CV Highlights

Primary Advisor: Dr. Jose Eirin-Lopez 

Research Focus: Epigenetic responses to environmental stressors in corals, and connections between environmental epigenetics and coral reef conservation.  

Primary Advisor: Dr. John Bruno 

Thesis Title: The effect of invasive lionfish on reef fish community structure along the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.

Highest Honors and Carolina Research Scholar; GPA: 3.673

Research Advisor: Dr. John Bruno; Minors in Chemistry and Marine Sciences

Thesis Title: Native predators do not influence invasion success of Pacific lionfish on Caribbean reefs.

Beal A. P., S. Hackerott, K. Feldheim, S. Gruber, J. M. Eirin-Lopez. (2022) Age group DNA methylation differences in lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris): Implications for future age estimation tools. Ecology and Evolution 12: e9226

 Hackerott, S., H. A. Martell, J. M. Eirin-Lopez. (2021) Coral environmental memory: Causes, mechanisms, and consequences for future reefs. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 36: 1011-1023

Beal A. P., S. Hackerott, B. Franks, S. Gruber, K. Feldheim, J. M. Eirin-Lopez. (2021) Epigenetic responses in juvenile Lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) during a coastal dredging episode in Bimini, Bahamas. Ecological Indicators 127: 107793

Hackerott, S., A. Valdivia, C. E. Cox, N. J. Silbiger, J. F. Bruno. (2017) Invasive lionfish had no measurable effect on prey fish community structure on the Belizean Barrier Reef. PeerJ 5:e3270

 Valdivia A., J. F. Bruno, C. E. Cox, S. Hackerott, S. J. Green. (2014) Re-examining the relationship between invasive lionfish and native grouper in the Caribbean. PeerJ 2:e348 

Hackerott, S., A. Valdivia, S. Green, I. Côté, C. E. Cox, L. Adkins, C. A. Layman, W. F. Precht, J. F. Bruno. (2013) Native predators do not influence invasion success of Pacific lionfish on Caribbean reefs. PLoS ONE 8(7): e68259.