Growing up in Florida I developed a deep appreciation for the marine environment and in particular the role sharks played in ecosystems. I completed my undergraduate and masters degrees at the University of Florida. Currently I am a PhD candidate at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, but am stationed full time at the Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation (aka Sharklab). A large part of my dissertation is to assess the species assemblages in the two distinct habitats around Bimini, shallow water sand flats and the deep pelagic. This information will be used to develop a better understanding of the species using the Bahama Shark Sanctuary.