Tiffany Roberts Briggs, Ph.D.

Chair & Associate
Professor in Geosciences
E-mail: briggst@fau.edu

About:

Ph.D., Geology, University of South Florida, 2012
M.S., Geology, University of South Florida, 2008
B.S., Environmental Science, Honors College, University of South Florida, 2002

Research Interests: Coastal geomorphology and geology; storm impact and recovery; beach nourishment evolution; coastal sedimentology; coastal ecosystem health.

Dr. Tiffany Roberts Briggs Faculty page
FAU Geosciences Homepage

David Anderson

Background:B.A. History, Auburn University; M.S. Geography, University of Alabama
Research: Sea turtle conservation- past, present, and future

Dayana Castillo

Background: B.S. in Biological & Physical Science, Nova Southeastern University
Research: Role of coral reefs in coastal restoration and island shoreline evolution (funded by National Parks Conservation Association)

Halaina Hahn

M.S. Student, Environmental Sciences

E-mail:  hhahn2020@fau.edu

Background:  B.S. in Biological Science, Florida Atlantic University
Research: Microplastics in coastal sediments (funded by National Parks Conservation Association)

Leanne Hauptman

Background: M.P.S. Marine Ecosystems and Society, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science; B.S. Marine Science, Coastal Carolina University
Research: Anthropogenic and natural influences on beach geomorphology and coastal resiliency; Hurricane Ian coastal damages (funded by Nearshore Extreme Events Reconnaisance); Impacts of beach nourishment sediment on marine turtle nesting habitat, hatching, and emergence success (funded by the PBC Dept. of Environmental Resources Management)

Camryn (Cami) Inman

M.S. Student, Environmental Science Graduate Teaching Assistant
E-mail: inmanc2022@fau.edu

Background: Biology with concentration in Marine Biology, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Research: Post-nourishment equilibration sediment transport and water quality

William (Matt) McCormick

Austin Scheinkman

Ph.D. Student, Geosciences

E-mail:  ascheinkman2018@fau.edu 

Background: B.S. in Geology, University of Florida; M.S. Geosciences, FAU
Research: Tidal influences on the geomorphology of microtidal beaches

Ryan Sloan

Background: B.A., History, University of Central Florida
Research: Tropical and winter storm impacts on beach-dune morphology

Teagan Duenkel

Research: Decadal-scale morphologic variability of an inlet-adjacent beach and sedimentology of nourished and non-nourished beaches (2021 joint project funded by FAU OURI)

Corey Aitken

2017, M.S. Geosciences

Non-Thesis. Corey is currently pursuing a second MS degree in Urban and Regional Planning at FAU. Corey is a planner with Monroe County's Planning and Environmental Resources Department (Marathon, FL).

Joseph (Joe) Becker

2019, M.S. Geosciences

Thesis: "Mapping the Fresh-Saltwater Transition Zone Across the Beach Environment Using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)" Joe's first post-graduation position was with APTIM, Inc. (Boca Raton, FL) as a Coastal Geologist before joining EnviroTrac as a Staff Scientist (NJ).

Evan Blanchard

Non-thesis. Evan's graduate research focused on the effects of ocean acidification on coastal resiliency. Evan is a Staff Scientist with Brizaga (Fort Lauderdale, FL).

Tynon (Ty) Briggs

Non-thesis.  Ty's graduate research focused on decadal shoreline variability of an inlet-adjacent beach.

Nicholas (Nick) Brown

Dissertation: "Coastal system variability of the beach-nearshore environment from natural and anthropogenic influences". Nick is the Director of Coastal Geology and Resiliency with ACT Engineers in NJ.

Chelsea Cameron

Non-thesis: Chelsea's research focused on various environmental influences on sea turtle nesting.  Chelsea is now exploring California.

Cristal Espinosa

Non-thesis. Cristal's research focused on marine debris distribution in coastal mangrove ecosystems. Cristal is a Biologist with Miami Dade County in the Department of Environmental Resource Management.

Richard (Ray) Hart

2019, M.S. Geosciences

Thesis: "Hurricane Irma Impact and Post-Storm Beach Morphology Evolution in Boca Raton, FL". Ray worked as a Coastal Geologist with APTIM, Inc. (Boca Raton, FL) for several years before joining Miami-Dade County as a Geologist in the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Department.

Palaparthi Jyothirmayi
(Jyothi)

2023, Ph.D. Geosciences
 

Dissertation: Long-Term National & Regional Beach Nourishment Trends & Drivers:  Implications for Coastal Resilience (funded by the US Coastal Research Program & PBC Dept. of Environmental Resources Management).  Jyothi is a Coastal Scientist at Coastal Science & Engineering in Columbia, SC.

Summer Manestar

Andrew Medhurst

Non-Thesis. Andrew's graduate research focused on the role of coastal morphology, sedimentology, and beach flooding on critical sea turtle nesting habitat. After working for a few years post-grad as a Coastal Biologist with the National Audubon Society (Moss Point, MS), Andrew is now the Resilience Coordinator for the Program for Local Adaptation to Climate Effects: Sea Level Rise based out of the Mississippi State University Coastal Research Center (Biloxi, MS).

Kayla O'Brien

Thesis: Microplastics in sediment of the beach and mangrove environments of barrier islands (funded by National Parks Conservation Association).  Kayla is applying to doctoral programs.

Sofia Ojeda

Non-thesis. Sofia's research evaluated the influence of sediment properties on three nesting sea turtle species in northern Palm Beach County, FL (partially funded by Palm Beach County Environmental Resource Management).  Sofia is an Environmental Scientist with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and also applying to doctoral programs.

Michael Priddy

Thesis: "Seasonal storm-induced nearshore sediment transport and morphology change in Boca Raton, FL". Mike was a recipient of the ASBPA Nicholas Kraus Coastal Scholar Award (2021). Mike is currently a PhD student at Virgina Tech Department of Geosciences.

Austin Scheinkman

Thesis: "Spatiotemporal variability of inlet adjacent placement of dredge material". Austin spent the first year of post-graduation on the coast of Spain as a Language and Cultural Assistant.  Austin is currently a PhD student in FAU Geosciences.

Tommy Shahan

2018, M.S. Geosciences

Thesis: "Morphologic Evolution and Alongshore Variability of Two Beach Nourishment Projects in Southeast FL, USA". Tommy is a Coastal Geologist with APTIM, Inc. (Boca Raton, FL).

Kyle Shaver

2020, M.S. Geosciences

Thesis: "Using low-cost multi-depth samplers to characterize the variability of specific conductance in coastal south Florida beaches." Kyle's first post-graduation position was as a field technician with TetraTech, Inc. (Boynton Beach, FL).

Sabrina Camara Dos Santos Porto

2017, M.S. Geosciences

Thesis: "Use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) in a Study on Beach Morphodynamics at Red Reef Beach, Boca Raton, FL". Sabrina's first post-graduattion position was as a Coastal Geologist with APTIM, Inc. (Boca Raton, FL).

Edward Vandamas

2015, M.S. Student

Thesis: "Inlet-Adjacent Behavior at Three Stabilized Inlets in Palm Beach County, FL"

William Warren

2017, M.S. Geology;

2015, B.S. Geology

Thesis: "Storm-Induced Nearshore Sediment Transport". Will's first post-graduation position was as a Coastal Geologist with Taylor Engineering, Inc. (Destin, FL).