Tiffany Roberts Briggs, Ph.D.

Chair & Associate
Professor in Geosciences
E-mail: briggst@fau.edu

About:

Ph.D., Geology, University of South Florida, 2012
M.S., Geology, University of South Florida, 2008
B.S., Environmental Science, Honors College, University of South Florida, 2002

Research Interests: Coastal geomorphology and geology; storm impact and recovery; beach nourishment evolution; coastal sedimentology; coastal ecosystem health.

Dr. Tiffany Roberts Briggs Faculty page
FAU Geosciences Homepage

Dr. Samantha Kuschke

Background: Ph.D., Comparative and Experimental Medicine, University of Tennessee (2024); D.V.M., University of Tennessee (2021); M.Ed., Early Childhood Education, Lipscomb University (2014); B.S., Biology, Purdue University (2013)

Research: Sea turtle egg fusariosis (STEF); mycotic dermatitis in leatherback sea turtles; microbiomes; impacts of climate change on marine animal health; One Health; sea turtle health and husbandry; marine animal disease, treatment, and prevention; emerging fungal diseases.   (Funded by the College of Science Jumpstart Program & Morris Animal Foundation)

Abiola Adebiyi

Ph.D. Candidate, Geosciences

Graduate Teaching Assistant; Graduate Research Assistant (HBOI)
E-mail: aadebiyi2022@fau.edu

Background: B.S. in Marine Science and Technology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria; M.S. in Ocean Engineering, Zhejiang University, China

Research: Depth variation in the morphology of subaqueous dunes; Roles of bottom morphological features in mitigating climate change impacts along Florida's coast

David Anderson

Background:B.A. History, Auburn University; M.S. Geography, University of Alabama
Research: Sea turtle conservation- past, present, and future

Dayana Castillo

Background: B.S. in Biological & Physical Science, Nova Southeastern University
Research: Role of coral reefs in coastal restoration and island shoreline evolution (funded by National Parks Conservation Association & the Palm Beach International Boat Show, Gives Back Program administered by FAU ECOS)

Sydney Garber

M.S. Student, Environmental Sciences

Graduate Teaching Assistant
E-mail: sgarber2024@fau.edu

Background: B.S. in Environmental Science, Florida State University

Research: Living shorelines & coastal geomorphology (funded by the Palm Beach International Boat Show, Gives Back Program administered by FAU ECOS)

Madeleine Hodges

M.S. Student, Environmental Sciences

Graduate Teaching Assistant

E-mail: mhodges2025@fau.edu

Background: B.S. in Geography (Meteorology-Climatology), Arizona State University

Research: Storm impacts on coastal environments

Matthew Monts

M.S. Student, Environmental Sciences

Graduate Teaching Assistant

E-mail:mmonts2025@fau.edu

Background: B.S. in Marine Science (Geology), Eckard College

Research: Coastal resilience

Kayla O'Brien

Ph.D. Student, Geosciences

Lab Safety - Group Compliance Liasion in-training

Gradaute Teaching Assistant
E-mail: obrienk2022@fau.edu 

Background: B.S. Biology, concentrated in botany, field biology, and environmental science, Palm Beach Atlantic University; M.S. Environmental Science, Florida Atlantic University

Research: Microplastics in Coastal Systems (funded by the ECOS Graduate Student Award; Southeastern Geological Society Student Research Award)

Awards:  ASBPA Nicholas Kraus Coastal Scholar (2024); FAU Presidential Fellowship (2024)

Demmi Ramos

Ph.D. Student, Geosciences

Graduate Teaching Assistant

E-mail: demmiramos2025@fau.edu

Background: B.S. in Mathematics & minor in Engineering Physics, Lenoir-Rhyne University

Research: (co-advisor: Dr. Yijie Zhu) Numerical modeling of tropical cyclones coupled with field investigations to assess coastal flooding and erosion from severe storms

Awards: McKnight Doctoral Fellowship (2025); FAU Presidential Fellowship (2025)

Thomas Rock

Background: B.S in Environmental Geoscience, Brigham Young University - Idaho

Research: Hydrologic processes in coastal environments

Austin Scheinkman

Ph.D. Student, Geosciences

E-mail:  ascheinkman2018@fau.edu 

Background: B.S. in Geology, University of Florida; M.S. Geosciences, FAU
Research: Tidal influences on the geomorphology of microtidal beaches

Alondra Calderon

Research:  Storm-induced impact and recovery on subaerial beach morphology and sedimentology; Characterization of the sedimentology within beach substrate (NSF LEARN Scholar; funded by FAU OURI SURF, 2025)

Holyn Hahn

Research:  Sedimentation impacts on shallow coral reefs (3rd place winner of the Dr. Eric Shaw Excellence in Undergraduate Research Poster Competition, 2025)

Kayla Mosteller

B.S. Student, Geosciences (Climate Change focus)

Research: Analyzing sediment and nest success in leatherback sea turtle nests (1st place winner of the Dr. Eric Shaw Excellence in Undergraduate Research Poster Competition, 2025); Analyzing microplastics in coastal sediments (funded by FAU OURI Undergraduate Research Grant)

Corey Aitken

2017, M.S. Geosciences

Non-Thesis. Corey is currently pursuing a second MS degree in Urban and Regional Planning at FAU. Corey was a planner with Monroe County's Planning and Environmental Resources Department (Marathon, FL) and is now working as a Project Scientist for KCI Technologies in the coastal and marine team (Sparks, MD).

Joseph (Joe) Becker

2019, M.S. Geosciences

Thesis: "Mapping the Fresh-Saltwater Transition Zone Across the Beach Environment Using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)" Joe's first post-graduation position was with APTIM, Inc. (Boca Raton, FL) as a Coastal Geologist before joining EnviroTrac as a Staff Scientist (NJ).

Evan Blanchard

Non-thesis. Evan's graduate research focused on the effects of ocean acidification on coastal resiliency. Evan is a Staff Scientist with Brizaga (Fort Lauderdale, FL).

Tynon (Ty) Briggs

Non-thesis.  Ty's graduate research focused on decadal shoreline variability of an inlet-adjacent beach.

Nicholas (Nick) Brown

Dissertation: "Coastal system variability of the beach-nearshore environment from natural and anthropogenic influences". After working as the Director of Coastal Geology and Resiliency with ACT Engineers in NJ, Nick now the NY/NJ Coastal Lead - Coastal Scientist with HDR.

Chelsea Cameron

Non-thesis: Chelsea's research focused on various environmental influences on sea turtle nesting.  Chelsea was exploring California before seeking a job in natural resources.

Cristal Espinosa

Non-thesis. Cristal's research focused on marine debris distribution in coastal mangrove ecosystems. Cristal is a Biologist with Miami Dade County in the Department of Environmental Resource Management.

Richard (Ray) Hart

2019, M.S. Geosciences

Thesis: "Hurricane Irma Impact and Post-Storm Beach Morphology Evolution in Boca Raton, FL". Ray worked as a Coastal Geologist with APTIM, Inc. (Boca Raton, FL) for several years before joining Miami-Dade County as a Geologist in the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Department.

Halaina Hahn

2025, M.S. Environmental Sciences

Thesis: "Microplastics in coastal sediments" (funded by National Parks Conservation Association & FAU ECOS Graduate Student Award).  Halaina is currently working with PBC ERM and as a technician with Ocean First.  She will be joining the FAU Geosciences PhD Program in Spring 2026.

Leanne Hauptman

2025, Ph.D. Geosciences

Dissertation: "Anthropogenic and natural influences on beach geomorphology and coastal resiliency"; Hurricane Ian coastal damages (funded by Nearshore Extreme Events Reconnaisance); Impacts of beach nourishment sediment on marine turtle nesting habitat, hatching, and emergence success (funded by the PBC Dept. of Environmental Resources Management).  Leanne is a Coastal Scientist at Taylor Engineering (Philidelphia, PA).

Camryn (Cami) Inman

2024, M.S. Environmental Science 

Thesis: Environmental assessment of beach nourishment projects constructed with beneficial use of dredge material in Palm Beach County, Florida.  Cami is a Coastal Scientist with Baird.

Palaparthi Jyothirmayi
(Jyothi)

2023, Ph.D. Geosciences
 

Dissertation: Long-Term National & Regional Beach Nourishment Trends & Drivers:  Implications for Coastal Resilience (funded by the US Coastal Research Program & PBC Dept. of Environmental Resources Management).  Jyothi is a Coastal Scientist at Coastal Science & Engineering in Columbia, SC.

Summer Manestar

William (Matt) McCormick

Andrew Medhurst

Non-Thesis. Andrew's graduate research focused on the role of coastal morphology, sedimentology, and beach flooding on critical sea turtle nesting habitat. After working for a few years post-grad as a Coastal Biologist with the National Audubon Society (Moss Point, MS), Andrew is now the Resilience Coordinator for the Program for Local Adaptation to Climate Effects: Sea Level Rise based out of the Mississippi State University Coastal Research Center (Biloxi, MS).

Kayla O'Brien

Thesis: Microplastics in sediment of the beach and mangrove environments of barrier islands (funded by National Parks Conservation Association).  After applying to doctoral programs, Kayla joined the FAU Geosciences PhD program in 2024.

Sofia Ojeda

Non-thesis. Sofia's research evaluated the influence of sediment properties on three nesting sea turtle species in northern Palm Beach County, FL (partially funded by Palm Beach County Environmental Resource Management).  Sofia is an Environmental Scientist with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and also applying to doctoral programs.

Michael Priddy

Thesis: "Seasonal storm-induced nearshore sediment transport and morphology change in Boca Raton, FL". Mike was a recipient of the ASBPA Nicholas Kraus Coastal Scholar Award (2021). Mike is pursing a PhD at Virgina Tech in the Department of Geosciences.

Sabrina Camara Dos Santos Porto

2017, M.S. Geosciences

Thesis: "Use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) in a Study on Beach Morphodynamics at Red Reef Beach, Boca Raton, FL". Sabrina's first post-graduation position was as a Coastal Geologist with APTIM, Inc. (Boca Raton, FL), and currently works as a Marine Geologist/Geotechnical Project Manager with Coastal Protection Engineering.

Austin Scheinkman

Thesis: "Spatiotemporal variability of inlet adjacent placement of dredge material". Austin spent the first year of post-graduation on the coast of Spain as a Language and Cultural Assistant.  Austin is currently a PhD student in FAU Geosciences.

Tommy Shahan

2018, M.S. Geosciences

Thesis: "Morphologic Evolution and Alongshore Variability of Two Beach Nourishment Projects in Southeast FL, USA". Tommy is a Coastal Geologist with APTIM, Inc. (Boca Raton, FL).

Kyle Shaver

2020, M.S. Geosciences

Thesis: "Using low-cost multi-depth samplers to characterize the variability of specific conductance in coastal south Florida beaches." Kyle's first post-graduation position was as a field technician with TetraTech, Inc. (Boynton Beach, FL).

Ryan Sloan

Non-thesis.  Research related to tropical and winter storm impacts on beach-dune morphology. Ryan is a Wildlife Assistance Biologist with FWC (West Palm Beach, FL).

Edward Vandamas

2015, M.S. Geosciences

Thesis: "Inlet-Adjacent Behavior at Three Stabilized Inlets in Palm Beach County, FL"

William Warren

2017, M.S. Geology;

2015, B.S. Geology

Thesis: "Storm-Induced Nearshore Sediment Transport". Will's first post-graduation position was as a Coastal Geologist with Taylor Engineering, Inc. (Destin, FL) and now works with the USACE Jacksonville District as a Professional Geologist.