Hello, I'm Claire! I am a senior at Eckerd College, majoring in Animal Studies, I have a passion in being the middle person in translating scientific research for the general public. I hope to bridge gaps in information to ensure humans are more informed and animals can live better lives. I am excited to be part of this lab because it provides the perfect opportunity to combine my passions for content creation, project management, and animal education. I look forward to supporting the lab’s mission and helping share its research with new audiences.

I support the running of the Media and Relations department. My key role is to develop and implement media strategies to promote the lab’s research and outreach activities. My duties include managing public relations, organizing community outreach programs, and overseeing educational content to share ours and others research.

Hello! I'm Tessie Sacchetti, a Senior Marine Biology major at Eckerd. I have experience in herptile, mammal, and avian animal care from working in an exotic species rehoming centre. I'm excited to collaborate with the lab team to plan and execute research and care for newly discovered species. My future goal is to work in animal care and rehabilitation and publish my work.

I am part of the Research department. I direct research projects from conception to execution. My responsibilities include designing experiments, mentoring assistant researchers, and ensuring compliance with ethical standards in research methodologies. I also provide the lab with the ability to implement and create study protocols and equipment. I also oversee the writing and publication of research papers

Hey, I'm Will! I am excited to be a part of this lab because of all the information we can contribute to a part of the reptile-keeping field that is currently lacking. This research has incredible implications in a variety of spaces. I have previously worked with multiple AZA-accredited institutions and have had the opportunity to be a part of animal care teams responsible for marine mammals, reptiles, big cats, birds of prey, and other animals. In the future, I would love to get involved in species reintroduction programs. Still, in the shorter term, my goals are primarily to get into grad school, possibly for conservation ecology.

I support the running of the Animal Care department by overseeing the daily care and management of our lab animals. My responsibilities include monitoring animal health, ensuring proper nutrition, scheduling and conducting animal daily routines, and coordinating with researchers to facilitate research protocols.

Garrett Hickman is a Marine Science and Animal Studies student at Eckerd College with a strong focus on applied ecology, wildlife monitoring, and animal care across terrestrial and aquatic systems. His experience includes coral reef restoration, scientific diving, forestry management, wildlife observation, coral husbandry, and amphibian research. Garrett also works in environmental education and conservation communication, using photography and outreach to translate science for public audiences. He serves on Eckerd’s Search and Rescue team as a First Mate, Radio Operator, and Coxswain trainee. His background in controlled-environment care and research documentation supports his work in maintaining high standards of herpetological husbandry and contributing to the HERP Lab’s educational and research mission.

Interested in joining our team as an education Manager?

Email: hillsel@eckerd.edu

Hello! My name is Fisher, and I’m a sophomore majoring in Animal Studies. I’ve worked in several hands-on animal husbandry roles, including raising baby goats and helping care for injured horses. These experiences gave me a strong foundation in animal care and a lot of appreciation for the work that goes into it. For the past two summers, I’ve worked as the lead biologist at a marine science–focused summer camp. There, I work with sea turtles by locating and monitoring nests along with administering PIT and flipper tags as part of conservation efforts. I’m excited about the opportunity to create public-facing content while gaining experience working with other professional organizations.

Hello, I'm Grace. I had the opportunity previously to design and study the Brown Pelican at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium about their habitat usage and social interactions with new pelicans in their flock. I then worked under multiple zoo keeper at the Animal Encounters Village, working with hundreds of different animals from capybaras all the way to Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches. I am planning to double major in Animal Studies and Psychology to focus on animal cognition and their relation to humans, as well as minoring in Public Health. I am incredibly excited to work for this lab because I love being around such different people and working in such a great community to learn about how we can help and research such interesting reptiles.  

I'm 19 years old, working as a lead researcher for Professor Rickman. I initially took an interest in the lab because I wanted to get involved in animal care. I was offered the position of assistant researcher, and after putting in some hard work, I was promoted to a lead! I've had my own crested geckos before, so having the opportunity to work with more cresties was something I couldn't pass up. I'm majoring in Animal Studies and minoring in Marine Science. I absolutely love working with the lab, and it means the world to me that this work will better the welfare for other herptiles!

Hello! My name is Katelyn and I am from Clemson, SC. I’ve always been fascinated by reptiles and have cared for a variety of species as pets. I have worked multiple jobs that care for companion, farm and exotic animals. This past year I obtained my apprentice falconry license which has allowed me to work with a red-tailed hawk. I am very excited to be involved in the HERP Lab, and look forward to working with reptiles through research and collaborating with other team members who are also passionate about animal welfare. For the past few years, I have been working at a mixed-animal veterinary clinic. I am very passionate about animal conservation and plan on becoming a veterinarian with a specialization in zoo or wildlife medicine!

My name is Zekiel, and I’m incredibly excited to get the opportunity to work closely with various species of reptiles! Animals in general have been quite a large part of my life for a while, and I have had wonderful experiences in the past working with rescues and learning about animal care. I have learned a lot in regards to their care and behavior simply from having many pets of my own, so I’m very interested in what I can learn from a more professional setting! Hopefully, this will give me valuable knowledge as I aspire to achieve my own career in research centered around reptiles. 

Hi! My name is Cole Starrett. I am currently a junior, majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. I am passionate about marine life and animal biology, conservation, and preservation. My career aspirations include becoming a large animal veterinarian. I spent the last several summers working on a shark tagging vessel, out of Ocean City, Maryland. Our directive is to advance research via tagging and analysis of sharks of all species, including Great Whites. I most recently did research work through Eckerd in the Amazon Rainforest and in the jungle of Belize. My other interests include traveling, surfing, and shark research. I’m excited to be a part of this lab with great people, further increasing my knowledge and experience with animals in a research-based context.

Hi! My name is Liav, and I am currently a sophomore at Eckerd College. I am an Environmental Studies major, and I have a deep love for animals and the habitats in which they live. After traveling to the Amazon in Brazil last month with Erin Rickman, she offered me a position in her lab, which I will be beginning soon. I am very excited to collect data and do research with reptiles!

I've had a pet snake for the past 11 years, and for the past 3 years I've volunteered at the New Mexico Wildlife Centre (when I'm home, that is). Last summer, I helped a snake catcher release his rattlesnakes and worked 3 days a week as a ranch hand at a horse shelter. For the past 2 months, I've been volunteering at Seaside Seabird Sanctuary. I saw this lab position and thought that this would be a different experience that's right up my alley, and I thought I would see what I think about proper lab work. I also really want to get handling experience with other reptiles, as I could always use more. For the future, I intend to do public education about animals anywhere I can, and if I enjoy this lab work, then I'll see how and where I can contribute to research.

My name is Isabella. I am a current sophomore at Eckerd. I’ve interned at the Long Island Riverhead Aquarium's mammal department and have also worked in their education department, caring for reptiles. I am a double major, double minor, majoring in animal studies and visual arts, and minoring in psychology and art history.

Hello, my name is Ella Dimonda, and I am very excited to be joining the herp lab. My animal care experience consists of zoo summer camps and being a pet owner. I look forward to working with the herptiles in this lab and learning about their needs, as I hope this will help with my future career of designing zoo and aquarium enclosures. 

Hey there, I'm Jess. I am a double major in Environmental and Animal Studies.  I have a pet crested gecko named Miso.  In the future, I hope to do conservation work.

Interested in joining our team as an Invert Technician?

Email: hillsel@eckerd.edu

Interested in joining our team as an Invert Technician?

Email: hillsel@eckerd.edu