Research Mentor Information
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Primary Research Mentor Name: Annais Bonilla-Johnson
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns: She/her/ella
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific?: Ms. 
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): Abm21e@fsu.edu
Position Title: Graduate Student
Faculty Advisor Name: {Empty}
Faculty Advisor's FSU Email: {Empty}
FSU College (if applicable): Arts and Sciences
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation: Biological Sciences
Headshot (optional): https://cre.fsu.edu/system/files/webform/urop_project_proposal_portal/8141/IMG_8025.jpg

Additional Research Mentor(s)
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Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above): {Empty}
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific?: {Empty}
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): {Empty}
Name of Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) (if applicable): {Empty}
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific?: {Empty}
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): {Empty}

Overall Project Details
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Title of the Project: Reproductive Biology and Energetic Costs of Gestation in Sharks and Rays
Project Keywords: Reproduction,  Embryonic development, marine, energetics
Are you currently looking for research assistants?: No
Number of Research Assistants Needed : 2
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s):
Open to all majors

Project Location:: 3618 US-98, St Teresa, FL 32358
If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation?: Yes
Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s):: In-person
Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work?: 5 
Roughly what time frame do you expect research assistant(s) to work?: Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Overall Research Project Description:
Elasmobranchii’ s diverse reproductive strategies pose an unknown amount of risk to pregnant females from the level of embryonic maternal investment. This study aims to investigate the frequency and nutritional content of intrauterine histotroph secretions of Matrotrophic stingrays in Eastern Gulf of Mexico and assess the effects of embryonic maternal investment on the physical performance of gravid females throughout gestation. 
Mature female Hypanus sabinus and Rhinoptera bonasus will be collected throughout all stages of gestation with seines, gillnets, and otter-trawls independently and in collaboration with Fish and Wildlife Research Institute’s Fishery-Independent Monitoring Program. These specimens are euthanized and dissected to remove developing embryos and ova for organic dry weight procedures and to quantify embryonic maternal investment at all stages of gestation. Histotroph will be assayed for total energic content, carbohydrates, fatty acids, proteins, and lipids. 
Lastly, 10 H. sabinus will be collected at early gestation and transported to Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory facilities for respirometry trials. The individual’s average oxygen consumption rate will be measured over a six-hour trial period and repeated every three weeks for six months to identify changes in physical performance at as gestation progresses. 
Identifying intraspecific and interspecific variation in fluids that provide embryonic nourishment is integral to understanding how these reproductive strategies contribute to elasmobranch fitness. Negative physiological effects during gestation would directly impact a female and her litters ‘ability to survive in the wild during their most vulnerable life stage. 


Research Tasks:
dissections, weighing of developing embryos, measuring of disk width of adult female and developing embryo rays, use of oven to remove water content, use of oven through various temperature changes to remove organic matter, statistical analysis of data, reading of primary literature, animal husbandry, project construction, and presenting findings verbally. 

Work will take place 45% at FSU's main campus, 45% at FSU Coastal and Marine laboratory, and 10% virtually. Most work will take place during normal business hours, however there is the occasional tasks that may need to be completed outside. Hour will vary by week, some weeks may be light, while other weeks may be heavy.


Skills that research assistant(s) may need::
Required: 
Dependable (some animals will rely on you to eat) 
Ability to follow directions
Attention to detail 
Passion and desire to learn new skills and knowledge 
Willingness to handle dead and live specimens (with safe methods taught to you)
Lift 20 lbs 

Preferred: 
Ability to provide own transportation to and from the marine lab (possibility for transportation to be provided for assistants occasionally) 
Ability to be on a boat 


Mentoring Philosophy:
My mentoring philosophy is to provide opportunities for the students to learn the skills and knowledge they desire that will assist them in their career goals. To do this, I begin by learning about them, their background, career goals, and what they hope to achieve/learn by the end of the project. My method when teaching students how to perform methods is to have them read up on the background, watch it be completed, and have them perform the methods with supervision until they have proven dependable and accurate in their performance. Mutual respect is important, as in science, we all mess up. Once this has been established along with trust, I hope that students will feel comfortable will relaying if something undesirable happened so we can adjust the experiment and use it as a learning opportunity for when science goes unexpectedly. Although I learn and teach in a way desirable to me, I am open to suggestions and learning other ways of teaching and relaying methods. I am adamant in giving the mentee ownership of their work and am open to a collaborative relationship rather than authoritative. 

Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable):: https://marinelab.fsu.edu/labs/grubbs/
Please add any additional information here (if applicable)::
If this project interests you and you do not feel you have the skills required, but you are capable and willing to learn, please apply. 


Roundtable times and Zoom links:
tuesday (1:00 pm- 1:30), Wed (2:30-3 pm), Thursday (1pm - 1:30 pm), if none of these times work but someone is interested, please contact me. 

Annais Bonilla-Johnson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: UROP Roundtable
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime

Join Zoom Meeting
https://fsu.zoom.us/j/93149221385

Meeting ID: 931 4922 1385

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UROP Program Elements
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Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication: Yes
UROP Performance Evaluation: Yes
Materials Grant: Yes
UROP Poster Presentation: Yes
Faculty Advisor Confirmation: {Empty}

Are you interested in attending in a UROP Research Mentor Workshop Series?: Yes
{Empty}
Year: 2023
update url: https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?element_parents=elements/research_mentor_information/headshot_optional_&ajax_form=1&_wrapper_format=drupal_ajax&token=kd2cGKKah6bVQaTHNuwufZ-Wbmjf1LA-WbGy8LQ1Ee8