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NSU Ocean

NSU Ocean’s researchers have led trailblazing work in marine science that has made an impact on local and global conservation, ocean resilience and revitalization, and beyond. From renowned experts in coral propagation and shark science to leading oceanographers building solutions for sea level rise, learn more about some of the scientists driving the mission of NSU Ocean forward. 

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Derek Burkholder, Ph.D.

Director, the NSU Marine Environmental Education Center

Principal Investigator, the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program

Researching the Structure of Marine Communities

A marine science expert whose work encompasses sea turtle and shark research, conservation, and education, Derek Burkholder, Ph.D., has helped lead research to tag and track sea turtles, enhancing our understanding of their migration patterns to improve management and conservation strategies. As director of the NSU Marine Environmental Education Center, Burkholder also promotes the understanding of marine wildlife and coastal ecosystems by working with students and engaging the community in marine science education.

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John Englander

Director, NSU Rising Seas Institute

A Clear Voice on Sea Level Rise Risk and Solutions
John Englander is a bestselling author and leading voice on sea level rise. As a seasoned oceanographer and thought leader, he helps chart adaptation solutions across disciplines and borders, collaborating with scientists, policymakers, and beyond. Englander’s leadership includes high-impact presentations and acclaimed books like Moving to Higher Ground: Rising Sea Level and the Path Forward. His work clarifies the science, economic impacts, and urgent need for resilience planning in the face of rising seas.
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Joana Figueiredo, Ph.D.

Director, the National Coral Reef Institute

Predicting Dispersal Patterns of Coral
An associate professor and the director of the National Coral Reef Institute, Joana Figueiredo, Ph.D., focuses her research on the marine larval ecology and recruitment of corals and their sexual propagation for reef restoration. Her team established the first spawning hubs in the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area to facilitate natural reproduction and study gamete collection.
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Abigail Renegar, Ph.D.

Director, Coral Histology Laboratory at NSU Ocean

Growing Coral in our Land-based Nursery

Abigail Renegar, Ph.D., leads experimental efforts to observe and measure the harmful effects of ocean acidification, climate change, and land-based pollution sources on coral species and other reef organisms—essential to predicting and managing future coral conditions and growth. The director of NSU Ocean’s Scleractinian Coral Biology Laboratory, her lab also encompasses NSU’s land-based coral nursery, which houses a genetically diverse living stock of corals for reef restoration and scientific study.

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Mahmood Shivji, Ph.D.

Director, NSU Guy Harvey Research Institute

Director, Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Research Center

Applying Genetic Research to Species Conservation
Mahmood Shivji, Ph.D., spearheaded pioneering research that significantly enhanced global shark conservation by developing rapid DNA methods to identify shark body parts, revealing that up to 73 million sharks were illegally traded annually in global shark fin markets and providing the first species-specific trade data. His team’s work uncovered genetic bases for cancer resistance and wound healing in sharks, and showed that shortfin makos are even more overfished than previously thought. Shivji directs the NSU Guy Harvey Research Institute and Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Research Center, and he is a professor in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences.
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Tracey Sutton, Ph.D.

Director, Oceanic Ecology Lab at NSU Ocean and the DEEPEND Research Consortium

Research Into Deep-Sea Ecosystems
An expert in deep-sea ecology, Sutton is the principal investigator and director of the DEEPEND Research Consortium, a collaborative initiative of 22 institutions studying the deep sea ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico. He has pioneered significant research on the ecological impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on deep-sea communities, guiding long-term restoration and fishery management strategies. Sutton also leads research on oceanic food webs, trophic interactions, benthic-pelagic coupling in oceanic ecosystems, and the taxonomy of deep-sea fishes.