Interested in joining the lab?
Contact me at: bgemmell@usf.edu
Primary Investigator
Dr. Brad Gemmell
Assistant Professor
Current Lab Members
Victoria Scriven
Master's Student: Started Fall 2020
I received my Bachelor's of Science in Oceanography from Texas A&M University and am now looking to focus on the interconnectivity of marine organisms and their physical environment. Marine science is inherently interdisciplinary, and I hope to use my background in conjunction with MBARI to explore the predator/prey relationships of deep-sea gelatinous zooplankton using approaches that bridge advanced technology, biology, and oceanographic principles.
Gabrielle Scrogham
Undergraduate Researcher: Spring 2019 - Fall 2021;
Lab Technician: Started Fall 2021
I graduated with a Bachelor's in marine biology and minor in astronomy in 2020 from USF. As an undergraduate I conducted a field study on the population dynamics of the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea, and have since continued collaborating on research studying Cassiopea and other lab projects. I will be entering a Master's program in Spring 2021 to study geology.
Alexander Freeman
Undergraduate Research Assistant: Started Summer 2021
I graduate in Fall 2021 with a Bachelor's in Marine Biology from USF. I am assisting in a project studying cuttlefish in the Gemmell lab. My general work involves caring for the cuttlefish and doing kinematics on their finning patterns. Little work has been done on the cruising locomotion of cephalopods and the mechanisms they favor, so I am aiding Dr. Gemmell and Dr. Judkins in studying this.
​
Lab Alumni
David Durieux
PhD Student: Fall 2016 - Fall 2021
Dissertation defense:
The Ecological Role of Cassiopea in Shallow Mangrove Habitats
​
Nils Tack
PhD Student: Fall 2016 - Fall 2021
Dissertation defense:
Moving in Fluid: Exploring How Fishes Manipulate Water to Swim Efficiently
​
​
Betsy Potter
Master's Student: Fall 2019 - Fall 2021
Thesis defense:
Ubiquitous yet Inconspicuous: Quantifying Trophic Impact of a Widespread Oceanic Comb Jelly (Ctenophore)
Dr. Kevin Du Clos
Postdoctoral Scholar: Spring 2017 - Summer 2021
I study how marine organisms interact with their physical environments. I am particularly interested in applying fluid mechanics approaches to studying suspension feeding behavior in bivalves. I received a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of Maine in 2016.
Sara Garcia
Master's Student: Spring 2016 - Fall 2018
A Houston native, Sara graduated from the University of Texas at Austin (2015) with a degree in Marine and Freshwater Biology. She is a 3rd semester　Masters student. Her research focuses on sublethal effects of crude oil and chemical dispersant on the swimming, settlement, and feeding of the Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) at different life cycle stages. It is her hope that her findings will contribute to the understanding of the effects of oil spills and how to respond effectively while minimizing environmental impacts. She is the current secretary of the Biology Graduate Student Organization.
Olivia Hawkins
Undergraduate Researcher: Spring 2016 - Spring 2019;
Lab Assistant: Summer 2019
I am a recent USF graduate and Gemmell lab undergraduate with a B.S. in Marine Biology and French language. My research interests lie at the intersection of ecology and morphology, with emphasis on feeding in invertebrates and fishes. Previous projects I have been involved with in the lab focused on the effect of oil and chemical dispersant on the Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica), and the effect of the wing-like body plan of the open ocean ctenophore Cestum veneris on its hydrodynamics associated with feeding.
Kathrene Lo
Undergraduate Researcher and Volunteer: Fall 2015 - Fall 2016;
Lab Assistant: Spring 2017 and Summer 2019
I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Marine Biology from USF- Tampa in Fall 2016. My interests encompass a union of marine ecology and coral biology. As an undergraduate, I have worked on a variety of projects including how Atlantic ribbed mussel (Geukensia demissa) density affects marsh ecosystem function as a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. Within the Gemmell Lab, one of my main projects has been exploring the preliminary results of how light and nutrient levels affect the diatom (Coscinodiscus wailesii).
Riley Krohn
Marcos Martinez
Christian Fender
Edward Good
Hailley Nieves
Undergraduate Student: Spring 2017
He worked with Nils Tack
​
Undergraduate Student: Spring 2017
He worked with Dr. Kevin Du Clos
​
Undergraduate Student: Spring 2017 and Fall 2017
He worked with David Durieux and later on an individual project of his own.
​
Undergraduate Student: Spring 2018
He worked with Dr. Kevin Du Clos.
​
Undergraduate Student: Fall 2018 - Spring 2019
She worked with Dr. Kevin Du Clos.