Marine Biology
Aditya Nayak, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ocean and Mechanical
Engineering at FAU, with a joint-appointment at FAU Harbor Branch. Originally from India,
he received his bachelor’s degree from National Institute of Technology Karnataka (2007),
and his master’s (2010) and doctoral (2015) degrees from the Johns Hopkins University in
Baltimore, all in Mechanical Engineering. His research interests include oceanic instrumentation,
coastal processes, biophysical interactions and marine particle characterization.
Adam Schaefer leads the Wildlife Epidemiology and Population Health Lab and runs
the Marine Mammal Necropsy Facility at FAU Harbor Branch. His research focuses on the
relationships between marine mammal, environmental health and human health, embodied in
the idea that illness in marine predators can shed light on environmental issues that affect other
species, including humans. He received his bachelor’s degree from Southeast Missouri State
University and his Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from St. Louis University.
Nicholas J. Dickens, Ph.D., is an Associate Research Professor at FAU Harbor Branch.
His current research areas are genomics applications in aquaculture, environmental
metagenomics and molecular exploration, and biosynthesis of marine natural products.
Professsor Dickens runs the Applied Genomics and Bioinformatics group at HBOI.
HBOI’s Top Three Areas of Research: Plankton, Wildlife Epidemiology and DNAngling
In this discussion, HBOI researchers Aditya Nayak, Ph.D., Adam Schaefer, M.P.H.,
and Nicholas Dickens, Ph.D., will provide insight into the following
top three areas of research at HBOI:
- What Lies Beneath: The Fascinating World of Oceanic Particles and Plankton - Presented by Aditya Nayak, Ph.D.
The world’s oceans are densely populated by a myriad of tiny particles. These particles are incredibly diverse
and can consist of microscopic organisms (including bacteria, phytoplankton and zooplankton), sediment and
detrital material. These particulates, to a large extent, determine the biological structure and ecological function
of the oceans. This talk will provide a broad outline of the different groups of particles, with a special focus on
the fascinating planktonic creatures. The latest technological advances which facilitate studying
particles/organisms in their natural environment will also be discussed.
- Oceans and One Health: Using Epidemiology and Apex Predators to Protect Public Health - Presented by Adam Schaefer, M.P.H.
The health of the environment and wildlife can often serve as early warning signs for important public health
threats in our ecosystem. Schaefer will discuss his collaborative research closing the loop between the health of
the oceans and that of our own health, using examples from the field. He will discuss the latest projects and
results from his Wildlife Epidemiology program and how human and wildlife health are interconnected.
- DNAngling: Fish identification using DNA in water from the Indian River Lagoon - Presented by Nicholas J. Dickens, Ph.D.
DNA is the molecule that encodes the biological processes of all living organisms. Progress in high-throughput
sequencing technologies has allowed this environmental DNA (eDNA) to become a complementary method
and, even viable alternative to morphology-based identification of species. DNAngler is a citizen science project
that aspires to engage local communities with environmental genomic research. This lecture will discuss the
science behind DNAngler, understanding the analysis of DNA barcodes and DNA in the environment and some
of the results of the pilot events. We will also discuss some of the other applications of eDNA research in the
local area and its use in ocean exploration at HBOI.
For more information on the DNAngler project, please visit www.fau.edu/hboi/community/dnanglerproject.php.
Register Early! There is a $5 charge for registering on the day of a one-time lecture or event.
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| Course # S1T9 — One Time Event
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| Place: | Room 151 (Annex), Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Tuesday, April 9 2019 |
| Time: | 9:30 - 11 AM |
| Fee: | $25 / member; $35 / non-member |
| Class Cancelled |
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