Yopak ZoMBIE Lab

Dr. Yopak speaks for the Ocean First Institute
2020-07-09 08:00 - 17:00 UTC
Dr. Yopak is giving a webinar for the Ocean First Institute (https://www.oceanfirstinstitute.org). Ever wondered if sharks are smart? Hope to see you there… (if you missed it, check out the talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w18L_3N1_2Y&list=PLHXqq6BqX2kcnH8wUK42n-9av9Y1e9KzP)

Dr. Yopak speaks for Summer Ventures in Science & Mathematics
2020-07-14 18:00 - 21:00
Summer Ventures in Science & Mathematics (SVSM) is a cost-free, state-funded program for academically talented students who may pursue careers based in science and mathematics. The program brings rising juniors and seniors together for four weeks of intensive study on university campuses including UNC Wilmington. Dr. Yopak will be giving a talk entitled, “Are Sharks Smart? Exploring the Brain of Sharks and Their Relatives” and sharing her career path and how exactly someone gets “into” shark brains. Then, we’re going to design our own sharks and build some brains….

Rachel Zino Honors Defense
2020-11-25 10:00 - 11:00
Drumroll please: ZoMBiE Lab honors student Rachel Zino is defending her thesis, “The effects of temperature on peripheral nervous system development in cartilaginous fishes.” She’s worked hard and pivoted to a fully virtual defense. We couldn’t be more proud!

SICB Annual Meeting
2021-01-03 08:00 - 2021-02-28 17:00
The ZoMBiE’s go virtual: Emily, Sarah, and Rachel all presented their research at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology’s virtual conference this year.
Learn more about SICB: https://sicb.org

UNCW MarineQuest Sea GEMS
2021-03-20 13:00 - 17:00
Dr. Yopak gave a talk on her work and lead lead her Build-A-Brain Activity as part of the UNCW MarineQuest program Sea GEMS (Girls Exploring Marine Science)! Age 11-14 and interested in sharks? Learn More about Sea GEMS here: https://uncw.edu/marinequest/summerenrichment/intermediateprograms/seagems.html

Sarah Rheinsmith MSc Defense!
2021-04-20 15:00 - 17:00
Drumroll please: ZoMBiE Lab MSc student Sarah Rheinsmith is defending her thesis, “Ontogenetic shifts in the nervous system of the sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka.” Just goes to show – a pandemic can’t keep a ZoMBiE down. We are so proud of you!

Alayna Mahon Honors Defense
2021-04-29 10:00 - 11:00
Drumroll please: ZoMBiE Lab honors student Alayna Mahon is defending her thesis, “Sexual dimorphism in brain size in cartilaginous fishes” She’s worked so unbelievably hard and pivoted to a fully virtual project and defense. We are so proud of your hard work!

UNCW MarineQuest Coastal GEMS
2021-06-24 10:30 - 12:00
Dr. Yopak will give a talk on her work, we’ll take some shark quizzes, and then Build-A-Brain together with the UNCW MarineQuest program Coastal GEMS (Girls Exploring Marine Science)! Age 11-14 and interested in sharks? Learn More about Coastal GEMS here: https://uncw.edu/marinequest/summerenrichment/intermediateprograms/seagems.html

New Zealand Marine Sciences Annual Meeting
2021-07-05 - 2021-07-08
ZoMBiE Derek Sauer is presenting at the NZ Marine Science Society meeting in Tauranga, New Zealand on Inner ear morphology and directional hearing in sharks

Summer Ventures in Science & Mathematics
2021-07-13 18:30 - 20:00
Summer Ventures in Science & Mathematics (SVSM) is a cost-free, state-funded program for academically talented students who may pursue careers based in science and mathematics. The program brings rising juniors and seniors together for four weeks of intensive study on university campuses including UNC Wilmington. Dr. Yopak will be giving a talk entitled, “Are Sharks Smart? Exploring the Brain of Sharks and Their Relatives” and sharing her career path and how exactly someone gets “into” shark brains.

Annual Meeting of the American Elasmobranch Society
2021-07-21 - 2021-07-27
Still virtual and undaunted. ZoMBiE Emily Peele presents work with former honors student Krista Laforest on Ontogenetic shifts in brain organization of the Atlantic sharpnose shark, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae

OCS Virtual Chat
2021-08-03 10:00 - 11:00
Super excited to be joining forces with former ZoMBiE Victoria Camilieri-Asch to lead a chat with other Oceania Chondrichthyan Society members entitled “The sensory world of chondrichthyans – from brain to behaviour.” Want to learn more about OCS? https://www.oceaniasharks.com.au

Florida Atlantic University
2021-09-24 12:00 - 13:00
Dr. Yopak was invited to present some of the lab’s recent for at Florida Atlantic University’s Marine Science Seminar Series!

Annual Meeting of the American Elasmobranch Society
2021-11-07 08:00 - 2021-11-21 17:00
ZoMBiE member Victoria Camilieri-Asch is giving a virtual talk at this year’s AES entitled, “Multimodal imaging and analysis provide new insights into the organization of olfactory inputs in a shark model species.”

Planet Ocean Seminar
2021-11-10 18:30 - 19:30
Tune in to hear Dr. Yopak give a talk for the Planet Ocean Seminar Series! Check out all past and future speakers here: https://uncw.edu/cms/eventspoarchive.html

Talk at NCSU
2021-11-11 15:30 - 16:30
On the (virtual) move again! Dr. Yopak is giving a talk for the NC State University Biology, Ecology and Evolution Seminar Series on all things brain evolution in cartilaginous fishes.

Oklahoma State University, CHS Research Days
2022-02-14 08:00 - 2022-02-18 17:00
Dr. Yopak was invited to be a Keynote Speaker for the Oklahoma State University’s Center for Health Sciences Research Days, which are a week long event showcasing student and faculty research.

University of Delaware, SMSP Seminar Series
2022-03-04 11:30 - 12:30
Dr.Yopak gave a talk at the University of Delaware’s School of Marine Science & Policy’s Lewes/Newark Spring 2022 Colloquia Speaker Series. Be prepared to discuss some brains, stains, and climate change…

UNCW Showcase of Student Research and Creativity
2022-04-09 11:30 - 17:00
ZoMBiE Dylan Marshall is presenting his poster at the annual UNCW Showcase of Student Research and Creativity. Curious about neurogenesis in sharks? Come on by!

Russell speaks at the GSS
2022-04-22 01:00 - 16:00
ZoMBiE MSc student presents his work at the UNCW’s Graduate Student Symposium. He wowed the crowd with his work exploring how rearing environment affects brain development in Pacific Salmon. Learn more about Russell’s work here.

Brick-by-Brick visiting!
2022-06-01 13:00 - 14:00
A group of 4th and 5th grade boys from Brick-by-Brick are getting a tour of the ZoMBiE Lab! They’ll be checking out some brains from the collection and looking down the microscope at some shark noses.

UNCW MarineQuest Sea GEMS
2022-06-29 14:30 - 16:30
The Sea GEMS get a visit from a ZoMBiE! Dr. Yopak will give a talk on her work, we’ll take some shark quizzes, and then Build-A-Brain together with the UNCW MarineQuest program Coastal GEMS (Girls Exploring Marine Science)! Age 11-14 and interested in sharks? Learn More about Coastal GEMS here: https://uncw.edu/marinequest/summerenrichment/intermediateprograms/seagems.html

UNCW MarineQuest "Shark Trek"
2022-07-06 12:30 - 14:30
Are you aged 10-12 with an interest in sharks? Dr. Yopak is going to be leading a shark dissection and walking you through anatomy of the brain as part of the UNCW MarineQuest program “Shark Trek”! Spaces are limited – check out the MarineQuest website for details and info on how to register for these kinds of events.

Summer Ventures in Science & Mathematics
2022-07-13 18:30 - 21:00
Summer Ventures in Science & Mathematics (SVSM) is a cost-free, state-funded program for academically talented students who may pursue careers based in science and mathematics. The program brings rising juniors and seniors together for four weeks of intensive study on university campuses including UNC Wilmington. Dr. Yopak will be giving a talk entitled, “Are Sharks Smart? Exploring the Brain of Sharks and Their Relatives” and sharing her career path and how exactly someone gets “into” shark brains. Then we’re going to roll up our sleeves and design our own brains!

Annual Meeting of the American Elasmobranch Society
2022-07-27 - 2022-07-31
Dr. Yopak is off to Spokane! She’ll be is giving a talk at AES this year on a two headed shark and answering the age old question, Are Two Heads Better Than One?

The Gills Club @Fort Fisher
2022-10-22 13:00 - 15:00
Super excited to be heading to the Fort Fisher Aquarium to hang out with members of the Gills Club! Dr. Yopak will be giving a talk on shark brains and her path to being a marine (brain) biologist. Have a girl interested in sharks? Check out the Gills Club webpage for more info.

Dr. Yopak on a (virtual) trip to Germany!
2022-10-31 17:00 - 18:00
Dr. Yopak is going to be speaking at the Philipps-Universität Marburg, Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB) Neuro-Colloquium. She was invited to share all things shark brain (as if you even have to ask). Read more about CMBB here: https://www.cmbb-fcmh.de/en/cmbb-info

JBJC For Evolutionary Neuroscience Meeting
2022-11-10 - 2022-11-11
ZoMBiE’s are off to San Diego! Grad student Emily Peele will be presenting some of our recent work on the effects of temperature on brain and sensory development in Port Jackson sharks. Read her abstract here.
Learn more about JBJC: https://www.jbjclub.org

Dr. Yopak Speaking at the GMGI Science Hour
2022-11-17 19:00 - 20:00
We’re heading to the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI) “Science Hour”! Dr. Yopak has been invited to give a talk to the GMGI. But is an hour long enough to learn all there is about shark brains?? Link to the event coming soon (but check out past speakers here).

New Zealand Marine Sciences Annual Meeting
2022-11-21 - 2022-11-24
Derek Sauer is representing the ZoMBiE’s in the Southern Hemisphere and presenting at the NZ Marine Science Society meeting in Auckland, New Zealand on “Interspecific variation in inner ear hair cell organisation in sharks.”
