring Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory concluded on June 14, 2018, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Emerging Research and Conservation of Sea Turtles - in Honor of World Sea Turtle Day.” With a nod to World Sea Turtle Day on the Saturday following the lecture, a panel of experts on sea turtle research and conservation provided an interactive lecture. Read More


Whitney Laboratory Sea Turtle Research in the Media

Cutting-edge research by Dr. David Duffy, courtesy faculty at Whitney Laboratory and former postdoc in the Martindale Lab, and the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory team has been covered by multiple publications, including UF News and Science. Read More


Seaver Lab Has New Paper in Developmental Biology

In a recent study "in press" in the journal Developmental Biology, the Seaver Lab investigated the germline in the marine annelid worm Capitella teleta. Read More


Seaver Lab Article Featured on Cover of Regeneration

A Seaver Lab article is featured on the cover of the journal Regeneration! The Seaver lab was invited to provide an image from its recently published article. Read More


Welcome, 2018 REU Summer Interns!

Welcome to the 2018 Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) summer interns! Funded by the National Science Foundation, this year's summer program offers nine students the opportunity to participate in scientific research at Whitney Laboratory. Read More


Jessica Farrell Receives Friends of Gumbo Limbo Gordon Gilbert Graduate Research Grant

Jessica Farrell

Congratulations to Jessica Farrell, graduate student in the Martindale Lab, for receiving a Friends of Gumbo Limbo Gordon Gilbert Graduate Research Grant. Read More


Martindale Lab Publishes Article in Nature Communications

The Martindale Lab's work was recently published in Nature Communications. Read More


Seaver Lab Paper Published in Developmental Biology

Congratulations to the Seaver Lab for its paper published in the recent issue of Developmental Biology. Read More


Jessica Whelpley Receives UF Biodiversity Institute Graduate Fellowship

Jessica Whelpley

Congratulations to Jessica Whelpley, graduate student in the Ryan Lab, for receiving a University of Florida Biodiversity Institute Graduate Fellowship. Read More


Congratulations, Miguel Salinas-Saavedra!

Miguel Salinas

Congratulations to Miguel Salinas-Saavedra, graduate student in the Martindale Lab, for being awarded travel funds from the University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for a talk he will be giving at the European Evo-Devo meeting in Galway, Ireland this June. Read More


Welcome Home, Tater Tot!

We are pleased to announce that Tater Tot was released on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at 12 p.m. at the River to Sea Preserve public beach. Read More


Whitney Lab's Todd Osborne Honored with Excellence Award for Assistant Professors

Congratulations to Dr. Todd Osborne, assistant professor of biogeochemistry at Whitney Lab, for receiving the Excellence Award for Assistant Professors of the University of Florida. A four-member committee reviewed the nominations, and the honor was awarded based on quality and innovativeness of the research. Read More


Welcome: Dr. Camille Enjolras

Camille Enjolras

Please welcome Dr. Camille Enjolras to Whitney Laboratory! Camille is a geneticist and developmental biologist whose main research interest is to better understand animal biology. Read More


Welcome: Dr. Gonzalo Quiroga Artigas

Gonzalo Quiroga Artigas

Please welcome Dr. Gonzalo Quiroga Artigas to Whitney Laboratory! Gonzalo is a developmental biologist whose main research interest is animal regeneration and its evolution. Read More


May 10 Evenings at Whitney - Ex Uno Plures and E Pluribus Unum: Competition and Collaboration in the Microbial World

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory returned on May 10, 2018, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Ex Uno Plures and E Pluribus Unum: Competition and Collaboration in the Microbial World.” Read More


Whitney Lab Graduate Students Casandra Newkirk and Bailey Steinworth Contribute to New Published Paper

Congratulations to Whitney Lab Graduate Students Casandra Newkirk (IFAS, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences program) and Bailey Steinworth (CLAS, Department of Biology) for their contribution to a new paper, “Upside-Down but headed in the Right Direction: Review of the Highly Versatile Cassiopea xamachana System,” published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution (vol 6, 35). Read More


Whitney Lab's Adam Pacetti Awarded UF Superior Accomplishment Award

Congratulations to Adam Pacetti, maintenance supervisor, for receiving the University of Florida Superior Accomplishment Award. Read More


Alexandra Hernandez Awarded National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship

Congratulations to Alexandra Hernandez, graduate student of the Ryan Lab at Whitney Lab, for receiving the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship. Read More


Upcoming Oyster Gardener Workshops

Whitney Lab is seeking volunteers to become oyster gardeners as part of the lab’s oyster restoration initiative. Read More


Registration Open for Sea Turtle Summer Camp

Spots are still available for the 2018 Sea Turtle Summer Camp. Read More


Evenings at Whitney on April 12: Immunotherapy Approaches to Cancer Therapy

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory returned on April 12, 2018, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Immunotherapy Approaches to Cancer Therapy.” Read More


Welcome Anna Thornton to Whitney Laboratory!

Anna Thornton

Please welcome Anna Thornton to Whitney Laboratory! Anna has a Bachelor of Science from Stetson University with a focus in marine biology. In her undergrad career she focused her research on the aerial respiration of the juvenile armored catfish (Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus). Read More


Welcome: Madison Skidmore

Madison Skidmore

Please welcome Madison Skidmore to Whitney Laboratory! Madison has a Bachelor's in Coastal Environmental Science and a Minor in Education from Flagler College. Read More


Article Published in Current Biology Features Work by Martindale Lab

Congratulations to the Martindale Lab for the recent article published in Current Biology. Read More


Whitney Lab REU Student Receives Award for Poster Presentation

Stephanie Neal with winning poster

Congratulations to one of Whitney Laboratory's 2017 REU students, Stephanie Neal, on her recent award for Best Student Poster Presentation in the Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) meeting. Read More


The March Evenings at Whitney Lecture featured the topic of Future Ready: STEM in Our Schools

Students with drone

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory returned on March 8, 2018, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Future Ready: STEM in Our Schools.” Staff from the St. Johns County School District talked about STEM activities and initiatives that impact students from every level in the school system. Read More


Seaver Lab Work Featured in Developmental Biology

Polychaete Capitella teleta image on Developmental Biology cover

The current issue of Developmental Biology features a cover photo and paper from the Seaver Lab. Read More


Ryan Lab Outreach - 2018 Darwin Week

Dr. Joseph Ryan presenting to high school students

The Ryan Lab at Whitney Laboratory observed 2018 Darwin Week last week for the fourth straight year by going out and visiting area schools. Read More


Congratulations to Alexis Lanza and Alex Hernandez for Receiving Awards from UF’s Biology Graduate Student Association

Alexis Lanza, Alex Hernandez

Congratulations to Alexis Lanza and Alex Hernandez for each being honored with an award from the Graduate Student Association of the University of Florida Biology Department. Alexis received the Michael L. May Research Grant for her work titled “Insight into the mechanism of embryonic organizer activity in axis formation of annelids.” Read More


Parking at Whitney Lab

Parking Map

Parking at the Whitney Laboratory campus will be limited due to construction of the Research Village. The Research Village will be complete in winter 2018 and will reopen with additional parking. Please arrive early to lectures and events to allow time to find a place to park. Read More


Welcome Elisabeth Carter to Whitney Laboratory!

Elisabeth Carter

Please welcome Elisabeth Carter to Whitney Laboratory! Elisabeth Carter is a first-year PhD student at the University of Florida, and has joined Dr. Christine Schnitzler’s lab here at Whitney Laboratory. Elisabeth is originally from Georgia and received her BS from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. Read More


Liao Lab Research Published in PNAS and Featured in UF News Video

Dr. Jimmy Liao and tank

Congratulations to the Liao Lab at Whitney Laboratory for its research being featured in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS). Read More


Next Evenings at Whitney on Feb. 8 – From Planarians to Parasites: Stem Cells and Developmental Plasticity in Flatworms

Sporocyst

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory returns on Feb. 8, 2018, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “From Planarians to Parasites: Stem Cells and Developmental Plasticity in Flatworms.” Read More


Kaylee has Joined the Whitney Lab Team!

Kaylee August

Please welcome Kaylee to Whitney Laboratory! Kaylee is a second-year master’s student from the Soil and Water Sciences Department. She is joining Dr. Osborne’s lab as a graduate student until summer of 2018. Read More


Welcome to Whitney Lab, Julia!

Julia Ramon

Please welcome Julia Ramon to Whitney Laboratory! Julia is a recently graduated biologist student coming from Barcelona who is joining Dr. Martindale’s lab as a research scholar for the next seven months. Read More


Jan. 20: Gamble Rogers Concert Series at Whitney Laboratory

David Mallett

David Mallett will perform at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20 at Lohman Auditorium at Whitney Lab as part of the Gamble Rogers Concert Series. Larry Magnum will open the concert. Tickets are available at www.gamblerogersfest.org. Singer-songwriter David Mallett, is one of America’s true original troubadours. Read More


Next Evenings at Whitney on Jan. 11 – Native Bees of North America: Who Are They, What Do They Do and How Can We Conserve Them?

Bee with flower

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory returns with the program titled “Native Bees of North America: Who Are They, What Do They Do and How Can We Conserve Them?” on Jan. 11, 2018, at 7 p.m. Read More


Welcome: Dr. Linlin Zhang joins the Seaver Lab

Dr. Linlin Zhang

Please welcome Dr. Linlin Zhang to Whitney Laboratory! Linlin is an evolutionary biologist fascinated by animal diversity. Her research combines both experimental and computational approaches to investigate molecular genetic mechanisms of phenotypic divergence and adaptation. Read More


Welcome to the Whitney Lab!

Six people

Whitney Laboratory has several new faces this Fall! Please take a moment to read about our newest colleagues below, and join me in welcoming them to Whitney. Welcome, newcomers! Read More


Dr. Barbara Battelle Published Invited Review in Biological Bulletin’s Virtual Symposium: New Insights from Genetic Data Sets on the Function and Evolution of Visual Systems

Dr. Barbara Battelle

Whitney Lab Emeritus Professor of Neuroscience Barbara Battelle published an invited review in the Biological Bulletin’s Virtual Symposium: New Insights from Genetic Data Sets on the Function and Evolution of Visual Systems. Read More


Evenings at Whitney on Dec. 14 – Transformation and Conservation: Climate Change, Plant Diversity and the Southern Landscape

Pamela Soltis

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory returned on Dec. 14, 2017, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Transformation and Conservation: Climate Change, Plant Diversity and the Southern Landscape.” Pamela Soltis, distinguished professor and curator of molecular systematics and evolutionary genetics in the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida Read More


Moroz Lab Awarded Human Frontier Science Program Grant

Dr. Leonid Moroz

Congratulations to the Moroz Lab at Whitney Lab for being awarded a grant from the Human Frontier Science Program. This highly prestigious four-year international program will study genomic bases of morphological innovations in Cephalopod mollusks. These “primates of the sea” include octopuses, squids, nautilus and their kins. Read More


Construction Launches at Whitney Laboratory to House More Student and Visiting Scientists

Group at Groundbreaking Ceremony

A groundbreaking ceremony for the Research Village at the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience took place on Dec. 2, 2017, from 11 a.m. to noon on the Whitney Laboratory campus, 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd. Remarks were made by members of the Whitney Research Village Trustee Committee, Chair of the Whitney Trustee Board Kate Rowe and University of Florida Provost Joseph Glover. Read More


Jan. 25-26 North Florida Marine Science Symposium

Flyer for North Florida Marine Science Symposium

Join researchers, resource management agencies, and students for 1.5 days of cutting-edge marine science at the 2018 North Florida Marine Science Symposium on January 25-26, 2018 at the Whitney Laboratory. Read More


Whitney’s Liao Lab: Dr. Otar Akanyeti and Dr. James Liao Publish in Journal of Fluid Mechanics

Dr. Otar Akanyeti and Dr. James Liao

Dr. Otar Akanyeti (former Postdoctoral & Research Faculty of the Liao Lab, now faculty at Aberystwyth University, UK) and Dr. James Liao’s research paper in Journal of Fluid Mechanics focusing on a local Florida Jackfish’s movement was selected for the publication’s cover this month! Read More


VIDEO – Nov. 9 Evenings at Whitney: The Ever-Evolving Menace of Mosquitoes: Emerging Pathogens and New Technological Control Strategies

Diagram of mosquito

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory returned on Nov. 9, 2017, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “The Ever-Evolving Menace of Mosquitoes: Emerging Pathogens and New Technological Control Strategies.” Read More


Leah Dannenberg Successfully Defends Master’s Degree

Group of people

Congratulations to Leah Dannenberg for successfully defending her master’s degree! Leah is a graduate student in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program at the University of Florida with Elaine Seaver as her mentor. Read More


Dr. Paul Linser Editor in Chief of IJERPH Special Edition

Dr. Paul Linser

Congratulations to Dr. Paul Linser, professor of anatomy and cell biology, neuroscience, microbiology and cell science, entomology, and biology at Whitney Laboratory, for his work as editor in chief of a special edition of IJERPH Read More


Dr. Leonid Moroz and His Team Published Nature Ecology & Evolution Paper

Many ctenophores

Congratulations to University of Florida Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience, Genetics, Biology and Chemistry Leonid Moroz, members of his lab (Peter Williams, Tatiana P. Moroz, Krishanu Mukherjee) and Gustav Pauley from Florida Museum of Natural History for their recent breakthrough paper Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital Featured in Pelican Post

Article screenshot

The Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab was featured in the Pelican Post‘s Fall 2017 issue. The article shared information about the hospital’s focus on rehabilitation, research and education. The article also talked about the achievements of the hospital in 2017. Read More


Oct. 13: Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science Social

Social invite graphic

The Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) is hosting a social in partnership with Whitney Laboratory and University of Florida’s Biology Department at First Magnitude Brewing Company located at 1220 S.E. Veitch St. in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, October 13 at 8 p.m. Read More


You’re Invited to Whitney on the River on Oct. 26

St. Johns River and tree branch

An Evening Overlooking the St. Johns River Please join us for an evening of marine science, hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and the beautiful St. Johns River. Thursday, October 26, 2017 5:30-7:30 p.m. St. Johns River Center 102 North 1st Street Palatka, Florida 32177 RSVP 386-329-0271 celebrate@whitney.ufl.edu Tickets are $50 per person. Read More


Oct. 12 Evenings at Whitney: Adventures in History

David Nolan

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory returned on Oct. 12, 2017, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Adventures in History.” Read More


Dr. Leslie Babonis and Dr. Mark Martindale have New Paper in EvoDevo

Dr. Leslie Babonis and Dr. Mark Martindale

Congratulations to Whitney Laboratory’s Dr. Leslie Babonis, postdoctoral research associate, and Dr. Mark Martindale, director, for their recent publication in “EvoDevo” about their work involving the starlet sea anemone. The publication is titled “PaxA, but not PaxC, is required for cnidocyte development in the sea anemone.” Read More


Under the Sea Soiree on Sept. 23

Soiree invitation cover

Under the Sea Soiree Fundraiser: Celebrate Biodiversity with the Whitney Lab! Thank you so much for supporting the Lab at the Under the Sea Soiree! We raised over $16,000 and had $9,000 worth of donated items for the auction. Read More


Dr. Elaine Seaver has New Paper in Canadian Journal of Zoology

Dr. Elaine Seaver

Congratulations to Dr. Elaine Seaver, who has a new paper published online in the “Canadian Journal of Zoology.” The paper is a review that arose from an invitation for Dr. Seaver to speak at a symposium called “Spineless tales: development and evolution of invertebrates” co-sponsored by the Canadian Society of Zoologists and Canadian Science Publishing. Read More


Congratulations to Stephanie Neal, REU Poster Contest Winner!

Stephanie Neal with winning poster

Congratulations to Stephanie Neal for being selected as the 2017 Whitney Laboratory REU Program’s poster contest winner. The title of Stephanie’s winning poster is Functional investigation of opsin in Capitella teleta. Stephanie worked with Elaine Seaver, professor of biology at Whitney Laboratory, this summer during the program. Read More


Whitney Lab Represented by Three Faculty at International Congress on Invertebrate Morphology

At the Fourth International Congress on Invertebrate Morphology held August 18-23, 2017, in Moscow, Whitney Laboratory is represented by three faculty, including Dr. Mark Martindale, director and professor of biology, Dr. Christine Schnitzler, assistant professor of biology, and Dr. Leonid Moroz, distinguished professor of neuroscience, genetics, biology and chemistry. Read More


Congratulations to the 2017 Carl and Marcella Matthaei Scholars

Two students

The Carl and Marcella Matthaei Ecological Scholarship Fund at the Whitney Laboratory provides support for University of Florida scientists-in-training to have access to the Matanzas River Basin, where we can engage in its biodiversity, ecology and conservation. Read More


Sea Turtles Mean Joe Green and Tamatoa Released on July 13

Sea Turtle Hospital volunteers holding two turtles

Mean Joe Green and Tamatoa were released on Thursday, July 13, 2017, at 1 p.m. at the north end of Crescent Beach. Mean Joe Green stranded on Crescent Beach on Feb. 6, 2016. Joe was cold stunned and suffering from fibropapillomatosis (FP). Read More


Whitney Laboratory Program Funded by the National Science Foundation Has Been Welcoming Summer Interns for 30 Years

Group of students sitting on dock

This summer marks the 30th year that the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience has welcomed interns for its Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program funded by the National Science Foundation. Read More


University of Florida News Interviews Mark Martindale about Starlet Sea Anemone Research

Nematostella

This University of Florida story interviews Mark Martindale, director of the Whitney Laboratory, about research on the starlet sea anemone. Genes known to form heart cells in humans and other animals are found in this sea anemone. Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory Awarded Its First Research Grant from the Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program

Sea Turtle License Plate

The University of Florida Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory is pleased to announce today, on World Sea Turtle Day, that it received a grant starting in May for $18,348 from the Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program, which is funded by the sales of the sea turtle specialty license plate. Read More


Welcome 2017 REU Summer Interns

Group of students on dock

Welcome to the 2017 Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) summer interns! Funded by the National Science Foundation, the summer program offers eight students the opportunity to participate in scientific research at Whitney Lab. Read More


Barnett the Sea Turtle Released in Salt Run on June 7

Turtle being released with group of people

We are pleased to announce that the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab released Barnett in Salt Run on June 7, 2017, in Anastasia State Park. A dedicated crowd of sea turtle enthusiasts attended the rainy release to wish Barnett well as he/she went back home. Read More


Whitney Lab Participates in First International Cassiopea Workshop

Whitney Lab “Team Cassiopea,” consisting of Graduate Student Casandra Newkirk, Graduate Student Bailey Steinworth and Postdoctoral Research Associate Leslie Babonis, traveled to the first international Cassiopea Workshop, which was held May 12-14, 2017, on Key Largo. Read More


Whitney Lab Attends 2017 Southeast Regional Society for Developmental Biology Meeting

Whitney Lab participated in the Southeast Regional Society for Developmental Biology Meeting held May 18-20, 2017, at Kennesaw State College in Georgia. The society encompasses seven states in the Southeastern United States. Read More


Periwinkle Released on World Turtle Day

Woman holding turtle

We are pleased to announce that Periwinkle (or Peri as we affectionately know him) was released on May 23, 2017, at 10 a.m. at the River to Sea Preserve public beach (known as Marineland beach) on World Turtle Day. Read More


Video: May 18 Evenings at Whitney – Last Mastodons, Last Mammoths: Life and Times of America’s Latest-surviving Proboscideans

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory returned on May 18, 2017, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Last Mastodons, Last Mammoths: Life and Times of America’s Latest-surviving Proboscideans.” Read More


Emily Gordon Named to Board of Trustees

Emily Gordon

We are pleased to announce that Emily Gordon has been named to Whitney Laboratory’s Board of Trustees. Emily brings an abundance of professional and scientific experience as well as a passion for community service to the Board of Trustees. Emily is a Florida Gator. Read More


Discovery Walk Signage is Now Complete

Discovery walk map

The Whitney Laboratory Discovery Walk signage is now complete! Enjoy a scenic and educational walk along the Whitney Laboratory shoreline as you visit seven stations. The walk begins at the “Whitney Pond” – where you’ll find out who calls our sea-lab home. Read More


Local Group Creates Save Our Seas Quilt

Quilt

Thank you to the local St. Augustine quilting group for creating a one-of-a-kind marine life quilt for the Whitney Laboratory. The vibrant marine quilt called “Save Our Seas” was made by the eight member quilt bee, which includes Whitney Lab Docents, called See What Develops. Read More


Liao Lab has New Publication in the Journal Hearing Research

Congratulations to the Liao Lab, which has a new publication in Hearing Research entitled “A non-toxic dose of cobalt chloride blocks hair cells of the zebrafish lateral line.” The work was spearheaded by Dr. William Stewart and aided by Dr. Jacob Johansen, both postdoctoral research associates in the Liao Lab. Read More


2016 REU Student Amber Rock Returns through Choose Development! Fellowship

Amber Rock

We are pleased to announce that 2016 REU student Amber Rock is returning to Whitney Laboratory for two summers through the Choose Development! Fellowship from the Society of Developmental Biology. Read More


Dr. James Liao & Dr. Leonid Moroz Receive UF Term Professorship Award

Congratulations to Dr. James Liao and Dr. Leonid Moroz, who each received the University of Florida Term Professorship Award from the UF Provost’s Office. The awards are based on assessment of academic accomplishment, and awardees have displayed a distinguished career that places them among the leaders in their discipline. Read More


April 8: Gamble Rogers Concert Series at Whitney Lab

See you this weekend, April 8, for the Gamble Rogers Concert Series Meeting of the Great Minds. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Whitney Lab Lohman Auditorium. Stop by and enjoy an evening of free Americana music. Read More


May 20: Science by the Shore

The graduate students and postdocs of the UF Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience would like to invite you to our Fifth Annual Science by the Shore Symposium (formerly Biology at the Beach). Read More


Video: April 20 Evenings at Whitney – One Species, Two Species, Hybrid Species, New Species: Secrets of the Sweetings Pond Seahorse

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory returned on April 20, 2017, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “One Species, Two Species, Hybrid Species, New Species: Secrets of the Sweetings Pond Seahorse.” Read More


Registration Open for 2017 Whitney Lab Summer Camps

Registration is open for the 2017 summer camps at Whitney Laboratory. There are still spots available for the Marine Biology Camp from June 26-30 and July 10-14. This year’s Sea Turtle Camp is full. Read More


Video: The Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab’s Work & Research

turtle

Take a look at this video featuring Whitney Laboratory’s David Duffy, postdoctoral researcher, and Mark Martindale, director, that shares about the Sea Turtle Hospital’s work and research on the fibropapilloma virus found in sea turtles. Read More


Whitney Laboratory Receives Funding from UF Biodiversity Institute to Develop New Bioinformatics Tools

Whitney Laboratory Director Mark Martindale and Biodiversity Scientist Francois Michonneau in collaboration with Whitney Laboratory Assistant Professor of Biology Joseph Ryan and Florida Museum of Natural History Curator of Marine Malacology Gustav Paulay received funding from the University of Florida Biodiversity Institute. Read More


Video: March 16 Evenings at Whitney – From Fast to Ultra-Fast: The Biological World of Extreme Movement

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory returned on March 16, 2017, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “From Fast to Ultra-Fast: The Biological World of Extreme Movement.” Read More


Ryan Lab Observed 2017 Darwin Week with Annual Tour

The Ryan Lab at Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience observed 2017 Darwin Week (Feb. 12-17) for the third straight year by organizing educational events throughout the week. Read More


Whitney Lab’s Christine Schnitzler Co-authors Paper Featured in Cell Reports

Congratulations to Whitney Lab’s Assistant Professor of Biology Christine Schnitzler for co-authoring a paper in Cell Reports titled An Evolutionarily Conserved SoxB-Hdac2 Crosstalk Regulates Neurogenesis in a Cnidarian. Read More


Paterson Islanders Research Project Supports the Sea Turtle Hospital

logos

Thank you to the Paterson Islanders, a First Lego League (FLL) Robotics Team, from Paterson Elementary School in Fleming Island, Florida for their support of the Sea Turtle Hospital. Read More


Video: Evenings at Whitney – The Living Dead: Metabolic Arrest and the Control of Biological Time

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory returned on Feb. 9, 2017, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “The Living Dead: Metabolic Arrest and the Control of Biological Time.” Read More


Video: Evenings at Whitney Lecture – Why are the Matanzas Inlet and adjacent coastline so dynamic?

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory returned on Jan. 12, 2017, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Why are the Matanzas Inlet and adjacent coastline so dynamic?”. Read More


Liao Lab Paper Selected for 2016 Journal of Experimental Biology Outstanding Paper Prize Shortlist

Congratulations to Whitney Lab’s Associate Professor of Biology Jimmy Liao and his team, William Stewart and Otar Akanyeti, for having a paper selected for the 2016 Journal of Experimental Biology Outstanding Paper Prize Shortlist. Read More


Feb. 12: 2017 REU Application Deadline Fast Approaching

The Whitney Laboratory Research Experience for Undergraduate program (REU), funded by the National Science Foundation, is an opportunity for motivated undergraduate students to participate in scientific research at Whitney Lab. Read More


Dr. Barbara A. Battelle Excellence in Scientific Communication Award Recipients

Congratulations to the recipients of the Barbara A. Battelle Excellence in Scientific Communication Award. Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital One-Year Anniversary Open House Will Feature Family Friendly Activities

turtle

The University of Florida Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab is pleased to announce that it will host its One-Year Anniversary Open House on Dec. 11, 2016, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Whitney Lab campus, 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd. Read More


Dec. 8: Evenings at Whitney – Florida’s Coastal Ecosystems and Global Change

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory returned on Dec. 8, 2016, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Florida’s Coastal Ecosystems and Global Change.” Read More


Thank You for Attending the Sea Turtle Hospital One-Year Anniversary!

Group of people

Thank you to everyone who attended the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab One-Year Anniversary Open House! We appreciate everyone helping us celebrate this important milestone. More than 350 people attended the open house. Read More


Nov. 17: Evenings at Whitney – Consequences of Climate Change for the Temperate-Tropical Ecotone

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory returned on Nov. 17, 2016, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Consequences of Climate Change for the Temperate-Tropical Ecotone.” Read More


Whitney Staff & Volunteers Help Recover Oyster Gardens After Hurricane Matthew

The Whitney Oyster Restoration Initiative began its program this past September with 53 oyster gardeners. These citizen scientists hung two oyster habitats filled with baby oysters from their docks and began recording data and watching their babies grow. Read More


The Resilience of Oyster Gardens After Hurricane Matthew

Here is an amazing story about the survival of an oyster garden after Hurricane Matthew from one of our dedicated volunteer oyster gardeners, Mary. After Hurricane Matthew, it was so amazing to find one of my gardens and retrieve it during low tide. Read More


Whitney Lab Employees Participate in SEEDS Program

The Ecological Society of America SEEDS (Strategies for Ecology Education, Diversity and Sustainability) program, which is a mentoring program for college students, hosted a field trip on Nov. 4, 2016, in St. Augustine for a diverse group of students from several institutions in Florida. Read More


Whitney Laboratory Sea Turtle Hospital Awarded Grant from Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program to Help Education Efforts

turtle license plate

In April, University of Florida Whitney Laboratory Sea Turtle Hospital received a grant for $15,000 from the Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program, which is financed by the sales of the sea turtle specialty license plate. Read More


Evenings at Whitney on Oct. 20: Understanding Animal History through the Eyes of a DNA Sequencer

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory returned on Oct. 20, 2016, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “Understanding Animal History through the Eyes of a DNA Sequencer.” Read More


Whitney Lab Participates in 2016 SACNAS Meeting October 13-15

Last week, members of the Whitney Laboratory team attended the 2016 Meeting of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS). The event was held in Long Beach, California. Pictured here from left to right is Anya Jacquez (2016 REU student), Joseph Ryan (Whitney faculty) and Alexandra Hernandez (Whitney Ph.D. student). Read More


Katharine Rowe Named Board of Trustees Vice Chair


Nat Geo Wild Features Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab Release

turtle eating

On Sept. 21, 2016, the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab released Sebod, and Nat Geo Wild was there to film the release. Filipe Deandrade was on assignment and shared the release through a live video on the Nat Geo Wild Facebook page. Read More


The Whitney Lecture on Sept. 21 & 22 Features Professor Emeritus & Visiting Fellow Adrian Horridge from Australian National University

The Whitney Lecture, an annual event hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, brings renowned scientists to St. Augustine and Gainesville to share significant research and contributions to science. Read More


Welcome: Dr. Melissa DeBiasse joins the Ryan Lab

Melissa Debiasse

Dr. Melissa DeBiasse is a new Postdoc in the Ryan Lab Dr. Melissa DeBiasse is an evolutionary ecologist and is interested in the processes that generate biodiversity in the ocean. Her research examines the distribution of genetic and phenotypic variation within and among populations in marine invertebrates. Read More


Dr. Nick Ward joins the Osborne Lab

Dr. Nick Ward joins the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience as a Research Scientist in the Osborne Lab. Read More


The Scientist Shares Sensory Research from Dr. James Liao’s Lab at Whitney

Congratulations to Dr. James Liao, associate professor of biology, for being featured in The Scientist. The article talks about Dr. Liao’s sensory research taking place here at Whitney Lab. Read More


Elias has Joined the Whitney Lab Team!

Elias Lunsford

Elias received a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Ecology from Seattle Pacific University in 2013. While at SPU, he studied the chemically mediated interactions of sea stars and mussels when exposed to natural borne toxins as consequence of harmful algal blooms with Dr. Ryan Ferrer. Read More


Welcome to Whitney Lab, Heather!

Woman

Heather Krumholtz has joined the administration office here at Whitney Laboratory. She will be providing support for the Director of Development & External Relations, Director and Manager of Operations. Read More


Apollo Squidlips and Major Released by Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab on Sept. 7

People holding turtles

We are pleased to announce that the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab released Apollo Squidlips and Major on Sept. 7, 2016, at 11 a.m. near the Apollo Visitor Center at 7611 South Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab Now Offers Tours to the Public

People around turtle tank

The Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab is pleased to announce that it is now offering tours on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. Tours are $10 per person, and reservations are required. There is a limit of 10 people per tour. Read More


Katlyn Dekle, 2016 Cliff Townsend Family Fellowship Scholar

For one Pedro Menendez High School student, the summer of 2016 was spent learning about environmental conservation right in her own backyard at the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience. Katlyn Dekle, now a high school senior, was the recipient of Whitney Laboratory’s Cliff Townsend Family Fellowship. Read More


Congratulations to the Whitney Lab REU Presentation Winners

Congratulations to all of the 2016 Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) symposium poster presenters. The two winners, Claire Schmidt of the Osborne Lab, and Hannah Palmatary of the Liao Lab, will be attending a fully paid trip to The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting in January 2017 in New Orleans. Read More


Save the Dates – Fall 2016 Evenings at Whitney Lectures

We are pleased to announce the Fall 2016 Evenings at Whitney dates and topics. The free lectures are at 7 p.m. at the Lohman Auditorium on the Whitney Laboratory campus. We hope to see you there! Read More


Whitney’s Jimmy Liao Promoted to University of Florida Associate Professor of Biology with Tenure

We are pleased to announce that Whitney Faculty Dr. James Liao was granted promotion and tenure by the University of Florida Board of Governors to Associate Professor of Biology. He is now tenured faculty in the University of Florida Biology Department! Read More


The St. Augustine Record Features Article on Need for Whitney Laboratory Citizen Scientists

Dr. Christine E. Schnitzler joins University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience as Assistant Professor of Biology. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Northwestern University. She then earned her master’s degree in Marine Science from Moss Landing Marine Labs of California State University-Monterey Bay. Read More


August 13: Gamble Rogers Concert Series

The next concert in the Gamble Rogers Concert Series is scheduled for Aug. 13, 2016, at 7 p.m. The Sarah Mac Band will perform at the Lohman Auditorium on the Whitney Laboratory campus. Opening for the Sarah Mac Band will be John Dickie and Mike Elias. Read More


Volunteers Needed to Become Oyster Gardeners

The University of Florida’s Whitney Laboratory is seeking volunteers to become oyster gardeners as part of the lab’s oyster restoration initiative. Gardeners will grow, maintain and record data on their oyster habitats for about one year, then return the oysters to the lab for use in restoration projects. Read More


Alexandra Tsalickis, 2016 Carl and Marcella Matthaei Ecological Scholar

Summer research spotlight: The Matanzas River Basin is a remarkable ecosystem, and the Whitney Lab’s campus is strategically located with easy access to numerous and diverse habitats set out along the Florida coast. Read More


Whitney Laboratory’s Elaine Seaver Publishes Review in Current Opinion in Genetics and Development

Dr. Elaine Seaver, professor of biology at Whitney Laboratory, recently published a mini-review highlighting current research with her main study organism, Capitella teleta. Read More


Banana Released on Aug. 24th by Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab

turtle

The University of Florida Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab is pleased to announce that it released its seventh sea turtle, Banana, on Aug. 24, 2016, at Kelly Park East, 2550 N. Banana River Drive in Merritt Island. Read More


Whitney Laboratory Research Featured as Editor’s Choice in Journal of Experimental Biology

Congrats to Postdoctoral Researcher William Stewart on the article featured as editor’s choice in the Journal of Experimental Biology titled Refuging rainbow trout selectively exploit flows behind tandem cylinders. William recently secured a faculty position at Eastern Florida State College. Read More


Dr. Todd Osborne Featured in St. Augustine Record Article and Mangrove & Macrobenthos Meeting

Whitney Laboratory’s Todd Osborne was featured in an article published on July 19, 2016, in The St. Augustine Record about his research on mangrove ecosystems and his involvement in the Mangrove & Macrobenthos Conference at Flagler College from July 18-22, 2016. Read More


Whitney Laboratory Welcomes New Board of Trustee Member, Joan Boyce

Joan Boyce

University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience is pleased to announce that Joan Boyce has joined its Board of Trustees. Boyce has more than 23 years experience in life science publishing, sales, management, editorial leadership and content innovation. Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab Releases Mudpie on July 13, 2016

Person holding turtle

The University of Florida Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory is pleased to announce that it released Mudpie, a green juvenile sea turtle, on July 13, 2016, in Salt Run at Lighthouse Park in St. Augustine. Read More


Welcome to the Visiting 2016 Doris Duke Conservation Scholars

Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience would like to extend a warm welcome to the 2016 Doris Duke Conservation Scholars visiting for the summer. While at Whitney Lab, the scholars will be collecting baseline monitoring data at numerous beaches in the area to assess how the shorelines are changing. Read More


Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab Releases Cisco Kid, First Patient Treated for Fibropapilloma

Turtle

On Monday, June 20, 2016, at the River to Sea Preserve beach, the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab released Cisco Kid. This was the hospital’s first release of a turtle treated for fibropappilomatosis, which is a disease that causes internal and external tumors to grow on the sea turtle, inhibiting normal functioning. Read More


Welcome to Whitney Lab’s 2016 REU Summer Interns!

Students sitting on dock

The Whitney Laboratory Team is pleased to welcome its 2016 REU summer interns. The Research Experience for Undergraduates program (REU), funded by the National Science Foundation, offers an exceptional opportunity for motivated undergraduates to participate in scientific research. Read More


Whitney Lab’s Barbara Battelle, Joseph Ryan & Karen Kempler Publish Work in Genome Biology and Evolution

Words - Genome Biology and Evolution

Whitney’s Drs. Barbara Battelle, Joseph Ryan and Karen Kempler along with Dr. Megan Porter from the University of Hawaii, Manoa headed a research team, which included members of the Limulus (American horseshoe crab) Genome Consortium to publish the Limulus genome and a comprehensive analysis of the expression of visual pigments in horseshoe crabs. Read More


Whitney Laboratory Sea Turtle Hospital Now Uses Carbon Dioxide Laser Treatment

Staff performing laser treatment surgery on turtle

The University of Florida Whitney Laboratory Sea Turtle Hospital is now using advanced carbon dioxide laser technology in the treatment of its sea turtle patients that are infected with the Fibropapilloma virus (FP). Read More


Whitney Lab’s Leslie Babonis, Mark Martindale and Joseph Ryan Publish Paper in BioMed Central

Congratulations to Whitney Lab’s Leslie Babonis, postdoctoral research associate, Mark Martindale, Whitney Lab director and professor, and Joseph Ryan, assistant professor of biology, for publishing a paper in BioMed Central titled Do novel genes drive morphological novelty? An investigation of the nematosomes in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. Read More


Nicole Miller joins the Martindale Lab

Nicole Miller

Welcome to Whitney Laboratory, Nicole! Nicole is a senior microbiology major at the University of Florida with a passion for the ocean, science, and surfing. She plans to attend graduate school in pursuit of a degree in biomedical science. Read More


Evenings at Whitney Lecture on May 19 – Building Body Parts: Lessons Learned from Simple Critters

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory returned on May 19, 2016, at 7 p.m. with the program titled Building Body Parts: Lessons Learned from Simple Critters. Read More


Volunteer Appreciation Dinner – Thank You to Our Volunteers!

Group of volunteers

A volunteer appreciation dinner was hosted on April 22, 2016, at Whitney Laboratory’s CMS building. Read More


Evenings at Whitney Lecture on May 12 – Historic Trees: The Science Behind the Preservation and Conservation of our Largest Specimens

Tree branches

The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory returned on May 12, 2016, at 7 p.m. with the program titled Historic Trees: The Science Behind the Preservation and Conservation of our Largest Specimens. Read More


Join Us for Marine Biology Camp this Summer!

Kids by estuary

Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience is hosting Marine Biology Camp for summer 2016. The camp features learning about biodiversity, fun lab experiments, STEM activities and outdoor field adventures. Two sessions are offered. The first session is from June 20-24. Read More


University of Florida News Features Research by Whitney Lab’s Otar Akanyeti & James Liao

Fish mold and fish

To save energy, fish use their heads Scientists used to think a fish’s head motions were just a byproduct of swimming. Using 3-D printed fish, University of Florida scientists Otar Akanyeti, James Liao and collaborators at Harvard showed that head motion can make a fish’s movement and respiration more efficient. Read More


Veronica Garcia, “I was a student before, but now I’m a scientist”

Veronica Garcia

(Originally published September 9, 2014) “I was a student before, but now I’m a scientist,” said Veronica Garcia as she packed away the last of her lab materials into boxes. Veronica had completed her PhD research and was now faced with dismantling the remains of her former lab. Read More