Dr. Shirel Kahane-Rapport (2021-2024)
Dr. Kahane-Rapport is now an Assistant Professor at Old Dominion University.
Performance of filter-feeding in large-scale marine animals.
Dr. Kahane-Rapport completed her Ph.D. at Stanford using an integrative approach to understand how body size affects the biomechanics and ecophysiology of baleen whales. In addition, she is interested in the functional morphology and fluid dynamics of filter-feeding in large-bodied animals (manta rays, whale sharks, and baleen whales). Dr. Kahane-Rapport uses 3D modeling to investigate filtration performance and is currently optimizing a bio-inspired microplastic filter based on manta rays.
Dr. Kahane-Rapport was awarded:
Email: skahane-rapport@fullerton.edu
Dr. Kahane-Rapport is now an Assistant Professor at Old Dominion University.
Dr. Kahane-Rapport in the news:
Publications:
Dr. Samantha Leigh (2019-2020).
Dr. Leigh is now an Assistant Professor at CSU Dominguez Hills.
Dr. Leigh graduated from UCI with a focus on animal physiology. Her integrative and award winning work on sea grass eating sharks made national headlines. Dr. Leigh investigated microplastic contamination in the Southern California Bight (SCB) and looked at ingestion and assimilation of microplastics by marine zooplankton. She is an avid supporter of science outreach and communication.
Leigh, S.C., Bowers-Doerning, C. Kaufman, K., Mosqueda, K., Nolasco, R., Teeple, J., and Paig-Tran, E.W.M. Microplastics contaminate surface waters and zooplankton in Southern California. Marine Pollution Bulletin, In review.
Chelsea Bowers-Doerning (2019-2023). - Microplastics in commercially important food fishes. M.S. 2023.
Currently a Sea Grant Fellow at the Post of San Diego.
Chelsea received funding from:
Chelsea recently won the all CSUF research competition and competed at the all CSU research competition in 2023.
Publications:
Email: chelsea10@csu.fullerton.edu
Chelsea Bowers in the news:
Raj Divi - Biomimetic modeling of manta ray filters (2014-2020). M.S. 2020.
Publications:
U.S. Patent: 16240732.
Raj won first prize at the CSUF research competition and also took home first prize at the all CSU research competition!
Andrew Lowe - Evolution and structural performance of armored fishes (2016-2019). M.S. 2019.
Currently laboratory technician at Chapman University
Publications:
Andrew Barrios - Freezing and mechanical properties of Scombrid fish bones (2014-2017). M.S. 2017.
Currently an Associate Professor at Santa Ana College.
Publications:
Email: Barrios_Andrew@sac.edu
2019-2020. Cameron Trout Cameron moved on to pursue his dream job. The FABB Lab wishes him all the best and we miss him greatly.
2023 Ryan Le Population genetics in sevengill sharks.
2022-2023 Justin Hertel Microplastic in fishes (CSU COAST awardee)
2022 Ashley Ibrahim Microplastics in sardine tissues
2019-2021 Julia Teeple Computational fluid dynamics of flow surrounding tooth structures.
2017-2020 Jacob Javier. Whaleshark filter-feeding
2018-2019 Ryan Fitterer. Tooth performance and fatigue testing in sharks.
2018 Leslie Barron Digging performance in sand crabs and fluidization of their sand bed.
2018 Ashleigh Davies Haul out performance of walrus teeth.
2018 Lindsay Maldonado Curation of skulls for teaching lab.
2017 Shane Brown Digging mechanics in sand crabs. Now at Cal Fish and Wildlife
2016-2017 Caitlin Stapp Denticulation and functional anatomy of reproductive organs in cartilaginous fishes. Completed her M.S. degree at CSULB in the Stankowich lab.
2015-2017 Arthur Loh Evolution of denticles on gill arches.
2014-2015 Arya Moshrefi Now working for New York Life Insurance Co.
Lexi Cheung (2022-2023). Scientific illustration
Lexi is a talented scientist and artist working toward building a scientific art portfolio in our laboratory. Her subject matter includes creating publishable figures of our study specimens including whales, fish, and armadillos. She has a soft spot for marine mammals. Lexi graduates in Spring 2023 and aims to work as a scientific illustrator.
Lexi's artwork will be published in the upcoming volume of the Encyclopedia of Fish Physiology.
Email: lexi.aimee@csu.fullerton.edu
2018 - Kaycee Coonen
2017-2018 Megan Nguyen (2017-2018) Now M.S. student CSUF.
2015-2016 Belen Chairez (Post Bac) Now PA-S at CBU in Riverside
2015-2016 Victoria Yang (Post Bac)
2015-2016 June Nong (Post Bac)
2019-2020 - William Oertel (HS Student; SCAS Scholar). Prevalence of microplastics in the LA Harbor and southern California Bight
2018-2020 - Wyan Wan (HS student; SCAS Scholar). Structural mechanics of hyperostoses in oarfishes. Now a student at UCLA.
2022 - Crystal Enciso
2022 - Ashley Ibrahim
2018 - Christopher Ruiz
Visiting Scientists:
2021 Dr. Donald Davesne: oarfish anatomy and evolution of mesopelagic fishes. Currently at Museum fur Naturkunde (Berlin)