Michael McCallister, M. Sc

Michael McCallister, M.Sc.
Research Coordinator

Florida Atlantic University

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute

5600 US 1 North

Fort Pierce, FL 34946

Office: 772-242-2498

Cell: 215-740-4832

[e-mail]

EDUCATION
2012 M.S., Biology. University of North Florida. Jacksonville, FL
2007 B.S., Marine Science and Biology (double major). University of Miami. Miami, FL
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Ecology, biology, and conservation of elasmobranchs; ecology of commercially and recreationally important fishes; population and community ecology; foraging ecology; habitat utilization; acoustic telemetry; fisheries ecology and management.
SKILLS
Software: Microsoft Office, SAS, SPSS, ArcGIS, Photoshop
Fisheries: Longline, drum-line, gillnet, seine, trawls, hook-and-line, acoustic telemetry, fish surgery
Diving: PADI Dive Master, TDI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures, AAUS Science Diver (150’), ~500 dives
Certifications: American Red Cross Lifeguard/CPR/First Aid/AED, NAUI O2 Provider
Other: Florida Fish and Wildlife Boater Education Certificate, USCG Boater Safety Certificate
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Research Coordinator, April 2016 – Present

Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Fort Pierce, FL

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  Develop and run fishery independent sampling surveys for the Fish Ecology Program.
  
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  Assist in developing grant proposals, permit applications, reports, and publications.
  

Biological Scientist I, March 2014 – March 2016

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Marathon, FL

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  Conduct field data collection, monitoring, and underwater sampling for reef fish populations and fish spawning aggregations in the Florida Keys.
  
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  Maintain databases, QA/QC data, and prepare data for publications, and presentations.
  
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  Maintain diving, field, laboratory, and safety equipment.
  

Research Assistant, January 2014 – February 2014

Department of Biology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL

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  Coordinated and ran freshwater eel sampling at the Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas NERR.
  
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  Trained and organized a team of 5 undergraduate volunteers.
  

Research Assistant, August 2012 – September 2013

Shark Biology Program, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL

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  Coordinated all field research activities for the UNF Shark Biology Program.
  
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  Coordinated sample collection for ongoing research projects with multiple collaborators.
  
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  Generated permit reports, project summaries, and manuscripts for publication.
  

Graduate Research Assistant, September 2010 – August 2012

University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL

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  Examined the effects of the BP Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill on pelagic and deepwater sharks and teleosts in the Gulf of Mexico.
  

Graduate Thesis Research, June 2009 – August 2012

University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL

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  Thesis research: Abundance, distribution, and habitat use of sharks in two northeast Florida estuaries.
  

Biological Scientist I, June 2008 – June 2009

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Long Key, FL

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  Served as a research support scientist at the FWC Keys Marine Lab.
  
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  Provided scientific diving and logistical support for visiting researchers and school groups.
  

Volunteer Research Assistant, January 2007 – May 2007

South Florida Student Shark Program (R.J. Dunlap Marine Conservation Program), Miami, FL

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  Assisted with research on shark and fish populations in Biscayne Bay, FL
  

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Lecturer, September 2013 – December 2013

Department of Biology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL

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  Taught two sections of General Biology Lab 1 (for biology majors).
  
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  Developed course lectures, weekly lab assignments, and evaluated student progress.
  

Graduate Teaching Assistant, August 2009 – December 2010

Department of Biology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL

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  Taught two semesters of Principles of Biology Lab (non-majors).
  
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  Taught one semester of General Biology Lab I (majors).
  

Marine Science Field Instructor, August 2007 – June 2008

MarineLab, Key Largo, FL

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  Instructed multi-day, hands on, marine education programs for student groups (5^th-12^th).
  
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  Instructed and led on the water field trips to teach students about local marine ecosystems.
  

Education Instructor, May 2006 – June 2007

Aquatic Discoveries Inc., Cape May, NJ

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  Taught Science Education at Sea field trips for student groups from 3^rd-12^th grade.
  
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  Collected live specimens to teach students about coastal marine ecosystems.
  

PUBLICATIONS
McCallister, M., B. Binder, J. Renchen, and A. Acosta. In Prep. Residency and diel activity patterns of invasive lionfish in the Florida Keys identified using acoustic telemetry
McCallister, M., R. Ford, and J. Gelsleichter. 2013. Abundance and distribution of sharks in northeast Florida waters and identification of potential nursery habitat. Marine and Coastal Fisheries: Dynamics, Management, and Ecosystem Science 5: 200-210
McCandless, C.T., C.N. Belcher, B.S. Frazier, M. McCallister, R. Ford, and J. Gelsleichter. 2013.

Standardized indices of abundance for bonnethead and Atlantic sharpnose sharks caught during the

Cooperative Atlantic States Shark Pupping and Nursery longline surveys from South Carolina to northern Florida. SEDAR34-WP-37. SEDAR, North Charleston, SC. 18 pp.
PRESENTATIONS
“Residency and diel activity patterns of lionfish in the Florida Keys identified using acoustic telemetry” – Oral presentation at Fish at Night: An International Symposium November 17-20, 2015 Miami, FL.
“Identifying potential nursery habitat for the scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini)” – Oral presentation at the annual Joint Meeting of Icthyologists and Herpetologists July 10-15, 2013 Albuquerque, NM.
“Developing a sightings database to document the presence of white sharks (Carhcharodon carcharias) off the southeast United States” – Poster presentation at the annual Joint Meeting of Icthyologists and Herpetologists July 10-15, 2013 Albuquerque, NM.
“Understanding the effect of prey abundance on habitat selection for the Atlantic sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae) in a northeast Florida estuary” – Oral presentation at the World Congress of Herpetology/30^th Annual Meeting of the American Elasmobranch Society August 8-14, 2012 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
“Survey of elasmobranchs in northeast Florida waters: Abundance, distribution, and identification of potential shark nursery habitat” – Oral presentation at the 20^th annual Spring Meeting of the Southern Division of the American Fishery Society January 26-29, 2012 Biloxi, MS.
“Use of two northeast Florida estuaries as shark nursery habitat” – Oral Presentation at the Annual Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists July 6-11, 2011 Minneapolis, MN.
“Survey of elasmobranchs in northeast Florida waters: Abundance, distribution, and identification of potential shark nursery habitat” – Guest speaker at Biological Sciences Seminar, Department of Biology, University of North Florida, March 11, 2011 Jacksonville, FL.
“Survey of elasmobranchs in two northeast Florida estuaries” – Poster presentation at the Annual Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists July 7-12, 2010 Providence, RI
ACADEMIC SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP
2015 Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI)

2012 American Fisheries Society (AFS)

2008 American Elasmobranch Society (AES)
GRANTS, AWARDS, & SCHOLARSHIPS
2012 – American Elasmobranch Society Student Travel Award, $500

2011 – UNF Coastal Biology Flagship Program Student Grant, $500

2010 – UNF Graduate Scholars Program Grant, $425

2010 – American Elasmobranch Society Student Travel Award, $500

2006 – Belton G. & Margaret T. Aldridge Tropical Biology Scholarship, $10,000

2002 – Eagle Scout Award