Supporting our best and brightest
◀ RETURN TO 2020 ANNUAL REPORT INDEX
Mote is dedicated to nurturing the best and the brightest minds in marine science and technology fields—a key priority in our Beyond 2020 Vision and Strategic Plan. Mote offers the following awards and fellowships—made possible by philanthropic support—to deserving members of its research staff. Below each award is a list of this year’s recipients.
Mote Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
These three-year fellowships provide 100% salary support, research start-up, supplies, equipment and mentorship to postdoctoral scientists conducting outstanding work early in their careers.
NEW IN 2021:
DR. BETH BRADY has studied manatees for more than 13 years, focusing on their acoustic communication. Her interests include vocal anatomy, recognition of other manatees, behavior, human influences on communication, and more. This year, she co-authored the first peer-reviewed research paper on African manatee vocalizations and launched new manatee research at Mote. Previously at Florida Atlantic University, she led one of the largest-ever studies describing Florida manatees’ vocal repertoire.
FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS WHO CONTINUED FOR ALL OR PART OF 2021:
DR. HANNA KOCH Coral Reef Restoration
DR. JAKE LASALA Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Program
DR. AILEEN MALDONADO Ecotoxicology Program
Mote Scholarly and Service Awards
These two-year awards provide 25% salary support for scholarly and service activities that further Mote’s mission, consistent with Mote’s Beyond 2020 Vision.
NEW AWARDEES IN 2021:
DR. NATE BRENNAN Staff Scientist in the Fisheries Ecology & Enhancement Program
DR. EMILY HALL Manager of the Ocean Acidification Research Program and the Chemical & Physical Ecology Program
DR. CATHY WALSH Manager of the the Marine Immunology Program
AWARDEES WHO CONTINUED FOR ALL OR PART OF 2021:
DR. JIM LOCASCIO Manager of the Fisheries Habitat Ecology & Acoustics Program
DR. VINCE LOVKO Manager of the Phytoplankton Ecology Program
DR. KEVAN MAIN Manager of the Marine & Freshwater Aquaculture Research Program and Associate Vice President for Research in the Directorate of Fisheries & Aquaculture
DR. NICOLE RHODY Staff Scientist in the Marine & Freshwater Aquaculture Research Program
DR. TRACY SHERWOOD Staff Scientist in the Environmental Laboratory for Forensics
DR. ANDREA TARNECKI Staff Scientist in the Marine Immunology Program
DR. DANA WETZEL Manager of the Environmental Laboratory for Forensics
Mote Eminent Scholar Awards
These three-year awards provide 50% salary coverage to Mote senior scientists with great potential to significantly advance or develop a research initiative consistent with Mote’s Beyond 2020 Vision, and which will help ensure the long-term prosperity of Mote’s research enterprise.
AWARDEES CONTINUING IN 2021:
DR. ERINN MULLER, Manager of the Coral Health & Disease Research Program and the Coral Reef Restoration Program
DR. CYNTHIA HEIL, Director of the Red Tide Institute at Mote Marine Laboratory
Top photo by: taviphoto / Adobe Stock