Issy Crawley
Lead Intern
Issy grew up in a small coastal town in Cornwall, UK, where the ocean quickly became a central part of her life. From exploring rock pools as a child to swimming in the sea, the marine environment on her doorstep sparked an early fascination with the aquatic world that later developed into a passion for marine biology. This passion led her to pursue an MSci in Marine Biology at the University of Exeter. Unsure at first which area of marine biology she wanted to focus on, Issy used her time at university to explore a wide range of opportunities. She volunteered internationally with several marine conservation organisations and gained valuable fieldwork experience across diverse habitats, from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean. These experiences shaped her growing interest in shark research and conservation, which ultimately became the focus of her master’s research in shark feeding ecology. Issy’s journey has now brought her to the Shark Lab, where she was awarded the Doc Gruber Memorial Scholarship. Issy is excited to get stuck into hands-on shark research, learn what it takes to operate a remote field station, and continue building her confidence as an early-career scientist.
Tim Furst
Lead Intern
Tim was born and raised in Rochester, New York. Despite growing up several hours away from the ocean, he developed a passion for anything that had to do with marine life and conservation – especially sharks – early on in his life. He graduated from Stony Brook University in May 2025 with a BSc in Marine Science and a minor in Environmental Studies, where he had the opportunity to study while travelling in Hawaii, Jamaica, and The Bahamas. He is excited to fully immerse himself in everything the Shark Lab has to offer, and develop his skills in marine field research, public outreach, and conservation. In his free time, Tim can be found at the beach, snorkeling, surfing, or diving.
Brooke Hackett
Intern
Brooke is from Canada and recently completed a BSc in Marine Biology at the University of Victoria. During her degree, she gained hands-on experience through a variety of marine field courses and research positions, including work with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. She has spent time conducting fieldwork in both Canada and Australia, which helped spark her interest in elasmobranch biology, tropical marine systems, and conservation-focused research. Brooke loves being in the field, especially in remote settings, which ultimately led her to the Shark Lab. She is excited to join the lab as an intern and looks forward to working directly with sharks and rays while contributing to ongoing projects in Bimini. Brooke plans to pursue a master’s degree in marine biology in the future and is thrilled to be learning from the Shark Lab team.
Ethan Prawdzik
Intern
Ethan grew up on the Prairies of Western Canada where he spent most of his time exploring the natural world in the Rocky Mountains or on the Prairies. On a whim he decided to pursue a BSc in Marine Biology at the University of Victoria. Here he developed his passion for marine science and the critters that call the sea their home. During his BSc he completed numerous field courses that lead him towards a career in biological field work. After graduating in June 2024 he began pursuing a career as an aquatic biologist. Although he has enjoyed his time working in this field, Ethan knows it is not his passion, so he is very stoked to be coming to the Shark Lab. He is excited to work in the marine environment again, connect with other passionate individuals and learn as much as he can.
Erin Hurley
Intern
Erin grew up on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, where summers consisted of more time spent in water than on land. Her fascination with aquatic environments grew as she dipped her toes in the vast world under the ocean’s surface through snorkeling and diving. She graduated from St. Thomas University in New Brunswick, Canada, with a Bachelor’s degree in Environment & Society and Journalism.
When working on an organic produce farm in Oahu, Hawaii, she was able to snorkel with a pod of spinner dolphins off a nearby beach, and observe various other vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants of the ocean. These were some of the encounters which really cemented her desire to pursue marine conservation work. She is very excited to be a part of the awesome team at Bimini Shark Lab and to continue learning about the intricate marine ecosystems she has been amazed by since childhood!
Shriver Hansen
Intern
Shriver grew up in Dallas, Texas, spending much of his time sailing and fishing on lakes and the Gulf. This quickly grew into a passion for the water that was further fueled by his interests in biology and ecology. He received his BA in Biology and Classical & Medieval Studies from Bates College in May 2025, where his love for freshwater and marine ecosystems was able to flourish through coursework and research in the lab and the field. Prior to joining the lab, he also worked as a NOAA fisheries observer in the Northeast groundfish fishery. Shriver plans to pursue a PhD in marine science in the future and hopes to continue doing research on the incredible ecosystems and organisms found in our oceans, whether in the field or in the lab, and is very excited to fully dedicate himself to elasmobranch research and outreach here at the Shark Lab.
Ella Chmielewski
Intern
Ella grew up in Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes, where she played in the water surrounded by nature. During her teen years, her mother’s medical care allowed her to frequently visit Florida where she spent more time by the ocean and learned that she wanted to devote her life to conserving marine environments. She attended the University of Minnesota where she graduated in May of 2025 with a BSc in Earth Sciences and a minor in Marine Biology. Being in a landlocked state, Ella dove into freshwater conservation with the hopes to one day apply those skills to marine settings. Having an immense interest and admiration for sharks, Ella was lucky to visit the Shark Lab in 2023 with a group of students from her University. She fell in love with Bimini’s unique ecosystems and knew she wanted to one day return. Ella is excited to join the Shark Lab team and work closer with the creatures she so deeply respects and loves. She is also excited to dive into the outreach and research aspects of the Shark Lab’s mission, as these are areas she focused on heavily in undergrad. Ella is looking forward to learning from all the Shark Lab has to offer and is grateful to be here!