A Fort Myers Beach native, Amy has always been enthralled by the coastal ecosystems that surrounded her. She holds a B.S. in Natural Resource Conservation and an M.S. in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from the University of Florida. Her graduate research investigated the sublethal effects of a toxin produced from blue-green algae on juvenile blue crabs. 

After graduating, Amy worked as a field technician on a variety of projects from Northern Wisconsin to Puerto Rico. Upon returning to Southwest Florida, she spent several years in secondary education teaching biology and marine science to diverse populations of students. 

“I am thrilled to join the SCCF Marine Laboratory so I can contribute to research on the waterways that shaped my childhood,” she said. 

As a Research Associate, Amy will be conducting field and lab research on existing lab projects and joining the team to write proposals to fund new research projects.

“She will develop and refine lab protocols, mentor interns, and help manage both grant-funded and long-term water quality and habitat research,” said Marine Lab Director Eric Milbrandt, Ph.D. “Her interests align well with our focus on tracking the status and trends of important habitats, such as mangroves, oysters, and seagrass.”