Meet The Croc Docs
Principal Investigators
Frank Mazzotti, Ph.D.
Professor, University of Florida
Email: fjma@ufl.edu
PhD. 1983 Ecology, Pennsylvania State University
M.S. 1981 Biology, University of Miami
B.A. 1971 Social and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University
Melissa Miller, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Invasive Wildlife Ecology
Email:melissamiller@ufl.edu
Ph.D. Auburn University, 2017
M.S. Sam Houston State University, 2009
B.S. Northern Kentucky University, 2005
Sergio A. Balaguera-Reina, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Scientist, UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Davie, FL. Affiliate Faculty, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Ph.D. Biological Sciences. Texas Tech University, TX, United States. 2018
Geographic Information Science and Technology. Texas Tech University, TX, May 2018.
BSc. Marine Biology. Jorge Tadeo Lozano University, Bogotá, Colombia. August 2007.
Venetia Briggs-Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Research Ecologist, UF – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
Director, Lamanai Field Research Center
UNESCO-L’Oreal Women in Science Post-doctoral Fellow, BU/STRI, Panama, May 2007-2009
Ph.D. Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, December 2007
M.Sc. Biology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, August 2001
B.Sc. Biology: Environmental Science, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, May 1999
A.A., Biology, Meridian Community College, Meridian, MS, May 1997
Coordinators
Eric Suarez
Wildlife Research Program Coordinator, UF – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
Invasion Ecology, Wildlife and Habitat Management, Tropical Ecology, Conservation Biology, and Education and Outreach.
M.Sc. Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 2015
B.Sc. Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 2010
Duwa S. Ansari
Office Manager, UF – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
Biological Sciences
Bachelors in Biology, Florida Atlantic University, 2022
Bryna Daykin
Crocodylian Research Coordinator, University of Florida – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
Herpetology; Research and conservation of imperiled species; Invasive species research and management
B.S. Zoology, 2017. State University of New York at Oswego.
Brandon Welty
Invasive Species Research Coordinator, UF – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
Herpetology, Wildlife Management, Wildlife ecology and conservation, Spatial ecology, Invasive species management.
B.S. in Biology, Florida Atlantic University, 2022
Staff
James Whelpley
Wildlife Biologist, University of Florida – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
B.S. Biology: Concentration in Zoology. Palm Beach Atlantic University, 2022
Edison Daniel Bonilla Liberato
Wildlife Biologist, UF – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
Herpetology, spatial ecology, landscape ecology, illegal wildlife trade, wildlife monitoring, human-crocodylian conflict, and ethnozoology
BSc. Environmental Biology. Ibague University, Tolima, Colombia, 2023
Maria Camila Ojeda Rojas
Wildlife Biologist, University of Florida – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
Maria’s academic interests center around wildlife management and ecosystem conservation and restoration
BSc. Marine Biology. Jorge Tadeo Lozano University, Bogotá, Colombia. August 2018.
Alex S. Romer
Quantitative Ecologist, UF – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
M.S. Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, 2018.
Kevin Olejniczak
Wildlife Biologist, UF – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
Wildlife conservation and ecology, Impacts and management of invasive species; Herpetology
B.S. Environmental Science, Minor in Biology, Florida State University, 2021
Michelle Bassis
Wildlife Biologist, UF – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Management, Animal Behavior, Invasive Biology
B.S. Zoology, Ecology concentration; University of Maine, 2017
Aaron Israel Chimelis
Outreach Coordinator, UF – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
Wildlife Conservation, Documentary Filmmaking, Human-Wildlife Interactions
B.A. in Environmental Studies and Communications, Eckerd College, 2023
Gabriella De La Fe
Wildlife Biologist, UF – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education
B.S. Biology, Florida International University, 2026
Hansel Caballero Silva
Croc Docs Bone Lab Technician, UF – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
Herpetology, Wildlife Management, Invasion Ecology, Wildlife Conservation.
B.S. Biology, 2016. University of Havana.
Alexis Pupo
Wildlife Biologist, UF – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
Bachelor of Science, University of Miami, 2020
Master of Science, Northern Michigan University, 2025
Taylor Francis Brotons
Wildlife Biologist, UF – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
Bachelor of Science in Science Communication, University of Miami, 2016
Arlyn Patricia Gonzalez Rodriguez
Wildlife Biologist, UF – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
B.S. Biology, 2022. University of Havana.
Andres Rodriguez Cordero
B.S. Biology, Universidad Mayor de San Andres, Bolivia
MSc. and PhD, Texas Tech University
Felipe Hernandez-Gonzalez
Research Scholar, UF – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
M.Sc. Biology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 2025
B.Sc Biology, Universidad del Tolima, Ibague, Colombia, 2020
David Cole
Wildlife Biologist, UF – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
B.Sc. Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Ohio University, 2020
Phillip Wilkinson
Wildlife Technician, Fleet Manager UF – Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
A.S. State Technical College of Missouri
B.S. Parks and Recreation, University of Missouri