Joey DiBattista - I have been to the shark lab several times as a volunteer but now just started a major research project. I am also excited about the "PIT" experience. I am currently doing my PhD at McGill University in Montreal, Canada on lemon shark mating systems and evolutionary biology using genetics methods. I will be analyzing genetic samples collected at two sites, right here at Bimini and the rest from Marquesas Key, Florida. Oh yeah, I would also like to get a nice job after this degree. So if you know anyone...

Brianna Capuano - I'm one of the rookie volunteers here at the Shark Lab, although I did previously spend 10 days here as a student. As a "newbie," I'm learning the ins and outs at the lab, and so far so good, as they have not yet fed me to the sharks. I just graduated in December of 2005 from the University of Miami with a double bachelors in Marine Science and Biology. I chose to come back to BBFS after having an incredible experience here this past January. During PIT I hope to learn a thing or two from the awesome staff and volunteers, and to gain some serious hands-on experience in the field and with the sharks! My goal is to leave here come July with all my fingers still intact!

Emily Marcus - I have been at the lab for about three weeks now and I am so excited about my first PIT ever. While I'm here, I hope to gain lots of experience in and out of the field, and also to learn everything I can from the other staff and volunteers. I have one semester left at Coastal Carolina University before earning my bachelor of marine science. After graduation, I plan on continuing my education, and also working more on the long lining shark project at Coastal that I have been involved with for the past few years. I am so happy to be here, and am going to have a serious problem trying to leave in August!

Wilson Hambrick - I've only been the "fresh meat" here for less than 24 hours and they still haven't used me as shark bait so I think might make it alright. Coming down here from Alabama was a dream come true. I didn't have any idea a place like BBFS existed. I'm currently a senior at the University of Alabama getting my degree in Biology and Marine Science, hopefully graduating in May….finally…Looking forward to getting PIT started, I've already seen more sharks in my first 24 hours here than I have in my past 6 years of diving…if I can just figure out how to fit in my bunk...

Aleksandra Maljkovic - I came back because I have a huge crush on the sexy Sean Williams. Oh, and I quite like sharks too! This is my second visit to the Sharklab, but my first PIT. I have been obsessed with sharks since childhood……which was quite a long time ago as I am often reminded here. Thanks guys! My main aim here is to learn as much as possible about handling sharks without losing body parts so I can pursue my shark-related PhD with confidence - and a little competence too.

Candice Eastwood - This is my 3rd time at the Shark Lab (in the past13 months). It's become an unhealthy obsession! I'm currently enrolled at UNBSJ in New Brunswick Canada and am in my 3rd year of a BSc in Biology. PIT sounds like an awesome opportunity and I can't wait to get started. Oh and just in case I don't come home in one piece….blame it on Aleks!

Kristine Stump - Back at the Shark Lab…again. The amazing sharks and people keep bringing me back. I've done a course here and I've volunteered, but this is my first PIT. I graduated from the University of Miami in 2001 with a degree in Marine Biology, and in 2002 I finished a Master's in Marine Policy from UM's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. I live and work in Washington, DC now, but I often find myself daydreaming about Bimini. I'm so excited to be back!

Johanna Imhoff - I've been here at the BBFS since January working on my M.S. in Marine Biology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, investigating the utility of a new ultrasonic accelerometer transmitter to detect foraging behavior of juvenile lemon sharks. It's hard to take a break for data collection for the next month, but I'm pretty excited to be starting my fourth PIT, so I'll make it work!

Wendi Contois - I have been at BBFS since March and have realized my calling…following large lemon sharks around the lagoon, while hanging over the bow and taking tons of photos! So if anyone out there is seeking someone with exactly that qualification I am free as of August 15th!! I am extremely excited and honored to be part of such a great crew for my first, but not last, PIT, My final goal is to collect and tag every shark and finish the month with all my fingers…Aim high Wendi, aim high!

Jen Uphill - This is my first time here and I've gotten used to the stinging jellies and biting sandflies fairly well, love the sharks but am scared crapless of going into PIT: only seen sharks on TV before coming here, and can handle one or two, five or ten, but to have one hundred flying around my fingers makes me more than a little nervous! Will just have to take a deep breath and take the plunge…and hopefully come out whole…Mum, maybe you shouldn't read the day to day diary in case you find out about me missing a hand...

Katie (aka Kat) Gledhill - I have been at BBFS since January of this year and like so many others I've fallen in love and been sucked into the addiction of the sharks here. Was meant to stay for 2 months, then 3 months, then for PIT….and now I don't know if I'll ever leave! I'm SO excited to be a part of the fun, craziness and hard work that comes along with PIT. I look forward to catching many sharks and contributing to the science to gain a greater understanding of these beautiful little creatures.

Mark Jenner - I've been at the lab since January 06'and I'm one of the five members of team England being represented during PIT 2006 and also the second Cardiff University student at the lab. This is my first PIT and hopefully won't be my last, live the dream! Like most other people here this year I'm really excited about the whole thing and excited to test my skills learnt over the last 4months, the next three weeks are going to be awesome!!

Christian Pankow - I hail from Indiana, USA, graduated with the B.S. at Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, USA and am now a full-fledged Marine Biologist living the dream and kicking ass. It has been almost ½ a year since I arrived but in that time I have been able to experience some amazing things and meet some incredible and diverse people all passionate about sharks. I am grateful for this chance to be on the PIT crew. This should be an awesome and appropriate finale to this first incredible stay.

Simon Dedman - I'm doing my masters project on the temperature preferences of juvenile Lemon Sharks along South Bimini, coming out of the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, but hailing from London. I'm half way through my 5 month stay, cramming in a thesis, field work, and the acquisition of vital life skills such as wolf whistling, plate spinning, beach football and shark wrestling. The highlight of my time here will be when England wins the World Cup next month...

Sean Williams - I have been at the Shark Lab since September 05' as the assistant lab manager. This will mark my first PIT even though I have been coming here since 98'. I am looking forward to being boat captain on net #3 in Sharkland, which should be absolutely crazy from what I hear! I come from N.S., Canada and work for the Department of Fisheries & Oceans.

Steve Kessel - I hail from the UK. Bow to me! I also love to catch sharks and study them. I am co-PI at the shark lab and am in the process of conducting my PhD research with Cardiff University. One day I hope to be a shark biologist, and if that doesn't work out, a rodeo clown. Come on England!

Matt Potenski - This will be the 5th year that I find myself in Bimini in June. I am a glutton for punishment and keep coming back. Actually, I love the lab experience, handling the lemons, hanging with old friends and making new ones. This year is particularly exciting, as I will be photo-documenting the entire project.

Leann Winn - Jersey represent, holla (walla)! I love studying sharks so my life brings me to 2 choices… either study the mutated toxic glowing fish of the Hudson or study sharks elsewhere… During the year I am a msci teacher and a grad student, but during the summer I get to travel and enjoy my real passion... Each time I come back I gain more knowledge, more friends, more experience, more kool beans pics, and more random bruises. Save the mangroves!

Tristan Guttridge - I was born and raised in the wonderful land of England. From a young vicious age I have been strangely obsessed with the streamlined predators known as sharks. This extreme passion has driven me into studying them and I am now currently the Co-PI with the young, rugged Mr. Kessel and the suave, lethal Mr. DiBatista. My project involves understanding the social behavior of lemon sharks and they are highly social!!! Live and let die!

Katie Grudecki - I am coming up on my three year anniversary as one of the managers here at the BBFS, so this is my third PIT. My hobbies include tap dancing on any hard surfaces, stamp collecting, Dungeons and Dragons, and Chest Fest 2006.

Grant Johnson - I've worked at the SharkLab for approximately 17% of my life. The other 83% of my life took place in and around Minneapolis, MN, excluding roughly 16% of that time in which I was in college in Wisconsin. My main goal during this year's PIT, which is my fifth, is to use less exclamation points and/or triple periods than anyone else on this page.

Doc - I'm Doc and they tie boats to me. To read my bio, Click Here.