Hello! I'm Jamie!
I'm currently a doctoral candidate and my research interests include functional morphology and biomechanics of marine megafauna vertebrae. I'm also the imaging technician at FAU Lab Schools Owls Imaging Lab. Please view different sections by scrolling down or navigating through the tabs located at the top. You can also download my CV at the top or bottom of the page.
Please feel free to contact me at any time.
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Jamie Knaub
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Ph.D. Candidate, FAU
M.Sc., Biology
B.S., Marine Biology
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EDUCATION
2020-Present
Doctor of Philosophy
UNIVERSITY
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL
Ph.D., Integrative Biology
GPA: 4.0
2020-2022
Master of Science
UNIVERSITY
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL
M.Sc., Biology
GPA: 4.0
2016
Study Away Program
UNIVERSITY
University of Alaska, Kenai Peninsula College, Kachemak Bay Campus
Homer, AK
Semester By the Bay Program
GPA: 4.0
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2014-2017
Bachelor of Science
UNIVERSITY
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
B.S., Marine Biology - Cluster: Modelling, with Honors
GPA: 3.89 (overall) magna cum laude
2010-2014
High School Diploma
HIGH SCHOOL
Lower Dauphin High School
Hummelstown, PA
GPA: 3.91
Reece Kelley Scholarship Recipient - May 2014
Awarded Grants
External
2024
Mini-grant for Service-Learning & Civic Engagement
$1,000
Fellowship of Graduate Student Travel - SICB
$2,000
Broadening Participation Grant - SICB
$500
Charlotte Mangum Student Support Grant - SICB
$650
2023
Division of Vertebrate Morphology Travel Grant - ICVM
$620
2022
Charlotte Mangum Student Support Grant – SICB
$345
2021
Travel Grant – Society of Marine Mammalogy
$210
Jim Elliot Award – Tomography for Scientific Advancement
$4,000
Broadening Participation Grant – SICB
$300
Charlotte Magnum Student Support Grant – SICB
$50
2016
Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Fellowship – NOAA
$26,000
Internal
2024
ECOS Graduate Student Research Grant
$2,040
Graduate Grant
$1,000
2023
Rosalyn E. Schonzeit Scholarship
$500
Graduate Fellowship for Academic Excellence
$5,000
Aurel B. Newell Doctoral Fellowship
$5,000
Graduate Student Travel Award
$800
2022
Graduate Research Assistant Award
$1,000
National Save the Sea Turtle Foundation Scholarship
$1,000
Aurel B. Newell Doctoral Fellowship
$5,000
2021
Vincent Saurino Fellowship
$3,775
2020
Cares Grant
$700
Graduate Grant
$2,400
Awards and Honors
External
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2024
SEAMAMMS - Best Ph.D. Oral Presentation Runner-up
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SICB Stephen A. Wainwright Student Research Award
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2022
JEOL SEM/TEM/EPMA Image Contest – June 1st place
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2021
Tomography for Scientific Advancement – Best Lightning Talk Runner-up
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JEOL NeoScope Image Contest – December 1st place
Internal
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2023
FAU Art of Science Photography Contest – 1st place “Student in the Lab” Submission
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2022
FAU Art of Science Photography Contest – Honorable Mention
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2021
FAU Art of Science Photography Contest – 1st place “In the Lab” Submission
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2017
UNCW CSURF Distinguished Research Scholar
Manuscripts
Knaub J.L., Passerotti M., Natanson L.J., Meredith, T. and M.E. Porter. 2024 Vertebral morphology in the tail-whipping common thresher shark, Alopias vulpinus. Royal Society Open Science. 11:231473.231473.
http://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.231473
Gignac, P.M., et al. 2024. The role of networks to overcome large-scale challenges in tomography: The non-clinical tomography users research network. Tomography of Materials and Structures. 100031.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmater.2024.100031
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Knaub J.L., Pawlik, E., Biordi, M., Frazier, D., Uribe Mejia, M., Passerotti M., Natanson L.J., Meredith T., and M.E. Porter. In preparation. Spines of swiftly swimming sharks: Morphology and microstructure of lamniform shark vertebrae. Journal of Anatomy
Other
Photography Credit
Paig-Tran, E. M., Porter, M. E., Ferry, L. A., & Whitenack, L. B. (2022). How to build a shark: Biomechanics and bioinspiration. In Biology of sharks and their relatives (pp. 59-103). CRC Press.
Press Features
New York Times, “Fear the Tails, Not the Jaws, of These ‘Weirdo’ Sharks” 24 January 2024.
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Forbes, "The Biomechanics of Thresher Shark Tails Revealed” 24 January 2024.
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FAU News Desk, “Study uncovers mechanics of ‘tail-whipping’ in thresher sharks” 17 January 2024.
https://www.fau.edu/newsdesk/articles/shark-tail-whipping-study
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Science Daily, “Study uncovers mechanics of machete-like ‘tail-whipping’ in thresher sharks” 17 January 2024.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/01/240117143648.htm
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FAU Research Daily, “Art of Science: Millipede Marvel, A Close-up Look at a 'Creepy-crawly’ Wins a Top Spot” 29 September 2023.
https://www.fau.edu/research/fau-research-daily/2023/millipede-marvel-aos/
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JEOL, “Suiting Up With NanoSuit For Imaging In The SEM” 2023.
https://www.jeolusa.com/NEWS-EVENTS/Blog/suiting-up-with-nanosuit-for-imaging-in-the-sem
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NSF Science Now, “Thresher Shark: Sleek, Poetic… and Deadly” 9 July 2024.
https://youtu.be/NhwWzF3RfpQ?si=ZYwHFZK12UkLQ8Fv
Save Our Seas World of Sharks, “Thresher sharks: the biomechanics of tail-whipping” 2 May 2024.
https://saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast/thresher-sharks-the-biomechanics-of-tail-whipping
Wow in the World, “Shark Tail” 29 April 2024.
https://tinkercast.com/podcasts/wow-in-the-world/shark-tail/
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Once an Owl, Always An Owl, “Episode 18 - For the Love of Sharks, Research at FAU Lab Schools” 11
November 2022. https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/29465de3-76c5-41f4-9df7-0f469db3a340/id/25168239
Media Appearances
MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING RESPONSE
2018 - Present
Marine Mammal Stranding and Population Assessment Volunteer
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, FAU, Fort Pierce, FL
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Assist in response to live and dead strandings of marine mammals
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Collection of vertebrae during necropsy, see more under Stranding Experience
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Stranding Program Volunteer
Marine Mammal Stranding Program, UNCW, Wilmington, NC
Homer Stranding Network, Alaska SeaLife Center/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Homer, AK
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Aided in response to live and dead strandings of marine mammals
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Collected data and completed necessary paperwork (Level A, Human Interaction, etc.)
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Assisted with necropsy protocols and sample collection, see more under Stranding Experience
Guest Lectures
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FAU Marine Science Seminar 2022, 2024
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FAU High School Research Course 2021, 2022, 2023
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Noyo Center for Marine Science Seminar Series 2021
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FAU High School Summer Skills Workshop 2021. 2023, 2024
Outreach and Education
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Lagoonfest 2023, 2024
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Sharkfest 2023
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FAU Diversity in Science Day, Sophomore Social 2022, 2023
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Science Olympiad 2021, 2022
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AAUW Tech Trek Summer Camp Instructor 2021
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Explore FAU Day 2021
Reviewer Experience
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Integrative and Comparative Biology (Editorial Reviewer)
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Journal of Anatomy
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Royal Society Open Science
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Royal Society Proceedings B: Biological Sciences
2014 - 2018
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
2021 - Present
Imaging Lab Technician
Owls Imaging Lab
FAU Lab Schools, Boca Raton, FL
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Operate and maintain lab equipment and designated software (micro-CT scanner, SEM, histology suite, fluorescence microscope, etc.)
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Assist elementary, middle, and high school students in operation of lab equipment and independent projects
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Facilitate collaborations with FAU students, professors and external researchers
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Maintain lab in accordance with health and safety protocols and standards
2019 - 2020
Rescue Biologist
Rescue Team
Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL
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Accomplished tasks to maintain stranding preparedness and monitored 24/7 stranding hotline
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Responded to strandings including monitoring, first response, triage, and transport
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Conducted training workshops for stranding volunteers, interns, law enforcement, and the public
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Participated in rehabilitation, release, and monitoring efforts of marine mammals and sea turtles
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Conducted necropsies and carried out actions for disposal, sample processing, and/or storage
2018
Naturalist/First Mate
Wrightsville Beach Scenic Tours
Wilmington, NC
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Registered First Mate with Coast Guard Consortium, assisted with boating duties
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Provided historical, cultural, and ecological information of Wrightsville Beach to guests on board
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Identified of sea birds, shells, marine mammals, and other wildlife encountered during the tour
2015 - 2018
Research Technician
Center for Marine Science
Shellfish Research Hatchery, UNCW, Wilmington, NC
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Participated in daily procedures such as sanitation, data collection, and aquaculture care
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Partook in monthly and annual growth assessments of oysters, clams, and scallops
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Executed research-based experiments regarding water quality, growth, feeding, and spawning
External
Society for the Study of Evolution
Sept. 2023 – Present
Non-Clinical Tomography Users Research Network (NoCTURN)
Education and Outreach Community
Findability Working Group
Mar. 2023 – Present
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Association for Women in Science (AWIS)
Feb. 2023 – Present
International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology (ICVM)
Jan. 2023 – Present
Tomography for Scientific Advancement (ToScA)
May 2021 – Present
American Elasmobranch Society (AES)
Nov. 2020 – Present
Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB)
Oct. 2020 – Present
Division of Vertebrate Morphology
Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM)
Sept. 2020 – Present
Internal
FAU Graduate and Professional Student Association
Mar. 2021 – Present
FAU Network for Women in STEM
Oct. 2020 – Present
FAU Association of Integrative Biology Students
Sept. 2020 – Present
FAU College of Science Graduate Association
Sept. 2020 – Present
REFERENCES
DR. MARIANNE PORTER
Florida Atlantic University
Department of Biological Sciences
Ph.D. Advisor
Email: mporte26@fau.edu
Phone: 561-297-1288
DR. TRICIA MEREDITH
Florida Atlantic University
FAU Lab Schools/ College of Education
Ph.D. Dissertation Committee Member, Imaging Lab Supervisor
Email: tmeredi1@fau.edu
Phone: 561-297-4486