Marine Science

Education

• Ph.D., Environmental Science and Policy, University of Miami, 2026
• B.S., Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 2021

Research interests

I am a marine ecologist whose core research focus is untangling predator-prey relationships, and reconstructing dietary niches using a combination of stable isotope analysis and DNA metabarcoding to better understand the foraging ecology of sharks, rays, and other predators. Through collaboration and building new skillsets, I aim to create a multidisciplinary lab group investigating diverse aspects of predator ecology including movement and habitat use, growth and life history, behavior, community dynamics, and more.

Courses taught

• Principles of Ecology
• Elasmobranch Biology and Management

Selected publications

• Hlavin, J. F., & Macdonald, C. C. (2025). Nursery Resource Use Dynamics in Great Hammerheads (Sphyrna mokarran) Across Ontogeny. Ecology and Evolution, 15(6), e71473. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71473
• Hlavin, J. F., Yeager, E. A., Martin, C. E., Will, C. J., Perni, N., Pankow, C., & Macdonald, C. C. (2026). Is the seagrass greener on the other side? Faster growth in Biscayne Bay, Florida’s nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) compared to neighboring conspecifics of Bimini, The Bahamas. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 109(1), 30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-025-01784-7
• Hlavin, J. F., Saltzman, J. R., D’Alessandro, E. K., & Macdonald, C. C. (2026). A decision tree to guide precautionary and adaptive tiering in marine nursery identification and management. Frontiers in Marine Science, 13, 1812999. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1812999

Banner photo (top) by Kevin Starnes ’25