Dr. Shirel Kahane-Rapport (2021-2024)

Dr. Kahane-Rapport is now an Assistant Professor at Old Dominion University.

Dr. Kahane-Rapport was awarded:

• NSF PRFB
• American Cetacean Society LA Chapter grant

 Email: [email protected]

Dr. Kahane-Rapport in the news: 

How blue whale got so big

• Teen girls in Ocean Science
• High tech tools for studying whales
• Baleen whales
• Microplastics in whales and in Phys.org

Publications with FABB Lab:

1. Kahane-Rapport, S.R., Teeple, J.B., Liao, J., Paig-Tran, E.W.M, and Strother, J.A. Filter feeding in devil rays is highly sensitive to morphology. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 292.20242037. 
2. Vandenberg, M. L., Cohen, K. E., Rubin, R. D., Goldbogen, J. A., Summers, A. P., Paig‐Tran, E. W.M., & Kahane‐Rapport, S. R. (2023). Formation of a fringe: a look inside baleen morphology using a multimodal visual approach. Journal of Morphology.

Dr. Samantha Leigh (2019-2020).

Dr. Leigh is now an Assistant Professor at CSU Dominguez Hills. 

Publications with FABB Lab:

1. 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.

M.S. Katie Kern - Reproductive anatomy of the cephalic and pre-pelvic tenacula in chimaeras. M.S. 2024.

Katie received funding from:

• 2024 COAST Kenneth Coale Graduate Award 
• 2022 ASIH Raney Award
• Department of Biological Sciences

Katie won the 2023 CSUF research competition and placed 2nd at the 37th annual CSU Student Research competition in spring 2023! 

Email: [email protected]

Katie in the news:

• Chimera tenacula

M.S. Chelsea Bowers-Doerning - Microplastics in commercially important food fishes. M.S. 2023.

Currently a Sea Grant Fellow at the Post of San Diego. 

Chelsea received funding from:

• Giles T. Brown Excellence Award for Outstanding Thesis
• CSUF COAST Kenneth H. Coale Graduate Award
• CSUF Coppel Award
• CSUF Hillman-McClanahan graduate research awards.
• She was  selected as the recipient of the 2022-2023 Fly Fishers Club of Orange County Marine Scholarship.
• CSUF Emeriti Benson Memorial Scholarship
• CSUF Steve Murray Award

Chelsea recently won the all CSUF research competition and competed at the all CSU research competition in 2023. 

Publications: 

1. Perog, B. D., Bowers-Doerning, C., Ramirez, C. Y. L., Marks, A. N., Torres Jr, R. F., Wolfe, M. L., & Zacherl, D. C. (2023). Shell cover, rugosity, and tidal elevation impact native and non-indigenous oyster recruitment: Implications for reef ball design. Ecological Engineering, 192, 106969.
2. Bowers-Doerning, C., Kahane-Rapport, S.R., Hertel, J., Ibrahim, A., Paig-Tran, E.W.M. Ingestion and assimilation of microplastics by Pacific sardines (Sardinops sagax) within the Southern California Bight. In prep.

Email: [email protected]

Chelsea Bowers in the news: 

• Sardines with a side of microplastics
• Microplastics in local waters

M.S. Raj Divi - Biomimetic modeling of manta ray filters (2014-2020). M.S. 2020. 

Publications:

1. Divi, R. V., Strother, J. A., & Paig-Tran, E. M. (2018). Manta rays feed using ricochet separation, a novel nonclogging filtration mechanism. Science advances, 4(9), eaat9533.

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! 

M.S. Andrew Lowe - Evolution and structural performance of armored fishes (2016-2019). M.S. 2019.

Currently laboratory technician at Chapman University 

Publications: 

1. Lowe, A., Kolmann, M. A., & Paig-Tran, E. W. M. (2023). How to Survive a (juvenile) Piranha Attack: An integrative approach to evaluating predator performance. Integrative Organismal Biology, 5(1), obad032.
2. Lowe, A.*, Summers, A. P., Walter, R., Walker, S., & Paig-Tran, E. M. (2020). Scale performance and composition in a small Amazonian armored catfish, Corydoras trilineatus. Acta Biomaterialia.

M.S. Andrew Barrios -  Freezing and mechanical properties of Scombrid fish bones (2014-2017). M.S. 2017.

Currently an Associate Professor at Santa Ana College.

Publications: 

1. Barrios, A.S., and Paig-Tran, E.W.M., The effects of freezing on the mechanical properties and composition of anosteocytic bone in Pacific mackerel, Scomber japonicus. In prep.
2. Paig‐Tran, E. M., Barrios, A. S., & Ferry, L. A. (2016). Presence of repeating hyperostotic bones in dorsal pterygiophores of the oarfish, Regalecus russellii. Journal of Anatomy, 229(4), 560-567.
3. Forsgren, K. L., Jamal, H., Barrios, A., & Paig‐Tran, E. M. (2017). Reproductive morphology of oarfish (Regalecus russellii). The Anatomical Record, 300(9), 1695-1704.

Email: [email protected]

M.S. Nicole Steplewski - Filtration in whale sharks. (2021-2024). M.S. 2024.

Nicole is interested in large-scale filtration and is investigating the filtration mechanics and performance of whale shark feeding. Nicole's research uses a blend of anatomical investigation and 3D modeling to understand filtration performance of the largest fish in the sea. Nicole is interested environmental policy and hopes to use her degree toward a career in conservation. 

Email: [email protected]

Lexi Cheung (2022-2023). Scientific illustration

Lexi's artwork was published in the Encyclopedia of Fish Physiology(see publication below)

• Kahane-Rapport, S.R.** and Paig-Tran, E.W.M. Edited by Fudge. 2024. Filtration in Fishes. In Encyclopedia of Fish Physiology. 

Email: [email protected]