26

Zoe Salandy

B.S. in Marine Biology, '26

Like most STEM students, getting involved in research was at the top of my priority list when I started at the University of West Florida. Thankfully, UWF has a multitude of enriching research opportunities to choose from, and I was able to get involved early on in my sophomore year.

Thanks to Dr. Janosik, professor and graduate program coordinator in the Department of Biology, I was given the opportunity to work on a research project in which I extract DNA from Antarctic sediments. Upon my analysis, I am able to determine the abundance of invertebrates in Antarctic sediment communities, a key contributor to understanding the sediment biodiversity and health. Despite their crucial role, this field remains rather unexplored, and I am grateful to be a part of the generation willing to unearth this knowledge and gain vital information on the impact global climate change will have on biodiversity.

Throughout my time at UWF as a student researcher, I have developed problem solving skills, independence and the courage to pursue critical questions about the world around me. Dr. J has been encouraging and supportive as I pursue my research goals, and as I prepare for graduate school, I feel confident in the expanded skill set UWF has given me as both a student and a researcher.