Students

Graduate Student Executive Board

• President: James Sturges
  

  James is a third year PhD student in the Coastal Fisheries Research Lab advised by Dr. Jennifer Rehage. James’ dissertation work broadly focuses on aquatic food web dynamics on an ecosystem scale. He is interested in niche partitioning, multichannel energy pathway coupling in food webs, and ecosystem trajectories under shifting climatic conditions. Prior to moving to Florida James completed his B.S. degree at the University of Southern California and his M.S. at California State Polytechnique University, Pomona where he used stereo-video cameras to study fine-scale fish habitat use patterns on artificial reefs. James is passionate about promoting cross-site synthesis with other working groups and LTER sites, and hopes to promote better data management by making analytic resources available to students in the LTER network.

• Vice President: Katie Johnson
  

  I am a third year PhD student in Dr. Evelyn Gaiser’s Aquatic Ecology Lab. My research interests include studying the co-variation of cyanobacteria and diatoms in benthic mat-forming communities in relation to nutrient ratios and other abiotic factors throughout the Everglades with a focus on the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) sites. I am fascinated by the role that these biological indicators play within the periphyton mat community as well as their ability to adapt to nutrient limited environments. My research interests also include diatom taxonomy and diatom species concepts, the drivers of diatom morphological plasticity, and making information about diatoms publicly accessible. I am currently developing and overseeing the diatom herbarium at the International Center for Tropical Botany to make Everglades diatoms accessible to visiting researchers and the public. As Vice President of the FCE Student Group E-Board I hope to continue the legacy of fostering a sense of community that brings students working on LTER projects together. I believe the best and most fun way to do this is by sharing experiences out in nature, collaborating in workshops, and socializing over good food!

• Outreach Coordinator: McKenzie Zapata
   

• Treasurer: Sophia Costa
  

  Sophia is a third-year PhD student in the Coastal Fisheries Research Lab at Florida International University, advised by Dr. Jennifer Rehage. Her dissertation research explores the impacts of climate change and human activities on recreational fisheries in South Florida, with a focus on habitat use, movement ecology, and stakeholder engagement. She studies species such as Spotted Seatrout and juvenile Goliath Grouper using acoustic telemetry, habitat use modeling, and population assessments. Sophia integrates local ecological knowledge from fishing guides to inform ecosystem-based fisheries management and promote inclusive, place-based conservation strategies. Prior to her PhD, Sophia completed her M.S. in Marine Science at University of the Virgin Islands and a B.S. in Environmental Science at Rhodes College. She is passionate about science communication, collaborative fisheries research, and advancing interdisciplinary approaches that bridge natural and social sciences in coastal ecosystems.

• Secretary: Alia Jones
  

   I'm a 2nd year Ph.D. student in Dr. Jennifer Rehage's Coastal Fisheries Research Lab. My interests include ecosystem based fisheries management and coproduction within ecological research. I'm looking forward to introducing more opportunities for community engagement for FCE students, and can't wait to continue participating in collaborative Everglades science!

• Faculty Advisor: Dr. John Kominoski
  

  Dr. Kominoski is the lead principal investigator of the FCE LTER program and the faculty advisor for FCE LTER Graduate Student Group. He has been mentoring FCE LTER graduate students since joining the FCE LTER program in 2012.