ECKERD COLLEGE NEWS Shark Scientist John Hlavin, Ph.D., New Assistant Professor & Shark Lab Update
Season 2 Episode 2343 · Sep 22, 02:35 PM
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(Airs 9/22/2026) In this episode of Eckerd College News, Lunchtime Conversation host Nanette Wiser shares some of the amazing stories about students, professors, events and research at this Gulf Coast college in St. Petersburg. Thanks to the Eckerd College News/Communication Dept. for sharing their blogs with us on RadioStPete. Read the article in full here by Madison DeVore, Class of 2025. John Hlavin, Ph.D., is a new assistant professor of marine science at Eckerd College this fall. Photo by Penh Alicandro ’22
John Hlavin, Ph.D, Assistant Professor of Marine Science
Education Ph.D., Environmental Science and Policy, University of Miami, 2026 B.S., Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 2021
Research interests I am a marine ecologist whose core research focus is untangling predator-prey relationships, and reconstructing dietary niches using a combination of stable isotope analysis and DNA metabarcoding to better understand the foraging ecology of sharks, rays, and other predators. Through collaboration and building new skillsets, I aim to create a multidisciplinary lab group investigating diverse aspects of predator ecology including movement and habitat use, growth and life history, behavior, community dynamics, and more.
Courses taught Principles of Ecology Elasmobranch Biology and Management
Selected publications
John Hlavin, Ph.D, Assistant Professor of Marine Science
Education Ph.D., Environmental Science and Policy, University of Miami, 2026 B.S., Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 2021
Research interests I am a marine ecologist whose core research focus is untangling predator-prey relationships, and reconstructing dietary niches using a combination of stable isotope analysis and DNA metabarcoding to better understand the foraging ecology of sharks, rays, and other predators. Through collaboration and building new skillsets, I aim to create a multidisciplinary lab group investigating diverse aspects of predator ecology including movement and habitat use, growth and life history, behavior, community dynamics, and more.
Courses taught Principles of Ecology Elasmobranch Biology and Management
Selected publications
- Hlavin, J. F., & Macdonald, C. C. (2025). Nursery Resource Use Dynamics in Great Hammerheads (Sphyrna mokarran) Across Ontogeny. Ecology and Evolution, 15(6), e71473. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71473
- Hlavin, J. F., Yeager, E. A., Martin, C. E., Will, C. J., Perni, N., Pankow, C., & Macdonald, C. C. (2026). Is the seagrass greener on the other side? Faster growth in Biscayne Bay, Florida’s nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) compared to neighboring conspecifics of Bimini, The Bahamas. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 109(1), 30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-025-01784-7
- Hlavin, J. F., Saltzman, J. R., D’Alessandro, E. K., & Macdonald, C. C. (2026). A decision tree to guide precautionary and adaptive tiering in marine nursery identification and management. Frontiers in Marine Science, 13, 1812999. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1812999
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