Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida

05/27/2026

The University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience will hold this year’s Whitney Magnified – Art of Science event on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at the Center for Marine Studies.

The evening showcasing science and art from marine researchers will include scientific research talks from Whitney graduate students and scientists in the Lohman Auditorium from 5:15 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Marine themed original art and smaller gifts will be available for purchase after the talks from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. A select few silent auction items will have in person bidding ending at 6:45 p.m. Proceeds from art and gift sales will benefit the Whitney Graduate Student Association.

Location - UF Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd. St. Augustine, FL 32080

https://www.whitney.ufl.edu/news--events/whitney-magnified---art-of-science-2026/

05/26/2026

Whitney Lab Professor of Biogeochemistry Dr. Todd Osborne on Flagler Radio's 'Free for All Friday' talking clams, lab research and our new building!

05/21/2026

Congratulations to Loesgen Lab Ph.D. Student Grayce Dyer for being the recipient of the UF Chemistry 2026 Maurice Moore Summer Fellowship! The fellowship is awarded to a graduate student in the area of medicinal chemistry.

"This fellowship will support me in dedicating the summer to advancing my research on bioactive natural products from aquatic bacteria. My work focuses on discovering novel cytotoxic and analgesic compounds from underexplored microbial sources by integrating genome mining, bioactivity-guided fractionation, and chemical analysis.

This summer, I will prioritize the isolation and characterization of active metabolites from selected bacterial strains that show promising activity in cytotoxicity and zebrafish-based analgesic assays. By combining in silico prioritization with in vitro screening and chromatographic techniques, I aim to identify new compounds with potential applications in cancer therapeutics and pain management. This support will allow me to focus on these efforts and accelerate progress in my research."

05/19/2026

A single scoop of water from an Irish river revealed evidence not only of Ireland’s only frog species — as expected — but also signs of the dreaded B. dendrobatidis fungus, marking the first time this devastating amphibian disease has been spotted in the country and exposing a previously unknown risk to Ireland’s frog population.

That is the power of environmental DNA, or eDNA, as revealed in new research led by David Duffy, Ph.D., which traced the DNA harbored by the Avoca River from its origin in the Wicklow Mountains to where it spills into the Irish Sea.

With a single analysis of a sample of water, soil or air, scientists can identify the DNA of virtually any species that has passed near an area. The technology has the potential to massively simplify typically labor-intensive conservation efforts by helping scientists quickly and cheaply identify endangered species, rare pathogens and sources of pollution.

“What we really wanted to highlight in this study was that the technology has advanced so far that we can now, in a single assay, detect all of these things simultaneously,” said Duffy, a professor of wildlife disease genomics at UF’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience. “You can look at animals, plants, fungi, microbes and viruses — all in a single test.”

Full Story by Eric Hamilton in University of Florida News: https://news.ufl.edu/2026/05/river-edna/

📷: Dr. David Duffy

05/18/2026

We’re proud to share that the new Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida building has achieved LEED Gold certification.

Designed to support marine science research and public engagement, the project reflects a strong commitment to sustainability through energy and water savings, native landscaping, EV infrastructure, and environmentally responsible building practices.

This milestone represents years of collaboration and dedication from the entire project team, creating a lasting resource for research, education, and community connection.

05/14/2026

🕷️ Evenings at Whitney Free Public Lecture tonight, May 14 at 6pm!

“How to Build a Spider in Just 400 Million Years” with Dr. Prashant Sharma - Associate Professor, Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Director, University of Wisconsin Zoological Museum.

📍 Join us in person at the lab, 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd., St. Augustine, or online –
https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rUu8dSPuQXCD6_eSPyMg_A

05/12/2026

We’re Hiring!

The Sea Turtle Hospital is looking for an Animal Care Technician to join our team with a focus on sea turtle husbandry and rehabilitation. This position is perfect for someone passionate about marine life, animal care, conservation, and making a difference for endangered sea turtles every single day.

Responsibilities include:
✨ Daily husbandry and medical care of rehabilitation patients
✨ Food preparation and habitat maintenance
✨ Water quality management
✨ Assisting with treatments and rehabilitation procedures
✨ Supporting rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation efforts

Working in sea turtle rehabilitation is rewarding, fast-paced, physically demanding, and deeply meaningful. Every patient that comes through our doors represents a chance to return a sea turtle back to the ocean where it belongs.
If you’re passionate about animal care and conservation, we’d love to hear from you!

https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/539857/veterinary-care-technician-i

05/11/2026

🕷️ Evenings at Whitney Free Public Lecture this Thursday, May 14 at 6 p.m.

Join us in person or online for “How to Build a Spider in Just 400 Million Years” with Dr. Prashant Sharma - Associate Professor, Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Director, University of Wisconsin Zoological Museum.

Register to watch online: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rUu8dSPuQXCD6_eSPyMg_A

Dr. Sharma will give an overview of arachnid (e.g., spiders; scorpions; daddy-longlegs) diversity, phylogeny, and the developmental genetics of key arachnid-specific traits.

This talk will encompass how molecular data have revolutionized our textbook understanding of arachnid relationships (and which groups can even be called “arachnids”), the discovery and impact of whole genome duplications on arachnid evolution, and how functional data are being used to test competing hypotheses of trait origins.

05/08/2026

Now Hiring! Executive Assistant

https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/539739/executive-assistant-i

05/07/2026