CV
Experience & Expertise
PHD IN INTEGRATIVE AND CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
August 2022 - Present
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL
PhD in Integrative and Conservation Biology while working in the Marine Ecology and Conservation Lab.
Skills in R, GIS, lab work, field work, vessel operations, etc.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MARINE BIOLOGY
December 2021
Nova Southeastern University (NSU)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Minors in International Law and Honors Transdisciplinary Studies.
Part of the Farquhar Honors College, Epsilon Eta Environmental Honors Fraternity, & Rho Rho Rho Marine Science Honor Society.
NOAA MARGARET A. DAVIDSON GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP
May 2024 - August 2026
NOAA Office for Coastal Management
Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, FL
Two-year fellowship program that provides the opportunity for graduate students to conduct collaborative research at one of the 30 national estuarine research reserves.
Through a research project, fellows address a key reserve management need to help scientists and communities understand coastal challenges that may influence future policy and management strategies.
SCIENCE POLICY SCHOLARS FELLOWSHIP
May 2024 - August 2024
National Science Policy Network (NSPN)
Scholars will emerge from the SciPol Scholars Program with a science policy portfolio, an expanded network of science policy professionals, and invaluable hands-on experience.
Includes a six-week bootcamp where Scholars will develop and practice policy-relevant skills that are designed to prepare them for a career in science policy & build their networks by attending weekly Q&As with science policy professionals.
LEADERSHIP FOR CLIMATE-RESILIENT FISHERIES FELLOWSHIP
October 2023 - July 2024
Sustainable Ocean Alliance & Environmental Defense Fund
Program supports early career change-makers and fishing community members who are working to advance fisheries and their communities’’ ecological and socioeconomic resilience to climate change through grant funding ($10,700 awarded) and capacity building experiences.
Training and mentoring by Sustainable Ocean Alliance and the Environmental Defense Fund’s Climate-Resilient Fisheries and Ocean teams including a seminar in Washington D.C. to engage with congressional decision makers and to share about fisheries research on Capitol Hill.
GRADUATE TEACHING ASSOCIATE
August 2022 - Present
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL
Teach and lead General Biology I for seven sections (350+ students) and General Biology II labs for three sections (150+ students).
Present material in an engaging and hands-on way through PowerPoint presentations as well as lab experiments.
Manage grades and quizzes within the Canvas platform and SecondLife platform.
NSU ALUMNI MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
January 2023 - Present
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Nominated to mentor and meet with undergraduate Honors College student that has been matched with similar career interests once a month.
Help establish personal, professional, and academic goals in addition to general support and guidance to help accomplish these goals.
WOMEN IN OCEAN SCIENCE UNIVERSITY AMBASSADOR
February 2023Â - Present
Selected as a lead ambassador from University of Central Florida to represent Women in Ocean Science whose goal is to empower women to thrive in ocean-related careers.
Lead Women in Ocean Science events (seminars, professional development, volunteering, mingles) to network and meet women who are in or interested in the marine biology field.
SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR
January 2022Â - July 2022
Sarasota Bay Explorers
Sarasota, FL
• Lead and narrated two hour long Sea Life Encounter Cruises associated with Mote Marine Lab & Aquarium to educate the public about the marine environment of Sarasota Bay.
• Acted as a first mate while maintaining the vessels and equipment such as trawl nets, animal aquariums, ropes, etc.
• Led nature walks on an uninhabited island as well as deployed FWC permit approved mid-water trawl nets for educational purposes.
F&W BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST I
December 2021 - March 2022
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
St. Petersburg, FL
Conducted directed field research and monitoring of commercial and recreational fisheries from Florida’s Gulf of Mexico waters by collecting detailed biostatistical data (species composition, sex ratio, weight, effort, gear, and area fished.
Collected samples from marine fish for stock assessments and genetic analysis and performed data analysis, production of tables and figures for publication, participation in technical or scientific reports, and occasional sampling of recreational fisheries.
MOTE MARINE ELECTRONIC MONITORING FISHERIES RESEARCH INTERN
May 2020 - August 2020 & May 2021 - August 2021
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium
Sarasota, FL
Interned with The Center for Fisheries Electronic Monitoring at Mote, partnering with the Commercial Gulf of Mexico reef fish fishery, which is the first to target gulf-wide electronic monitoring (systems installed on fishing vessels with 3-5 cameras and sensors) to obtain catch & bycatch data for management decisions to create a sustainable commercial reef fish fishery.
Reviewed fishing vessel video to analyze catch & bycatch, coordinated artificial intelligence programing (Tator) for computer to automatically count and measure fish, assisted with captain and crew correspondence, troubleshooted vessel electronic monitoring systems, performed literature searches and review, attended Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meetings, assessed and corrected volunteer video footage, and formulated and maintained project budgeting sheets into an online database.
Participated in sampling projects using seine nets within the Sarasota area and Mote’s annual snook tag and release events by measuring fish, corresponding locations of fish, taking water parameter data, and transporting and releasing fish.
NSU FISHERIES AND AVIAN ECOLOGY LAB ASSISTANT
August 2020 - May 2022
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Led effect of Time in Wildlife Rehab Clinic and Administration of Anthelmintic Drugs on Avian Endoparasite Communities Research Study.
Spearheaded Albacore Tuna Depth Distribution and Post Release Mortality Research Study.
Extracted otoliths for a graduate student’s master’s thesis project dealing with the age and growth of mesopelagic fishes including escolar, oilfish, and snake mackerel (rare bycatch species).
Dissected stomach contents of albacore, yellowfin tuna, swordfish, and other billfish species for a graduate student’s thesis on gut content analysis of highly migratory species.
Performed a skull (neurocranium) prep of escolar by removing muscle, tissue, performing a series of baths, and 3-D scanning the neurocranium for the online database, NSU Works.
Performed a jaw prep of a spiny dogfish and blacktip shark by removing muscle, tissue, performing a series of baths, and 3-D scanning the jaws for the online database, NSU Works.
Performed a clearing and staining project of bony fish using a variety of different chemical & staining baths.
Dissected sharks and stingrays extracting internal organs, musculature, and jaws for research projects.
THE BILLFISH FOUNDATION SAILFISH RESEARCH INTERN
August 2019 - March 2020
The Billfish Foundation
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Interned with The Billfish Foundation to advance the conservation of billfish & associated species to improve the health of oceans & economies.
Proposed and conducted a research project on sailfish to determine if sea surface temperature affects the distribution of sailfish off the East coast of Florida from 2003 to 2018.
Pratt, Meredith M. (2021) "Atlantic Sailfish (Istiophorus albicans) Distribution off the East Coast of Florida from 2003 to 2018 in Response to Sea Surface Temperature," Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal: Vol. 2021, Article 1.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/mako/vol2021/iss1/1
Presented a poster presentation at the 74th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Conference (GCFI74) in Fort Walton Beach, Florida November 2021.
ELASMOBRANCH RESEARCH SCIENTIST
May 2019
Coastal Marine Education and Research Academy (C.M.E.R.A)
Clearwater, FL
Surveyed local ray and shark populations, size, age structure, sex, and habitat utilization through tagging.
Prepared tangle nets, prepared and retrieved longline gear, removed and released animals from nets/lines, identified species, tagged sharks/rays, determined the sex and level of maturity, took measurements, and cleaned boats.
MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA CHAIR OF NSU MARINE BIOLOGY CLUB
October 2019 - May 2021
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Goal is to spread awareness of ocean conservation, provide professional development for students, as well as provide community service opportunities and a community of like-minded individuals.
Allows for networking opportunities with leading researchers, conservationists, professors, graduate students, and other undergraduate students about topics in the field of Marine Biology through lectures and other activities.
Took photos and updated and posted on the Marine Biology Club’s social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter).
Led events such as community service opportunities (beach cleanups), fundraisers, professional development seminars, movie nights, etc.
MOTE MARINE LAB VOLUNTEER DOCENT & EDUCATOR
June 2015 - May 2018
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium
Sarasota, FL
Educated the general public about marine science and the mission and research of Mote Marine Laboratory.
Conducted volunteer briefing meetings at the beginning of a shift.
Interacted with guests if they had questions about exhibits or when checking in at the ticket booth.
HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
May 2018
Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School Bradenton, FL
Graduated Cum Laude - an unweighted GPA no lower than 3.67; Selected by faculty and staff of Saint Stephen’s for academic achievement and leadership positions held.
Graduated as part of Saint Stephen’s Ocean Academy, a three-year marine science program.
Graduated as a member of National Honor Society.
Awarded the Rachel Carson Healthy Planet Award by Chatham University for the dedication to improving the environment and community through sustainability.
AQUARIST INTERNSHIP
May 2017
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium
Sarasota, FL
Interned with an aquarium biologist who specializes in the breeding of seahorses.
GASTROPOD INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PROJECT
August 2017 - May 2018
Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School
Bradenton, FL
Conducted a 10 month long independent research project under a faculty advisor that was part of Saint Stephen’s Ocean Academy (Three-year marine science program).
Investigated how light influences the time for gastropods to re-emerge from their shell by collecting data through fieldwork in the Manatee River.