People
Lab Director
Tiffany Roberts Briggs, Ph.D.
Chair & Associate |
About: Ph.D., Geology, University of South Florida, 2012 Research Interests: Coastal geomorphology and geology; storm impact and recovery; beach nourishment evolution; coastal sedimentology; coastal ecosystem health.
Dr. Tiffany Roberts Briggs Faculty page
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Postdoctoral Fellows
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Dr. Samantha Kuschke Post-doctoral fellow, Geosciences, Biological Science, & HBOIE-mail: skuschke@fau.edu |
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)
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Graduate Students
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Abiola Adebiyi Ph.D. Candidate, Geosciences
Graduate Teaching Assistant; Graduate Research Assistant (HBOI) |
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
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David Anderson Ph.D. Student, GeosciencesE-mail: michaelander2012@fau.edu |
Background:B.A. History, Auburn University; M.S. Geography, University of Alabama |
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Dayana Castillo M.S. Student, Environmental SciencesE-mail: dcasti11@fau.edu |
Background: B.S. in Biological & Physical Science, Nova Southeastern University |
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Sydney Garber M.S. Student, Environmental Sciences
Graduate Teaching Assistant |
Background: B.S. in Environmental Science, Florida State University
Research: Living shorelines & coastal geomorphology
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Halaina Hahn M.S. Student, Environmental Sciences Graduate Teaching Assistant E-mail: hhahn2020@fau.edu |
Background: B.S. in Biological Science, Florida Atlantic University Awards: FAU Graduate Fellowship for Academic Excellence (2024); FSBPA Student Travel Scholarship (2024); ASBPA Students & New Proessionals Student Travel Scholarship (2023); FAU Provost Fellowship (2023) |
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Leanne Hauptman Ph.D. Candidate, Geosciences Lab Safety - Group Compliance Liaison
Graduate Teaching Assistant |
Background: M.P.S. Marine Ecosystems and Society, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science; B.S. Marine Science, Coastal Carolina University Awards: ASBPA Educational Award & Unsung Hero (2024); FAU Graduate Fellowship for Academic Excellence (2024) |
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Kayla O'Brien Ph.D. Student, Geosciences
Gradaute Teaching Assistant |
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
Awards: ASBPA Nicholas Kraus Coastal Scholar (2024) |
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Thomas Rock M.S. Student, GeosciencesE-mail: trock2023@fau.edu |
Background: B.S in Environmental Geoscience, Brigham Young University - Idaho
Research: Hydrologic processes in coastal environments
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Austin Scheinkman Ph.D. Student, Geosciences E-mail: ascheinkman2018@fau.edu |
Background: B.S. in Geology, University of Florida; M.S. Geosciences, FAU
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Ryan Sloan M.S. Student, Environmental SciencesE-mail: rsloan4@fau.edu |
Background: B.A., History, University of Central Florida
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Undergraduate Students
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Alondra Calderon B.S. Student, Geosciences, Geology focusE-mail: alondracalde2023@fau.edu |
Research: Storm-induced impact and recovery on subaerial beach morphology and sedimentology; Characterization of the sedimentology within beach substrate (NSF LEARN Scholar)
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Hannah King B.S. Student, Geosciences, Climate Change focusE-mail: hking2023@fau.edu |
Research: Evaluation of how water levels impact beach morphology in Southeast Florida's microtidal region between high and low tidal oscillations (funded by FAU OURI SURF, 2024)
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Allyson Wleklinski B.S. Student, Geosciences, Climate Change focus; Geology minorE-mail: awleklinski2022@fau.edu |
Research: Microtidal zones: beach morphology and the influence of tides (NSF LEARN Scholar & funded by FAU OURI Undergraduate Research Grant, 2023)
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Lab Alumni
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Corey Aitken 2017, M.S. Geosciences
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Non-Thesis. Corey is currently pursuing a second MS degree in Urban and Regional Planning at FAU. Corey is a planner with Monroe County's Planning and Environmental Resources Department (Marathon, FL). |
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Joseph (Joe) Becker 2019, M.S. Geosciences
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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). |
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Evan Blanchard 2021, M.S. Environmental Science
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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). |
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Tynon (Ty) Briggs 2023, M.S. Geosciences |
Non-thesis. Ty's graduate research focused on decadal shoreline variability of an inlet-adjacent beach. |
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Nicholas (Nick) Brown 2022, Ph.D. Geosciences |
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. |
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Chelsea Cameron 2023, M.S. Marine Science & Oceanography |
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. |
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Cristal Espinosa 2022, M.S. Environmental Science
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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. |
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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. |
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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 on the market and networking while she is working to publish her thesis work as a peer-reviewed manuscript. |
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Palaparthi Jyothirmayi
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. |
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Summer Manestar 2023, M.S. Marine Science & Oceanography |
Thesis: Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Surveys and Traditional Methods to Examine Influences on Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) Nest Site Selection. After working as an Environmental Scientist with Applied Ecology Inc. in Melbourne, FL, Summer is now a GIS Analyst with St. Johns County. |
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William (Matt) McCormick 2024, M.S. Geosciences |
Thesis: Morphologic changes and sedimentological signatures resulting from Hurricane Ian in southwest Florida (funded by the Nearshore Extreme Events Reconnaisance & Geological Society of America). Matt is pursuing a PhD at Virgina Institute of Marine Science in the Coastal Geology Lab.
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Andrew Medhurst 2019, M.S. Environmental Sciences |
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). |
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Kayla O'Brien 2023, M.S. Environmental Sciences |
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. |
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Sofia Ojeda 2023, M.S. Marine Science & Oceanography |
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. |
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Michael Priddy 2022, M.S.Geosciences |
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.
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Austin Scheinkman 2022, M.S. Geosciences |
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. |
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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). |
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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). |
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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. |
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Edward Vandamas 2015, M.S. Geosciences |
Thesis: "Inlet-Adjacent Behavior at Three Stabilized Inlets in Palm Beach County, FL" |
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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. |