Annaleise Lukens,  MSc Student, UNC Wilmington Biography: I graduated with a B.S. in Marine Biology and a minor in Neuroscience from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2025. During this time, I volunteered in Dr. Lorian Schweikert’s lab where I assisted with an MSc project studying color change dynamics in Caribbean hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus) and summer flounder (Paralichthyes dentatus). I also completed an honors thesis in Dr. Kara Yopak’s lab where I investigated ontogenetic shifts in the brain morphology of two closely related sharks who occupy similar niches as juveniles but diverge ecologically as adults: scalloped hammerheads (Sphyrna lewini) and Carolina hammerheads (Sphyrna gilberti). Following graduation, I worked as a Research Analyst in the ZoMBiE lab working to publish this research and assist with a project characterizing the brain morphology of the critically endangered smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). My graduate research is focused on sensory biology in scalloped and Carolina hammerheads. Specifically, I am investigating ontogenetic shifts in the critical senses of both olfaction and vision in these animals to gain a better understanding of their sensory specializations and ecology. Hammerhead sharks are a unique study organism for sensory questions as they have such extreme head morphology that impacts the morphology and potentially the functionality of sensory structures involved in vision and olfaction. Additionally, looking at how these structures change throughout life in each species provides insight into shifts in sensory specialization throughout ontogeny and can inform whether there are differences between these two species at any life stage. Stay tuned to hear more about Annaleise's research as her thesis unfolds! Societies: American Elasmobranch Society

Annaleise Lukens,  MSc Student, UNC Wilmington

Biography:

I graduated with a B.S. in Marine Biology and a minor in Neuroscience from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2025. During this time, I volunteered in Dr. Lorian Schweikert’s lab where I assisted with an MSc project studying color change dynamics in Caribbean hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus) and summer flounder (Paralichthyes dentatus). I also completed an honors thesis in Dr. Kara Yopak’s lab where I investigated ontogenetic shifts in the brain morphology of two closely related sharks who occupy similar niches as juveniles but diverge ecologically as adults: scalloped hammerheads (Sphyrna lewini) and Carolina hammerheads (Sphyrna gilberti). Following graduation, I worked as a Research Analyst in the ZoMBiE lab working to publish this research and assist with a project characterizing the brain morphology of the critically endangered smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

My graduate research is focused on sensory biology in scalloped and Carolina hammerheads. Specifically, I am investigating ontogenetic shifts in the critical senses of both olfaction and vision in these animals to gain a better understanding of their sensory specializations and ecology. Hammerhead sharks are a unique study organism for sensory questions as they have such extreme head morphology that impacts the morphology and potentially the functionality of sensory structures involved in vision and olfaction. Additionally, looking at how these structures change throughout life in each species provides insight into shifts in sensory specialization throughout ontogeny and can inform whether there are differences between these two species at any life stage.

Stay tuned to hear more about Annaleise's research as her thesis unfolds!

Annaleise Lukens, MSc student

Societies:

American Elasmobranch Society