Yannis Papastamatiou is an Associate Professor at FIU in the Department of Biological Sciences. With over 100 research publications, Yannis is one of the world's leading shark behavioural ecologists. His work has been featured on National Geographic, BBC, and Discovery's Shark Week. Yannis' use of new tag technologies on species ranging from pelagic oceanic whitetips to home-ranging reef sharks has advanced the field of predator ecology and led to evidence-based marine protected area zoning. Yannis enjoys exploring deep reefs and practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in his spare time.

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Ph.D. Zoology - M.S. Biology - B.S. Oceanography

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Courses taught

 PCB 3043 - Ecology

 PCB 4717 - Physiological & Behavioral Ecology of Marine Animals

 BSC 5935-Predator ecology

 BSC 6926 - Shark & Ray Handling Workshop

Diego was born in Colombia and his current research is focused on the international shark fin trade and developing new wildlife forensics tools to aid with the enforcement of international trade regulations. As an undergraduate student, he looked at the effects of habitat loss on the survival and growth rates of lemon sharks in Bimini, Bahamas. For his Masters, Diego studied the genetic population structure of the pelagic thresher shark in the Pacific Ocean. He enjoys SCUBA diving, playing sports, and a relaxed walk at the beach with his dog Blu.

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Ph.D. Marine Sciences - M.S. Biological Sciences - B.S. Biology

Demian is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at FIU and the Director of the Sharks and Rays Conservation Program at Mote Marine Laboratory. A molecular ecologist by training, he leads the Global FinPrint project and studies the Asian shark fin trade. He has published more than 110 scientific papers and appeared on BBC, the Discovery Channel, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. His work has led to a shark sanctuary in The Bahamas, improved shark management in Belize, and the listing of multiple shark and ray species on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), to name a few. Demian is originally from New Zealand and loves playing the board game Wingspan.

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Ph.D. Marine Biology - M.S. Marine Biology - B.S. Zoology

From London, UK, with degrees/postings in Southampton, Aberdeen, Bimini, Galway, and California (Farallon Institute & Stanford), now working remotely at FIU. Simon’s background blends fisheries management with movement modelling for elasmobranchs and tuna, as well as developing machine learning and other spatial analysis tools for marine ecologists. Another key interest is streamlining data acquisition and analysis pipelines for marine spatial analyses and population dynamics. He enjoys football (the other kind), scuba diving, golf, gardening, and piñatas.

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Ph.D. Marine Science - M.Res. Marine & Fisheries Science - B.S. Oceanography & Marine Biology

Originally from The Bahamas, Candace is a Ph.D. student under the joint supervision of Drs. Chapman and Papastamatiou. After finishing her undergraduate degree in Pennsylvania, she spent two years at the Cape Eleuthera Institute where she was a key member on the pelagic research team. Candace’s research will focus on the population dynamics and geographic population structure of large predators. She is passionate about shark conservation and being a Bahamian advocate for the protection and importance of sharks and rays in The Bahamas.  

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B.S. Neuroscience

A New England native, Rainer earned a B.S. in Marine Sciences at the University of Connecticut in 2017. As an undergraduate, he gained experience in research across a broad range of topics including squid symbioses, marine fish fecundity, and shark physiology - the latter during an REU internship at Mote Marine Lab. His current work is focused on quantifying the metabolism of predatory fish species to support the establishment of marine protected areas. Prior to joining the PEC Lab, he served in the U.S. Army as an Armor Officer. In his spare time he enjoys practicing Muay Thai, running, and traveling. 

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B.S. Marine Science

Gabriela (Gaby) is a Ph.D. student under the joint supervision of Drs. Chapman and Papastamatiou. She is interested in the Mesoamerican Reef's shark fisheries, trade dynamics, and fishermen's perceptions toward shark conservation. She is from Honduras, where she has worked in several conservation organizations such as the Roatan Marine Park, MarAlliance, and the UNDP’s Small Grant Program. She earned a B.S. in Marine Biology from Texas A&M University and an M.S. from the University of Exeter in England. She has also been a fellow for the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) program and the Conservation Leadership Program (CLP). She enjoys freediving, taking underwater photos, traveling, and perfect avocados.

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M.S. Conservation & Biodiversity - B.S. Marine Biology