I am interested in the herp lab because animal welfare within pet settings, particularly business, is often ignored not because of a lack of empathy but rather a lack of knowledge. I am currently a Marine Biology Major with a minor in Animal studies. While I never kept any reptiles in the past, I have been keeping aquariums and various terrestrial insects in my care since I was four and care deeply about the lives that are in my hands.I am hoping that my experience in the Hero Lab will allow me to better take care of my own animals and allow me to educate others who love animals but might not necessarily understand the requirements of them.

I am a senior at Eckerd College double majoring in Animal Studies and Environmental Studies with experience in environmental education and animal care, husbandry, and behavior, specifically with bottlenose dolphins. I am passionate about conservation education, fostering meaningful animal connections, and inspiring others to care about the environment and the wildlife found in them. I am interested in the lab because it allows me to further my own knowledge as well as helping others learn more!

My name is Galen McKenna, I am a 2026 Eckerd graduate from Minneapolis, Minnesota. I’m pursuing a BA in both Animals Studies and Anthropology. I would like to go into a career pursuing work in conservation, or naturalistic journalism centered around animals such as herptiles, who do not get the recognition they deserve. My favorite herptile is the saltwater crocodile. My relevant past experiences include working at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand studying Asian Elephant behavior and spending time in Scotland researching the training of sheep dogs. I’m excited to work with the herp lab to make science more accessible to others, and to potentially assist in direct research opportunities within the lab. 

I’m an Animal Studies major with a minor in Biology who loves writing about animals and ecosystems in a way that actually makes sense to people outside the science world. My goal is to make scientific research approachable, engaging, and meaningful for a wider audience. I have prior scientific communication experience in various topics such as behavior, demographics, and cultural studies. With additional writing experience with Eckerd College’s Triton Publications! 

I am an animal studies and French double major. I joined the lab to work on my science communication skills with people outside the scientific community. I a little experience with reptiles and am excited to gain even more through the lab

Interested in joining our team as a content creator?

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.

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.

I’m interested in the lab because I want to learn more about good animal welfare, how to care for animals that are under human care, and what we can do to help animals under human care. I am a junior and majoring in animal studies and environmental studies. Although I don’t know much about reptiles, this is giving me the chance to learn, grow, and improve my knowledge.

Hi! My name is Ryleigh Van Veghel! My pronouns are She/Her and I am a senior. My major is Animal Studies with a minor in Art! I am very excited to be an Assistant Researcher on this beautiful team along with learning more about reptiles! 

I am an animal studies major, and I’m very interested in researching animals and educating others. I work at Petco during school breaks and had a pet tortoise growing up. Reptiles have always fascinated me, and I love learning new things about them daily! 

Hello! I’m Mylee Whitus, a senior Marine Biology major at Eckerd with minors in Chemistry and Anthropology. My passion for research grew after traveling to the Amazon with Professor Rickman, where I gained hands-on field experience studying animals and ecosystems. Although I don’t have reptile-specific experience, I’m eager to expand into new systems, contribute to data collection and experiments, and grow as a researcher. My long-term goal is to work in conservation and apply research to protect wildlife and ecosystems.

Assistant Researcher

Sofi Carvalho

I. Love. Animals. They are the reason for all of this. I have always felt like I have had a calling towards taking care of those who are in need of it most. Animal Studies major, environmental studies minor. This is my life, and I'm proud and hopeful to be living it. 

Hi, I'm Talyn Blunt, and I have been an animal lover my whole life. I pet-sat throughout high school and loved to pet-sit all types of reptiles. Instead of simply working in animal care, I will get to see these fascinating creatures more scientifically. I plan to take this experience in college and apply it to a future career by not only studying animals but also working to preserve their environments to ensure that these incredible creatures will have a home on earth for years to come.

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!

Hi! I’m Justice Booker. I am achieving a degree in Animal studies and Film. When I'm not at work, you can often find me enjoying adventures and spending quality time with my pet dog. I gained valuable experience in animal husbandry, caring for horses and many other animals like emus. One of my favorite things on campus is the farm. We focus on growing crops for our college community and maintaining a successful compost system. Now, I can't wait to get involved in reptile research at the lab!

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.

I’m an undergraduate marine science major with minors in Chemistry and Spanish. I have previous research experience in harmful algal bloom (HAB) reporting and in a lab studying environmental stress responses in crabs, in addition to keeping two reptiles of my own, Elbow, the ball python, and Hypatia, an African Fat-Tailed Gecko, as well as other species in the past, including Leopard and Gargoyle Geckos. I’m excited to join the herpetological lab to expand my research experience into terrestrial and amphibious systems and to study herpetofauna behavior and cognition. My long-term goal is to pursue a PhD and work as a researcher focused on animal biology and ecology.

I’m a Marine Science major with a minor in Environmental Studies. I’ve never worked with reptiles before, but I’ve always found them interesting, and I’m glad I finally have a chance to interact with them up close. I joined the lab primarily because I’m looking for research experience and practice with handling animals in a lab setting, as well as collecting and analyzing data. My friend recommended the lab to me after spending a winter term in the Amazon with Professor Rickman! 

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 Devon Clark. I have grown up around many different animals but reptiles have always been my favorite to take care of and be around. I have several pet reptiles but I also take in reptiles from bad situations in order to rehabilitate and rehome them. In the past I’ve volunteered at the Pacuare reserve in Costa Rica where I helped collect data on leather back sea turtle hatchlings and eggs. I also spent a lot of time volunteering at wildlife sanctuary’s where I cared for animals, taught people how to properly interact with animals, and participated in fundraising events. I’m excited to get experience working in reptile research. I love learning about reptiles cognition, husbandry, care, and the steps I can take to improve the lives of my own reptiles. In the future I would love to have a career that involves animal husbandry, research, or conservation. I’m excited to be apart of the Herpetological Environments and Research in Practice Laboratory

My name is Miya Bishop. I’m a sophomore here at Eckerd, majoring in Biology, Animal Studies, and Environmental Studies. I have always been an animal lover, having all sorts of pets from frogs to dogs! I currently have a corn snake named Cierra and two cats! I’ve volunteered at Franklin Park Zoo in Boston and at a local farm in my home town! I’ve also been involved in several projects at CSCR in Cohasset, Massachusetts. I’ve always enjoyed the work I’ve done in animal/environmental education. I’m very excited to be a part of the HERP Lab and get to help with this research! I’m thrilled to work with the animals directly as well as with my peers! I hope to one day work in wildlife conservation and research, contributing to the world's knowledge of wildlife. 

My name is Maxwell, and I’ve been keeping reptiles for over ten years. I’ve worked with many different herps at the Central Park Zoo, Save the Bay aquarium, and Greenburgh nature center. I’m very excited to see what impacts the lab can have on welfare in reptile keeping! I already love working with the little crested geckos and can’t wait to watch them grow up in the lab!