MARINE BIOLOGY T
he marine biology program is tailored to take full advantage of Rollins’ ideal setting on the Florida peninsula—one hour from the Atlantic Ocean, 90 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico, a few hours from the Florida Keys, and a one-hour flight to the Bahamas. You are in the enviable position to apply lab work to these diverse ecosystems as part of a hands-on education. It’s the type of access to fieldwork that is rarely available to undergraduates at other schools. Our emphasis on exploring and experiencing provides the most natural transition into a fulfilling career or postgraduate work.
Why Study Marine Biology at Rollins Hands-On Experience Undergraduates conduct graduate-level lab and field research in the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, and Maine. Thanks to the Morrow Fund, an internal scholarship granted to the department, students have access to financial assistance.
Personal Attention There are no more than 12 students in any upperlevel marine biology class. The student-faculty ratio means instructors know the strengths of each student and can guide you individually.
Ready for the Next Step By your sophomore year, our faculty will have helped you build a resume. You’ll have the background to take on exciting internships and volunteer work. By graduation, you’ll have both feet in the real world.
“I’ve always loved science, but I didn’t discover marine biology until I went to Rollins. The incredible field studies changed my career plans. Those experiences convinced me that I’d want a balance of fieldwork and lab work in my job. The support from my professors and peers at Rollins was invaluable in getting me where I am today.”
Kiersten Miller ’12
Lead Aquatic Field Technician, NEON (National Ecological Observatory Network)
Rollins Marine Biology Careers Rollins marine biology grads are making tomorrow happen at some of the world’s most prestigious universities and innovative organizations.
Callie Bateson ’15
MEd Candidate, Merrimack College
Becca Hamilton ’15
MS Candidate in Marine Mammalogy, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
Kristin Kelly ’11
Global Divemaster and Fisheries Observer, NOAA
Hunter Noren ’12
Lab Supervisor, Nova Southeastern University’s Cell Therapy Institute
Guillermo Ortuno ’14
PhD Candidate in Marine Science & Conservation, Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab at Duke University; Fellow with the Nippon Foundation Nereus Program
Real World Experience From internships to research, marine biology students hone their skills in the real world.
Popular Courses Our diverse portfolio of courses educates students to take active roles as global citizens in preserving the health of the marine environment and prepares them for careers and advanced studies in biological research, environmental science, and conservation. • BIO 210 Introduction to Marine Science • BIO 236 Invertebrate Zoology • BIO 237 Vertebrate Zoology • BIO 310 Ecology • BIO 335 Marine Biology • BIO 388 Marine Biology Lab (Maine or Bahamas)
Beyond the Classroom Summer Field Study Undergraduates have the opportunity to travel with marine biology faculty to assist with research projects in sensitive ecosystems, such as coral sites. This is in addition to field work associated with classes.
Student-Faculty Collaborative Scholarship Program Students have the opportunity to work alongside a faculty member on research typically available only in graduate school. Damian Clarke ’19 studied sea stars up and down the East Coast with Dr. Fiona Harper before presenting the results at the Benthic Ecology Meeting in Texas.
Duke Marine Lab Semester Program The marine biology program is part of a consortium with Duke Marine Lab and gives students an opportunity to study marine systems along the North Carolina coast.
ADM 1808-0171
Expert Faculty Professors crafted the marine biology major at Rollins so they could share their passions for fieldwork and conservation. All faculty have earned PhDs and are committed to being personally involved in the career trajectory of each student.
Pamela M. Brannock, PhD | Assistant Professor of Biology Research interests: Exploring the genetic composition, connectivity, and variation of aquatic invertebrates
Bobby Fokidis, PhD | Assistant Professor of Biology Research interests: Exploring the hormonal and neural links between energy status and animal behavior, particularly in a changing environment
Fiona Harper, PhD | Associate Professor of Biology Research interests: Marine evolution, speciation in the marine environment, hybridization between species, and population genetics of terrestrial and marine organisms
Paul T. Stephenson, PhD | Associate Professor of Biology Research interests: Plant physiology and cell biology, with current research focusing on carnivorous plants and the regulation of enzymes that enable them to efficiently obtain nutrients from prey
Kathryn P. Sutherland, PhD | Professor of Biology Research interests: Coral reef ecology and coral disease microbiology, focuses on white pox disease of Caribbean elkhorn coral
rollins.college/marine-biology