GH Fellowship Program
Florida Sea Grant - Guy Harvey Fellowship Program
The Guy Harvey Foundation offers scholarships to university students in Florida studying marine science and working to become future ocean conservation leaders.
Established in 2010, the partnership between Florida Sea Grant and the Guy Harvey Foundation has provided scholarships totaling $522,700 to support the research of 106 students at 12 different Florida universities. This fellowship not only bolsters academic research but also strengthens the connection between Florida Sea Grant and the next generation of marine scientists.
“The Guy Harvey Foundation has a long history of providing funding to student researchers, done in partnership with Florida Sea Grant,” said Dr. Harvey. “The FSG Guy Harvey Fellowship program has enabled us to better promote these bright, young students and educate the public about the critical research work that they are doing.” Through our ongoing support of marine research and by drawing attention to the important work of these students, the GHF is helping to safeguard a healthy ocean ecosystem for generations to come.”
In 2026, eight students were selected from five Florida universities. Their research focuses on the biology, ecology, habitat or management of sustainable marine fisheries in Florida’s marine environment. Each student received a $5,000 Guy Harvey Scholarship Award.
2026 Guy Harvey Fellowship recipients
Finella Campanino
University of Florida
Research Focus
Research Focus Areas: Habitat Ecology, Hydroacoustic, Seagrass, Biodiversity, Soniferous Fish
Research Project : From sound to sight: assessing fish biodiversity and habitat connectivity with visual and acoustic monitoring
About Finella
Finella Campanino is a Ph.D. candidate in Interdisciplinary Ecology at the University of Florida’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment, advised by Dr. Laura Reynolds. Her research focuses on the “habitat mosaics” of Florida’s Gulf Coast, understanding how the connectivity between seagrass meadows, hard-bottom habitats, and mangrove keys influences fish species richness and abundance. By integrating traditional underwater visual census methods with innovative passive acoustic monitoring (PAM), Finella aims to evaluate how acoustic “soundscapes” can serve as a non-invasive, cost-effective tool for monitoring essential fish habitats. Her work supports the St. Martin’s Marsh Aquatic Preserve Management Plan by providing actionable data for ecosystem-based fisheries management and coastal restoration. Finella holds an M.S. in Renewable Natural Resources from Louisiana State University and is a dedicated mentor, having guided numerous undergraduate students in marine science.
“My research helps show which coastal habitat and combinations of habitats are most important for supporting sustainable fish populations that anglers and communities rely on. By using both what we see underwater and what we hear, this work can improve how we protect and manage these habitats so fish populations remain abundant for future generations.”
Gina Clementi
Florida International University
Research Focus
Research Focus Areas: Fisheries Ecology, Fish Spawning Aggregations, Predator-Prey Dynamics
Research Project: Predator-prey dynamics at fish spawning aggregations in the Florida Keys
About Gina
Gina Clementi is a Ph.D. candidate at Florida International University’s Marine Ecology and Acoustics Lab, advised by Drs. Kevin Boswell and Michael Heithaus. Her research investigates the complex predator-prey dynamics of permit (Trachinotus falcatus) spawning aggregations at the Western Dry Rocks in the Florida Keys. By utilizing acoustic telemetry and innovative fecal DNA analysis, Gina aims to quantify how recreational fishing activities influence shark residency and depredation risk of permit game fish. Her work provides essential data to help fisheries managers mitigate shark-angler conflict and ensure the sustainability of economically vital sportfish populations. In addition to her research, Gina is a skilled scientific illustrator and outreach scientist, creating visual tools to make complex marine science accessible to students, fishers, and policymakers alike.
“By assessing the spatial and temporal overlap of sharks and fish spawning aggregations in the Lower Florida Keys, my research aims to quantify depredation risk and evaluate whether seasonal fishing closures effectively reduce depredation mortality during vulnerable spawning periods. By integrating ecological and fisheries perspectives, this study should inform on the efficacy of current management of critical fish spawning aggregations and mitigate shark-angler conflict.”
Sophia Hemsi
Florida International University
Research Focus
Research Focus Areas: Behavior, Sociality, Ecology
Research Project: Unraveling the Social Consequences of Depredation: Linking Shark Community Dynamics to Human Impacts in South Florida to Inform Sustainable Marine Fisheries Management
About Sophia
Sophia Hemsi is a Ph.D. student in Biology at Florida International University, where she is continuing her research under Dr. Michael Heithaus in the Heithaus Lab for Marine Community Ecology and Conservation. Her research investigates the social dynamics and movement patterns of bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) at high-depredation sites along Florida’s southeast coast. By utilizing acoustic telemetry and social network analysis (SNA), Sophia aims to determine whether shark aggregations at these sites consist of stable groups or transitory individuals. Her work seeks to identify the behavioral thresholds triggered by human activities, such as recreational fishing and wildlife tourism, to inform non-lethal management strategies that reduce economic losses for fishers while supporting shark conservation. A 2023 NOAA Hollings Scholar and FIU Presidential Scholar, Sophia has extensive experience in marine predator research, including tracking killer whales in the Pacific Northwest and studying odontocete (toothed whales) community dynamics in the Caribbean.
“Sharks are often treated as solitary, but they may be forming repeat associations — subtle social structures that can shape where they spend their time, how they act, and how they feed. By revealing those hidden networks, my work can help explain how shark behavior spreads and persists in a population, giving managers better leverage points to reduce conflict while protecting healthy marine ecosystems and the predators that support them.”
Jessica Keller
University of Florida
Research Focus
Research Focus Areas: Fish movement, Fisheries management, Movement strategies, Acoustic telemetry
Research Project: Drivers of marine fish movement and their consequences to fisheries management
About Jessica
Hometown: Alma, Wisconsin
Jessica Keller is a Ph.D. student in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences at the University of Florida’s School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences advised by Dr. Susan Lowerre-Barbieri. Her research focuses on the movement ecology of marine fish, utilizing acoustic telemetry and satellite tracking to study species ranging from resident Mutton Snapper to nomadic Atlantic Bluefin Tuna and migratory large-bodied sharks. By analyzing individual variability in movement patterns, Jessica aims to develop a conceptual framework that helps resource managers incorporate movement data into more effective, habitat-dependent management strategies. Jessica brings nearly a decade of professional experience to her doctoral work, having previously served as an assistant research scientist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), where she managed passive acoustic monitoring programs in the Florida Keys. She holds an M.S. in Marine and Environmental Studies from the University of the Virgin Islands and is a recipient of the Roger Rottmann Memorial Scholarship.
“Fish movement directly influences catchability, productivity, and vulnerability to fishing and climate change, yet it’s not typically integrated into the models that guide management. My dissertation research uses tracking data to quantify how marine fish move, why individuals differ in their movement behavior, and how those differences shape population resilience. By identifying environmental drivers and classifying movement into measurable, management-relevant strategies, my work helps bridge the gap between tracking data and decisions about seasonal closures, marine protected areas, and ecosystem-based fisheries management.”
Meredith Pratt
University of Central Florida
Research Focus
Research Focus Areas: Marine Ecology, Tropicalization, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology
Research Project: Investigating Shifting Trophic Dynamics of Sportfish in a Changing Northeast Florida Estuary
About Meredith
Hometown: Sarasota, Florida
About Meredith: Meredith Pratt is a Ph.D. candidate in Integrative and Conservation Biology at the University of Central Florida, advised by Dr. Geoffrey Cook. Her research examines how climate-driven habitat changes, specifically “tropicalization” and the expansion of mangroves, are altering the diets and competitive dynamics of key sportfish in Northeast Florida. By utilizing gut content and stable isotope analyses, Meredith aims to identify shifts in predator-prey relationships for species such as Common Snook, Red Drum, and Spotted Seatrout. In tandem with her research, she launched the Guana Tolomato Matanzas Fisheries Monitoring Program (GTMFMP), a community-embedded initiative that engages local volunteers in long-term data collection to support adaptive estuarine management. Meredith is a NOAA Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellow and previously supported the first Gulf-wide electronic monitoring initiative at Mote Marine Laboratory.
“As Florida’s estuaries warm and mangroves spread, I’m figuring out what popular sportfish are actually eating now, and how those food webs are changing across the saltmarsh-mangrove ecotone. This matters because if the prey base and feeding dynamics shift, the health and reliability of Florida’s recreational fisheries shift too. This work helps managers and anglers understand what’s changing in order to make smarter, more sustainable decisions.”
Kylee Rullo-Soletti
University of South Florida
Research Focus
Research Focus Areas: Ecology in Marine Systems, Fisheries Conservation & Management, and Human Impacts on Urban Estuaries
Research Project: A Tale of Two City Fish: Contaminant patterns and correlations in red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and common snook (Centropomus undecimalis) within an urban estuarine system
About Kylee
Hometown: Cape Coral, Florida
Kylee Rullo is a Ph.D. student at the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science, specializing in Marine Resource Assessment advised by Dr. Steven Murawski. Her research focuses on the prevalence and bioaccumulation of “forever chemicals,” or PFAS, within the Tampa Bay estuary. By analyzing sediment samples and the tissues of key recreational fish species, including Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout, and Common Snook, Kylee aims to understand how these contaminants move through the marine food web. Her work also involves conducting human health risk assessments to determine the potential impacts on local communities that rely on these fisheries. Kylee previously earned her M.S. in Marine Science from USF, where she used stable isotope analysis of tuna eye lenses to study life history patterns in the Gulf of Mexico. She is also a long-time mentor for the Oceanography Camp for Girls, dedicated to inspiring the next generation of marine scientists.
“People all over the world, particularly in highly urbanized areas, rely on fish as a source of food and revenue, so it is vitally important to human health and livelihoods that we protect both the fish and the ecosystems they live in against threats such as pollutants. The goal of my project is to explore the effects of toxic contaminants on fish, assess the risk to humans who eat those fish, and investigate the possible sources of the pollution in Tampa Bay to better inform governing bodies of the proper protections needed for our waterways.”
Julia Saltzman
University of Miami
Research Focus
Research Focus Areas: Conservation Biology, Movement Ecology, Quantitative Ecology
Research Project: Movement Ecology of Juvenile Tiger Sharks in South Florida’s Dynamic Seascape
About Julia
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Julia Saltzman is a Ph.D. student at theUniversity of Miami’s College of Arts and Sciences, specializing in movement ecology and quantitative conservation biology advised by Dr. Chris Searcy. Her research utilizes satellite and acoustic telemetry to track juvenile tiger sharks across Florida Bay and Biscayne Bay. By pairing movement data with environmental variables like salinity and seagrass coverage, Julia aims to forecast how hydrological restoration and climate change will reshape critical nursery habitats in the Everglades. A former NOAA Ocean Odyssey Grant recipient, Julia has conducted fieldwork on over 1,500 elasmobranchs and is an expert in using drone surveys for marine megafauna research. She holds an M.S. in Marine Biology from the University of New Hampshire and is committed to mentoring the next generation of marine scientists.
“I study how young sharks move through places like Biscayne Bay and Florida Bay to understand which habitats still help them survive in a world shaped by development, restoration, and climate change. By revealing how these animals actually use our coastal waters, my work helps ensure that conservation and restoration efforts protect the places that matter most!”
Selia Zimmermann
University of Florida
Research Focus
Research Focus Areas: Reef fish discard mortality, stock assessment, acoustic telemetry, sustainable fishing, barotrauma mitigation
Research Project: Evaluating fisheries conservation via angler-driven use of barotrauma mitigation tools
About Selia
Hometown: St. Augustine, Florida
Selia Zimmermann is a Ph.D. candidate in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences at the University of Florida advised by Dr. Zachary Siders. Her research focuses on quantifying and mitigating discard mortality in reef fish, specifically Red Snapper, Gray Triggerfish, and Gag Grouper, using high-resolution 3D acoustic telemetry. By applying advanced Bayesian statistical techniques to track post-release behavior, Selia aims to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of barotrauma mitigation tools like descending devices. Her work is conducted in close collaboration with Florida Sea Grant and the “Return Em’ Right” program, ensuring that her scientific findings are translated into effective outreach strategies for the recreational angling community. Selia holds a B.S. in Marine Science from the University of Florida.
“Discards of popular reef fish species can exceed harvest by five to ten times, making post-release survival a critical component of sustainable fisheries. My research identifies which species benefit most from descender devices and quantifies how these barotrauma mitigation tools convert discard mortality into survival.”
