Sarah Hoffmann

shoffmann2014@fau.edu
(208)-866-0115

Education
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton FL
PhD Candidate Integrative Biology
Expected graduation: December 2018

Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton FL

2016 Masters of Science, Biological Sciences

Clemson University, Clemson SC

2014 Bachelor of Science, Biological Sciences

Peer Reviewed Publications

1. Hoffmann SL, Warren SM, Porter ME. 2017. Regional variation in undulatory
kinematics of two hammerhead species: the bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo) and the
scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini). Journal of Experimental Biology. 220 (18).
3336-3343.
2. Natanson LJ, Skomal GB, Hoffmann SL, Porter ME, Goldman K, Serra D. (2018) Age
and Growth of Elasmobranchs: do band pairs record age? Journal of Marine and
Freshwater Research.
3. Kazemi A, Warren SM, Hoffmann SL, Curet OM, Porter ME. (2018) The effect of head
morphology on flow field. Proceedings of the 10th meeting of the American Institute for
Aeronautics and Astronautics.
4. Hoffman SL, Donatelli CM, Leigh SC, Brainerd EL, Porter ME. Three-dimensional
movements of pectoral fins during routine turning in Pacific spiny dogfish, S. suckleyi. In
Review.

Invited Presentations (*presenter)

2018 *Hoffmann SL and Porter ME. Ecomorphological differences determine maneuvering
strategies in sharks. International congress on the biology of fishes. Calgary, Alberta,
CA. (oral).
2017 *Hoffmann SL and Porter ME. Functional ecomorphology of shark pectoral fins.
Florida Sea Grant Coastal Science Symposium. Gainesville, FL. (poster)
2017 *Hoffmann SL. Just keep swimming: evolution and application of the study of animal
locomotion. Manatee Lagoon: FPL Eco-Discovery. West Palm Beach, FL.
2017 *Hoffmann SL. Functional ecomorphology of shark pectoral fins. Gumbo Limbo
Nature Center Gordon J. Gilbert Scholarship Finalist. Boca Raton, FL.
2017 *Hoffmann SL, Leigh SC, Donatelli CM, Brainerd EL, Porter ME. 3D analyses of
volitional swimming behavior with the use of fully submerged, consumer grade
cameras. Natural History and Morphology - Engines of Inspiration Workshop. Joint
Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Austin, TX.
 2017 *Hoffmann SL. Graduate research in the marine sciences: the comparative
biomechanics of sharks. Lynn University Department of Biological Sciences. Boca
Raton, FL.

Presentations (*presenter)
2018 *Hoffmann SL and Porter ME. Asynchronous pectoral fin rotation in the bonnethead shark,
Sphyrna tiburo. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Meeting. San Francisco, CA.
(oral)
2018 *Lopez WA, Hoffmann SL, Porter ME. Slice slice baby: Cross-sectional analysis of shark
pectoral fin radials. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Meeting. San Francisco,
CA. (poster)
2017 *Hoffmann SL, Leigh SC, Donatelli CM, Brainerd EL, Porter ME. Three-dimensional
rotation of the pectoral fins of Squalus suckleyi during volitional turning. American
Elasmobranch Society Meeting. Austin, TX. (oral)
2017 *Hoffmann SL, Leigh SC, Donatelli CM, Brainerd EL, Porter ME. Three-dimensional
rotation of the pectoral fins of Squalus suckleyi during volitional turning. Florida Ichthyology
Student Homily. Boca Raton FL. (oral)
2017 *Lopez WA, Hoffmann SL, Porter ME. Functional morphology of shark pectoral fins.
Florida Ichthyology Student Homily. Boca Raton FL. (oral)
2017 *Hoffmann SL, Leigh SC, Donatelli CM, Brainerd EL, Porter ME. Three-dimensional
rotation of the pectoral fins of Squalus suckleyi during volitional turning. Society for
Integrative and Comparative Biology Meeting. New Orleans, LA. (oral)
2017 *Leigh SC, Hoffmann SL, Summers AP, German DP. Spiraling into control: investigating
the function of the spiral intestine in Elasmobranchs. Society for Integrative and Comparative
Biology Meeting. New Orleans, LA. (oral)
2017 *Hoffmann SL, Testagrose CT, Porter ME. Comparative anatomy and flexural stiffness of
shark pectoral fins in an ecomorphological context. Society for Integrative and Comparative
Biology Meeting. New Orleans, LA. (poster)
2017 *Warren SM, Hoffmann SL, Kazemi A, Porter ME. Do you even lift? Experimental
investigation of the effect of head morphology on lift force generation in sharks. Society for
Integrative and Comparative Biology Meeting. New Orleans, LA. (poster)
2016 *Hoffmann SL, Warren SM, Porter ME. Anterior body morphology and swimming
kinematics of hammerhead sharks. Florida Ichthyology Student Homily. Melbourne, FL. (oral)
2016 *Hoffmann SL, Warren SM, McConkey RP, Porter ME. Sphyrnid Swimming Kinematics: A
comparison Between Ancestral and Derived Cephalofoil Morphology. Society for Integrative
and Comparative Biology Meeting. Portland, OR. (poster)
2016 *Warren SM, Hoffmann SL, Kazemi A, Porter ME. Do you even lift? A comparative study
on the lift contribution of shark heads across differing morphologies. FAU Undergraduate
Research Symposium. Boca Raton, FL. (poster)
2016 *Hoffmann SL, Porter ME. Comparative axial musculature across shark families. Society for
Integrative and Comparative Biology Meeting. Portland, OR. (oral)
2015 Hoffmann SL, Hernandez AV, Warren SM, *Porter ME. Swimming Kinematics and Lift
Generation in Juvenile Sphyrna lewini. American Elasmobranch Society Meeting. Reno, NV.
(poster)
 2015 *Hoffmann SL, Porter ME. Swimming Kinematics of Juvenile Sphyrna lewini. FAU Graduate
and Professional Student Association. Boca Raton, FL. (poster)
2015 *Hoffmann SL, Porter ME. Swimming Kinematics of Juvenile Sphyrna lewini. Society for
Integrative and Comparative Biology Meeting. West Palm Beach, FL (poster)
2014 *Hoffmann SL, Porter ME. Swimming Kinematics of Juvenile Sphyrnid and Carcharhinid
Sharks. Florida Ichthyology Student Homily. Boca Raton, FL. (oral)
2014 *Hoffmann SL, Quirk-Royal B, Smith KM, Childress MC. Impacts of corallivory and
competition on coral cover in the Florida Keys. Benthic Ecology Meeting. Jacksonville, FL.
(oral)
2014 *Quirk-Royal B., Hoffmann SL, Smith KM, Childress MC. Diet selectivity in two parrotfish
genera. Benthic Ecology Meeting. Jacksonville, FL. (oral)
2014 *Hoffmann SL, Quirk-Royal B, Smith KM, Childress MC. Estimating impacts macroalgal
competition on coral cover in the Florida Keys. Clemson Biological Sciences Annual Student
Symposium. Clemson, SC. (oral)

Departmental Seminars (*presenter)

2017 *Hoffmann SL. The importance of collaboration and side projects in PhD research.
FAU Marine Science Seminar. Boca Raton, FL.
2016 *Hoffmann SL, Leigh SC, Donatelli, CM, Brainerd EL, Porter ME. Three
dimensional movement of the pectoral fin about the scapulo-basal joint in S. suckleyi.
Friday Harbor Labs Fish Functional Morphology Seminar. Friday Harbor, WA.
2016 *Leigh SC, German DP, Hoffmann SL, Gibb A, Summers AP. The functional
morphology of the spiral intestine in chondrichthyans. Friday Harbor Labs Fish
Functional Morphology Seminar. Friday Harbor, WA.
2016 *Buser TJ, Lomax JJ, Hoffmann SL, Brainer EL, Summers AP. Flaring of
preopercular spines in sculpin. Friday Harbor Labs Fish Functional Morphology
Seminar. Friday Harbor, WA.
2016 *Hoffmann SL, Porter ME. Functional morphology of planing surfaces in shark
swimming. FAU Marine Science Seminar. Boca Raton, FL.

Teaching
Teaching Fellow, University of Washington Friday Harbor Labs (2018)
Summer immersion Fish Functional Morphology
course (Advisors: Adam Summers, Alice Gibb)

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Florida Atlantic University (2014-Present)

2016 - present Instructor of Record (credentialed): Anatomy and Physiology 1,
Biodiversity, Life Sciences
2 semesters Laboratory and specimen preparation coordinator
4 semesters Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab
2 semesters Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lab
1 semester Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lecture
2 semesters Comparative Vertebrate Morphogenesis

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Clemson University (2013)

1 semester Vertebrate Biology
 (Advisor: Rick Blob)

Scholarships and Awards (*indicates awards and honors)

2018 Newell Doctoral Fellowship - $5,000
2018 FAU Graduate Fellowship for Academic Excellence - $5,000
2018 FAU Graduate Student Grant - $2,400
2018 International Congress on the Biology of Fishes - $950
2018 Ruth Wainwright Fellowship - $250
2018 *FAU Undergraduate Research Symposium Best Student Presentation (to WAL)
2018 *Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology best student paper finalist
2018 FAU Graduate and Professional Student Association Travel Scholarship - $600
2018 Save the Sea Turtle Foundation Scholarship - $500
2017 Newell Doctoral Fellowship - $5,000
2017 American Elasmobranch Society Research Award - $1,000
2017 Marine Technology Society Graduate Student Scholarship - $2,000
2017 Gumbo Limbo Nature Center Graduate Student Scholarship - $2,500
2017 FAU Graduate and Professional Student Association Travel Scholarship - $200
2016 Save the Sea Turtle Foundation Scholarship - $500
2016 FAU Delores A. Auzenne Fellowship - $5,000
2016 Guy Harvey Scholarship Award – $5,000
2016 Blinks Family Scholarship for Friday Harbor Labs – $1,800
2016 FAU Kelly Family Scholarship – $1,000
2016 Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Grant in Aid of Research – $1,000
2016 Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Broadening Participation– $600
2016 FAU Graduate and Professional Student Association Travel Scholarship - $600
2015 Save the Sea Turtle Foundation Scholarship – $500
2015 FAU Graduate Student Grant – $2,400
2014 *Best graduate student talk – Florida Ichthyology Student Homily
2014 FAU Graduate Student Grant – $2,200
2014 FAU Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry Grant – $500
2014 *Third place poster award – Clemson Biological Sciences Annual Student Symposium
2010- Clemson University Non-Resident Merit Scholarship – $56,000
2014
2010- Clemson University Tiger Scholarship – $4,000
2014

Professional Society Membership

Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (2014 – present)
Marine Technology Society (2015 – present)
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (2015 – present)
American Elasmobranch Society (2015 – present)
American Academy of Underwater Sciences (2014 – present)

Certifications
2017 USGS Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC)
 2016 Teaching Credentials for Anatomy and Physiology, Biodiversity, Life Sciences
2015 Florida safe boater license
2014 AAUS – Scientific Diving
2014 PADI – Enriched Air Nitrox
2014 PADI – Advanced Open Water Certification
2014 SSI – Open Water Certification

Courses and Workshops

2016 Fish Functional Morphology University of Washington Friday Harbor Labs

Community Outreach and Academic Service

2018 Event Coordinator for Florida Science Olympiad
2018 Invite speaker for FAU High School dual enrollment undergraduate research
program
2018 Invited speaker for Polk State College Girls in Stem program
2018 Invited panelist for Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology grant workshop
2018 Poster session judge: Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
2017 Guest speaker for the American Association of University Women Tech Trek Camp
2017 Poster session judge: FAU College of Science Graduate Association
2017 Poster session judge: FAU Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
2017 Founder FAU Biology Student Writing Group
2017 Abstract reviewer: Florida Undergraduate Research Conference
2016 NMFS Apex Predator Tagging Program Volunteer (24 days offshore)
2016 Featured scientist and guest blogger for ‘The Gills Club’
2016 Guest blogger for the American Fisheries Society
2016 Volunteer science educator at the ‘North Florida Shark Festival’
2016 Poster session judge: FAU Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
2015 NMFS Volunteer biologist – sample collection at shark fishing tournaments
2015 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Apex Predator Tagging Program
Volunteer (8 days offshore)
2015 Event Coordinator for FAU Association of Biological and Biomedical Sciences
2015- Volunteer science educator at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton FL
present
2014- Volunteer science educator at the annual Gumbo Limbo ‘Marine Science Day’
present
2014 Florida Ichthyology Student Homily Event Coordinator

Student Mentoring
2017-2018 K Hall. Florida Atlantic University Department of Biological Sciences
Directed Independent Study: 3D movements of bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo)
pectoral fins during maneuvering
 2017-2018 W Lopez. Florida Atlantic University Department of Biological Sciences
Honor’s Thesis Program: Functional ecomorphology and biomechanics of
shark pectoral fins.

2017 V Tovar. Florida Atlantic University Department of Biological Sciences

Directed Independent Study: 3D movements of bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo)
pectoral fins during maneuvering
2014-present SM Warren. Florida Atlantic University Department of Ocean and Mechanical
Engineering: Force generation and flow visualization over shark heads

2015-2016 CT Testagrose. Florida Atlantic University Department of Biological Sciences

Honor’s Thesis Program: Comparative morphology of shark pectoral fins

2015-2016 RP McConkey. Florida Atlantic University Department of Biological Sciences

Directed Independent Study: Swimming kinematics of sphyrnid sharks

2014-2016 AV Hernandez. Florida Atlantic University Department of Biological Sciences

Honor’s Thesis Program: Swimming and walking in epaulette sharks
(Hemiscyllium ocellatum) at various life history stages
2014 R Sanders. Florida Atlantic University Department of Biological Sciences
Directed Independent Study: Undulatory kinematics of scalloped
hammerheads (Sphyrna lewini).
Relevant skills
Field experience
− Fishing by pelagic longline, bottom longline, otter trawl, gill net
− Application of acoustic, satellite, and dart tags, collection of relevant size/age
measurements, and tetracycline injections (500+ sharks)
− 32 total days offshore on commercial fishing boats
− Boat operator for 23” Dusky, 18” Parker
− Animal husbandry for chondrichthyan and teleost fishes
− Field collaboration with media including Discovery, National Geographic, Palm Beach
Post, Sun Sentinel, and BBC
− Live coral transplant and monitoring via SCUBA (100+ transplants)

Lab experience
− Designed underwater 3D camera set-up and adapted motion capture technology to
measure three-dimensional movements of free swimming sharks
− Anesthetized and performed surgery on live S. suckleyi to implant electromyography
electrodes and place motion capture beads
− Paired free swimming kinematics with post-mortem muscle stimulation to determine
muscular control over the pectoral girdle of sharks
− CT scanned and analyzed whole sharks, pectoral fins, and spiral intestines
− Created 3D printed models from CT scans
 − Used flow tank, force transducers, and particle image velocimetry to described the flow
of water over different shark head shapes
− Dissected 100+ sharks to determine muscular anatomy of the body axis and muscular and
skeletal anatomy of pectoral fins

Software Proficiency
Statistics: SAS, JMP, R (and phylotools)
Imaging: ImageJ, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop
Point tracking: LoggerPro, XMAlab, Ty Hedrick MatLAB
3D modeling/imaging: Google SketchUp, Digimorph, SolidWorks, Geomagic, 3D print,
Makwerware, 3D slicer, Horos