Dr. Frank V. Paladino
Professor of Biology at Indiana-Purdue University in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Vice President of the Leatherback Trust
Dr. Paladino has been at IPFW for 16 years and conducted research in the field of comparative vertebrate physiological ecology. He has over 40 scientific papers in reviewed professional journals on animals ranging from songbirds to elephants to fish to sea turtles. He has been conducting research on sea turtles in Costa Rica since 1988. He has a Ph.D. in Zoophysiology from Washington State University (1979) and a Master's degree in Ecology from Buffalo State University College (1976).

Dr. Richard Reina
Lecturer in Vertebrate Biology at the School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Dr. Reina joined the Las Baulas project in 1996 after completing his PhD at the Australian National University studying sea turtle physiology. He is interested in the conservation, physiology and developmental biology of leatherbacks and other turtles. He particularly enjoys interacting with volunteers and students and the enthusiasm they bring.

Dr. Harold W. Avery
Associate Professor in the Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology at Drexel University, Philadelphia
Dr. Avery is an experienced Earthwatch Principal Investigator (PI) and is currently PI for the Diamondback Terrapins of Barnegat Bay New Jersey (website). He is also a Co-PI on the Costa Rican Sea Turtles Earthwatch expedition and was Principal Investigator for the Mojave Desert Tortoise expedition in 2003 - 2004. Dr. Avery’s research specialties include population ecology, nutritional ecology, physiological ecology and conservation biology. His current and past research projects include conservation and population ecology of turtles and tortoises. He and his students are also currently studying the population ecology of reptiles, amphibians and birds in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Costa Rica. He has worked at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory in South Carolina, University of Michigan, and has spent 12 years as a research biologist with the federal government in the Department of Interior. He received his B.S. and M.S. in Biology from State University College at Buffalo, New York and his Ph.D. in Biology from UCLA (1998). He has published many scientific and technical papers on the biology of the desert tortoise and freshwater turtles and is recognized as the world’s expert on the effects of grazing livestock on tortoises. Dr. Avery is also an avid amateur astronomer, rock-hound, collector of fluorescent minerals, member of the American Fern Society, and collector of rare vinyl records, among many other interests.

Dr. Paul Sotherland
Kalamazoo College, Michigan

 Education Program (working with the local grade school):

Judy Zabriskie
Education Coordinator
Judy is a teacher and wildlife artist, with many year's experience coordinating the education project at Playa Grande. Contact Judy for further details on the activities and timing of the education component, gypsy3@localnet.com

 2008-2009 Field Staff:

Gabriela Blanco
Field Manager
I am originally from Argentina; I finished my Licenciatura at the National University of Patagonia, Comodoro Rivadavia. I am currently starting my fourth year as a PhD student at Drexel University, and this is also my fourth year working with the Leatherbacks in this project. For my PhD research I am studying the migration and behavior of the Eastern Pacific green turtles nesting in Costa Rica. 

Sam Friederichs
Field Assistant and Hatchery Manager
I have been participating in the project to varying degrees for the last three years however; this is my first full season on Playa Grande.  I graduated from the University of St. Thomas (not the island) in St. Paul, Minnesota with a degree in biology.   At the moment I am working on my Masters degree from Indiana Purdue University Fort Wayne under Dr. Frank Paladino.  My thesis project is examining the seasonal movements and population dynamics of Pacific sailfish off the Costa Rica Dome. I am excited to be back as a full-time member of the research staff and look forward to my continuing work with billfish and sea turtles.

Sara Valentine
Field Team Leader and Volunteer Coordinator
I was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Indiana-Purdue University in Fort Wayne (IPFW) and I also did a national student exchange program for one year at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming. I focused on ecology, animal behavior, and conservation in my studies. I am currently a graduate student at Indiana-Purdue University in Fort Wayne, Indiana working toward my Master’s degree in Ecology and Wildlife Conservation. My advisor is Dr. Frank V. Paladino, who is one of the Principal Investigators of this project. This is my fourth season with the project. I was an Earthwatch volunteer the first time I was here back in 2005 for 10 days. Two years ago I was here for three months as a research assistant and last year I was here for the entire nesting season from October until March. I am returning this year for the entire nesting season again. I am currently analyzing nesting data and looking for a relationship between a shift in the nesting season over time and sea surface temperatures. I will also be looking at other factors including air temperatures and rainfall. A shift in the nesting season could have huge implications on the conservation effort at a nesting beach, so I am anxious to find out whether it is happening here at Playa Grande.

Tom Backof
Field Assistant
I earned a degree in environmental science from Drexel University, graduating in
2008.  During my time at Drexel, I attended SEA Semester, and studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic.  After Graduation, I worked with Archelon, the sea turtle protection society of Greece, protecting loggerhead sea turtles on the island of Zakynthos.  I have studied various subjects in nine countries around the world.  A native of Baltimore, Maryland, I also know how to cook.

Abigail Dominy
Field Assistant
I was raised in Philadelphia, PA and stayed near home to earn my Bachelor’s degree at Drexel University in Environmental Science and Biology. I plan on returning to Drexel in fall ‘09 to pursue a PhD in Ecology. As a research assistant, I have worked on several turtle projects at Drexel. I helped study the effects of landscape fragmentation on the endangered Red-bellied turtle at the Philadelphia International Airport. As well as helped study the effects of resource competition between the Red-bellied turtle and the invasive Red-eared Slider at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge and the Delaware River in Philadelphia. More recently I worked as the volunteer coordinator on the Earthwatch project in Barnegat Bay, NJ. This project is evaluating the status of the Diamondback Terrapin population. And in case you were wondering, I also like long walks on the beach and playing with hatchlings.

Johnna Holding
Field Assistant
I grew up just outside of Washington D.C., and moved to Philadelphia in 2006.  In August 2008, I graduated from Drexel University with a bachelor’s degree in biology/ ecology.  I first developed my love for science and my growing concern for threatened wildlife while volunteering at the National Zoo. I will be working on the project in Playa Grande this year until March. During that time I will be working on a project monitoring the water content of the sand through out nesting season, to determine its effects on Leatherback hatchling success.  I plan to continue investigating the natural world by pursuing a Ph.D. in marine ecology. I am interested in studying marine food webs and the effects that global warming has on the ocean’s pelagic communities.

 Local Officials:

Biol. Rotney Piedra
M.Sc. graduate of the University of Costa Rica
Director of Las Baulas National Park
Señor Piedra conducted research work at Las Baulas previously and now oversees all aspects of Park Management and personnel.

 Park Guards:

Responsible for enforcement of Park laws and regulations, as well as working with local guides.