Lab members
Dr. Lauren Nadler
Assistant professor and NMBP Lab PI
I am originally from New Jersey but have spent much of my career outside of the US, completing graduate school in Scotland and Australia, and a postdoc in Norway, as well as as much fieldwork as possible in far-flung places like the Red Sea and Lizard Island. I started my lab at NSU in the summer of 2020 and am interested in the physiological mechanisms underlying behavioral phenotypes, and how these shift depending on environmental perturbations and parasite infection, particularly in gregarious fishes.
Assistant professor and NMBP Lab PI
I am originally from New Jersey but have spent much of my career outside of the US, completing graduate school in Scotland and Australia, and a postdoc in Norway, as well as as much fieldwork as possible in far-flung places like the Red Sea and Lizard Island. I started my lab at NSU in the summer of 2020 and am interested in the physiological mechanisms underlying behavioral phenotypes, and how these shift depending on environmental perturbations and parasite infection, particularly in gregarious fishes.
Courtney Aulden
Graduate researcher I grew up in the Pacific Northwest before moving to Massachusetts, where I completed my undergraduate degree majoring in Biology and Environmental/Earth Science. My undergraduate work focused on freshwater ecosystems with projects utilizing macroinvertebrates to establish stream health and measuring metabolism of pearl mussels under elevated water temperature conditions. I am extremely excited to be joining Dr. Nadler’s lab at Nova, studying the independent and combined effects of temperature and CO2 on the escape response of schooling fish. 
Monica Bacchus
Graduate researcher I have lived in Florida my whole life so the ocean feels like a second home to me. Since I was a child, I have always been interested in why animals behave the way they do, leading me to become a professional in Marine Biology. I have worked hands-on with aquatic species while interning at Gulf Specimen Marine Lab, and conducted research studying tradeoffs in Eastern Mosquitofish! |
Victoria Heller
Graduate researcher I am originally from Colorado and completed my Bachelor’s in Marine Biology at Humboldt State University. While attending HSU, I did a senior thesis on the endoparasitic isopod Portunion conformis and have been interested in the behavioral effect of marine parasites on their hosts ever since! 
Maranda Ealahan
Graduate researcher I’ve lived near the ocean my whole life, so marine biology has always been a passion of mine. I grew up 10 minutes away from the ocean in a small town located in southeastern Connecticut. When I was little, my family had a boat that we would take out fishing and I loved to see what was below the ocean surface. I attended the Marine Science Magnet High School in Connecticut and further pursued my passion for marine biology at the University of Rhode Island for my undergraduate degree. While at URI, I volunteered with one of my professors tagging blue sharks and mako sharks. I also took a shark research class one summer where I had the opportunity to swim with blue sharks in Rhode Island and whale sharks in Mexico. I also learned about different shark research techniques from numerous shark scientists. Initially, this is where my love for shark research started! This is my first year at NSU and I’m so excited to be in the NMBP lab working on the new Hammerhead Shark Behavior project! |
Laura Nicolas
Undergraduate researcher This is my third year at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) as a double major in marine biology and behavioral neuroscience. I moved to Florida to initially pursue a degree in marine biology. I decided to double major in neuroscience after falling in love with my first psychology course my freshman year. I was born in California and grew up in Spain. Ever since I was a little kid I have been in contact with animals and have always been interested in understanding the way they behave. It was on multiple trips to Southern Spain, and a visit to the Monterey Aquarium on the West Coast of the USA that sparked my curiosity for the ocean. By watching documentaries about marine life, I became even more fascinated by the wonders of the sea. Being part of the Nadler Marine Behavior and Physiology Lab allows me to explore both of my passions, marine biology and neuroscience, while also providing a hands-on experience in the field I would like to work on in the future. |
Sofia El-Rass
Undergraduate researcher My whole life has been spent near the ocean. First in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, then in Copenhagen, Denmark, and now in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Having the Red Sea as my backyard growing up is where my curiosity about the marine world began. My passion for marine biology as a career, however, started when I took my first breath underwater using SCUBA, and instantly I knew that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Ever since, I’ve been working with different organizations such as Operation Wallacea, the World Oceans Day Youth Advisory Council, and AIMM Portugal to learn as much as possible about what makes our home the Blue Planet. I am beyond excited to be working with the NMBP lab to take the next steps in fulfilling that dream. |
Krystal Renta
Undergraduate researcher
I am originally from New Jersey and recently moved down to South Florida. For as long as I can remember, I have always loved the ocean. The peculiar inhabitants and push and pull of the waves have always intrigued me. As long as I was by the ocean, I felt at peace. I believe the ocean is a living being that deserves to be respected. Throughout my undergraduate, I realized that I wanted to study if and how ecological factors affect organisms. It is my senior year, and I am excited to be working in the NMBP laboratory to gain valuable research skills and expand my knowledge on how CO2 and/or temperature could possibly affect schooling fish following a predator attack.
Undergraduate researcher
I am originally from New Jersey and recently moved down to South Florida. For as long as I can remember, I have always loved the ocean. The peculiar inhabitants and push and pull of the waves have always intrigued me. As long as I was by the ocean, I felt at peace. I believe the ocean is a living being that deserves to be respected. Throughout my undergraduate, I realized that I wanted to study if and how ecological factors affect organisms. It is my senior year, and I am excited to be working in the NMBP laboratory to gain valuable research skills and expand my knowledge on how CO2 and/or temperature could possibly affect schooling fish following a predator attack.
Lab alumni
Nathan Andrews (Undergraduate researcher, Fall 2020)
Taylor Peterson-Laparl (Undergraduate researcher, Fall 2020)