Lauren Eve Simonitis, Ph.D. (She/Her/Ella)

Tell us a little about your research.—

I am an aquatic sensory biologist interested in how animals use their sensory systems to understand their environment and navigate predator–prey relationships. I mainly study the olfactory system of a common ocean predator—sharks—by describing the general morphology, distribution of sensory structures, and fluid dynamics of different chondrichthyan nasal morphologies. I utilize a suite of biovisualization techniques including histology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and computed tomography (CT) scanning to visualize the noses of sharks and their relatives.

How do you identify as a scientist?—

I am an aquatic sensory biologist.

What personal identity/ies do you hold that are underrepresented/marginalized in ichthyology or herpetology? How do these identities and experiences enrich your relationship with your science?—

I am a Latina—my mother was born in Cuba.

I was born and raised in Miami, Florida—a community that is both largely Latine and is tied very closely to the ocean. The ability to do research in my own backyard and then share it with my community (in both English and Spanish) is something I deeply value.

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Of your scientific experiences: What do you wish others of your identity knew? What do you wish ichthyologists/herpetologists not of your identity knew?—

I like to remind other Latinas that not only is there space for you in science, but there is an overwhelming need for you. As scientists, we place a high value on answering questions from a multidisciplinary approach, collaborating with scientists outside of our field. Building a team that is not only diverse in specialty, but diverse in identity is just as important.

I wish other ichthyologists and herpetologists knew that for a lot of us, our countries of origin are a source of familial and community trauma. While our countries may be a beautiful vacation destination or field collection opportunity for you, it is a spot that can hold a lot of heartache for us. Many first generation Latines in the US only know our home countries through the stories of our families fleeing or of life before they were forced to leave. A trip home is not always even possible for us.

Additionally, I wish more people understood the Latines are not a monolith. While we often share a language and certain cultural elements, we are different at the regional, community, and individual level. For example, just because we are all from Latin America doesn’t mean we all eat the same food or have the same cultural backgrounds.

What research (or other accomplishment) are you most proud of?—

My proudest accomplishments all come back to working with Minorities in Shark Science (MISS), a nonprofit which works to increase the representation of gender minorities of color in shark science. MISS has provided opportunities for our members to get hands-on field and laboratory experiences, attend conferences, and work on research projects at no cost to our members. The students I have mentored through MISS and the work they have funded have been some of my proudest accomplishments as a scientist. Right now, for example, through MISS’ Rising Tides Program, I am working on a fully funded project with a MISS member, Valentina Garcia-Nunes, looking at Spotted Ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei) sensory morphology over ontogeny. This is her first time being lead author on a research project and will be her first time attending conferences as well.

What sparked your interest in fishes and/or herps? When was this in your life?—

During my Ph.D., I studied how ink works as an aquatic defense mechanism. We were comparing ink from two well-known species (California Sea Hares and Common Cuttlefish) to a relatively unknown inking animal—Pygmy Sperm Whales. Since we were interested in studying the antipredatory effects of ink, we needed a predator that would be the likely target of whale ink attacks. We landed on sharks as our model predator. Although ink is visually dramatic, it also contains chemical components which attack the chemosensory systems of predators. This led me to start studying shark noses, which I was surprised to learn, besides all their media hype, were vastly understudied. Since then, I have been primarily focused on the olfactory system of sharks and their relatives.

What is your favorite publication in an ASIH journal or memorable JMIH presentation/interaction?—

One of my favorite interactions at JMIH was last year (2022) when I was presenting my work of visualizing the olfactory systems of cartilaginous fish. While I had great talks with fellow ichthyologists, the best talks I had were with amphibian sensory morphologists. Talking about the evolution of these sensory systems and the way that the techniques we use on our respective study species could be applied to each other’s was so fun and enriching.

Who has had the most impactful influence on you?—

Finding MISS truly changed the trajectory of my research. When I first started poking around in shark research at the start of my Ph.D., it was a defeating, othering, and outright exclusionary experience. I was, in so many words, immediately labeled as a “diversity scholar” and told point blank that I was not a part of the community. It wasn’t until I met the cofounders of MISS, Jasmin Graham, Carlee Bohannon, Amani Webber-Schultz, and Jaida Elcock, that I felt welcome in shark science. Seeing the founding members unite under the common cause of making shark science a welcoming place for scientists like me was when I finally started calling myself a shark scientist. I would probably have never attended another JMIH if it wasn’t for MISS and the community that they provide.

How do you balance personal life and work? What is (are) the major challenge(s) for balancing personal and professional life?—

I have found the locations, activities, and communities that make me happy outside of academia, and I prioritize my access to them. As academics, we are expected to pick our lives and relocate every couple years until we find a permanent position. The extent of your flexibility of location with living somewhere you feel safe is so different between individuals and is so highly impacted by your identity. Being comfortable in your community depends on factors like your racial and ethnic identity, your health care needs, and your access to safe and affirming spaces. One of the highest priorities for me, for example, in my work and location is being able to work with and in a largely Latine community. Having the opportunity to live and specifically work with the South Florida Latine community has made me love my work and enjoy my personal life immensely.