Quality, not quantity.
Our team is comprised of research scientists, local entrepreneurs, and professionals. This wide array of backgrounds helps to optimize our impact and promotes innovative philosophies outside the traditional standards of marine research.
Meet the Team
Robbie Roemer, MS
Founder, Director, & Lead Scientist
Robbie grew up outside Baltimore, Maryland where he developed a passion for fisheries research at a very young age. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science at Coastal Carolina University, where his interest in shark research rose to a new level. After working with NOAA Highly Migratory Species and the Cape Eleuthera Institute, Robbie received his MS from the University of Miami in 2018, with a thesis on the movement ecology of urban shark species. He continued his fisheries ecology work with Bonefish and Tarpon Trust until joining OCEARCH as the Science Program Coordinator. A devoted fly fisherman, his research interests are at the intersection of recreational fisheries and predatory fish ecology – primarily on depredation and post-release mortality of angled fish by elasmobranchs. Robbie resides in South Florida, and it didn’t take him long to notice the inherent data deficits surrounding enigmatic pelagic shark species and how they might affect gamefish ecology. After years of dreaming and relentless planning, Project Dorsal was born through the cooperation of Ryan Walton, and others.
Ryan Walton
Vice President & Behaviorist
Ryan has been in the diving industry since 2009. Not long after reaching his highest level of PADI training as a Staff Instructor, Ryan began working full-time with sharks and elasmobranchs. Ryan has over a decade of experience working with more than 28 species of Elasmobranchs worldwide and has led multiple underwater photography expeditions in other countries. Ryan himself is an accomplished underwater photographer and videographer, with works published in multiple media outlets. Ryan resides in South Florida and is the founder of Shark Tours Florida – a shark ecotourism operation. Ryan is an invaluable asset to Project Dorsal, as he understands the localized movements of cryptic pelagic sharks and can access these animals in ways few can. A diehard Dolphins fan, when not working you can usually find him catching the local game.
Shannon Moorhead, MS
Senior Research Scientist & Secretary
A Chicago-area native, Shannon earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Miami. Her thesis research explored various factors that may influence large coastal shark body condition and plasma metabolites, the primary focus being to try and understand the effects of urbanization on these metrics. Shannon has continued to study teleost physiology and expand her background to gamefish movement ecology as a Research Associate with Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. You will almost always find her in some sort of Cubs attire.
Patrick Goebel, MS
Research Assistant
Pat is originally from Cleveland, OH but moved to South Florida to attend graduate school for marine biology. He received his MSc in Marine Biology from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor's degree from Mercyhurst University. During his time at Nova Southeastern, Pat was a leader in the Shark Research and Conservation program, where he led research expeditions and outreach programming. His research interests are behavioral ecology, predator/prey interactions, and conservation policy. Pat created an Instagram account (@sharkman__) as an outreach tool. He uses this account to broadcast pictures and videos of sharks and other marine life, which have been obtained by doing field research. His goal is to change the negative perception of sharks and the ocean.
Nicole Firing
Research Technician
Nicole Firing is a passionate marine behavioral biologist and science communicator recently residing in Saint Barthelemy, French West Indies. With a Bachelor's of Science in Marine Biology from Auburn University, she possesses over 7 years of experience in the marine science field. Nicole has had the opportunity to work in diverse marine ecosystems, ranging from Chincoteague, VA, and the Florida Keys to Eleuthera, the Bahamas, and the French West Indies. Her areas of expertise revolve around extensive research in shark and stingray behavior, which has provided valuable insights into these species. Additionally, Nicole is deeply committed to the conservation of coastal habitats, with a special focus on mangrove ecology and restoration, contributing to the preservation of vital marine ecosystems. As a dedicated science communicator, Nicole strives to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and the public, raising awareness about marine conservation and inspiring others to appreciate and protect our oceans
Zoe Jarvis
Research Technician
Zoe was born and raised in Maryland and spent her childhood enjoying and finding creatures in nearby streams. At a young age, this helped spur her passion for aquatic ecology and conservation. She is now an enthusiastic environmental scientist who works in conserving and restoring tributaries that feed into the Chesapeake Bay. She received her BSc in Environmental Science and Policy from the University of Maryland in 2023. During her time in University, she gained valuable experience in fish sampling and identification, conducting habitat assessments, and designing and executing the first year of a hydrogeomorphic monitoring program for Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary. In her free time, she enjoys studying fish-keeping and is in the process of designing her first home aquarium.
Board of Directors
Robbie Roemer, MS
Founder & Executive Director
Mark Rehbein, MBA
Chairman of the Board
Tyler Spader
Treasurer
In The Media
NBC - WPTV - West Palm Beach
Robbie Roemer, Founder, and Director of Project Dorsal speaks about a recent shark bite in Lake Worth, FL, and offers insight to help mitigate human-shark interactions.