Author: Hannah Mauer
Date: 12/6/24
The Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Charles E. Schmidt College of Science hosted the Excellence Awards on Wednesday, December 4th. The event is a time to recognize and congratulate the incredible research, teaching, advising, and dedication of FAU faculty, staff, and students. This year (2024) Dr. Jeanette Wyneken, Director of the FAU Marine Science Lab, was awarded the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science Researcher of the Year Award at the Full Professor level!
Dr. Wyneken started her FAU journey in 1990 as an Adjunct Assistant Professor and Research Associate.
In 2001, her “The Anatomy of Sea Turtles” was published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and made publicly available as a free download. Her goal was, and still is, to share that information widely. Thanks to this plan and Dr. Wyneken’s unique expertise as an anatomist, this text remains the go-to resource in the field for sea turtle anatomy.
During her time at FAU, Dr. Wyneken has also contributed as an author and/or editor of all three volumes of The Biology of Sea Turtles and has published over 100(!) peer-reviewed articles and chapters. This year alone, she has published eight articles in peer-reviewed journals, ranging from the impact of a warming climate on sea turtles to the diverse functions of the forelimb in swimming by freshwater and marine turtles.
Her high productivity in research and collaborations keep her busy. Dr. Wyneken regularly presents her research at symposia and conferences around the world, and she is most proud of her engagement in the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology, International Sea Turtle Society, and the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians.
Another cornerstone of Dr. Wyneken’s impressive contributions is mentorship. She has directly supervised over 50 FAU students seeking undergraduate honors, Masters, or Ph.D. degrees in the Biological Sciences, Marine Science and Oceanography, and Integrative Biology programs. She has also been a committee member for 45 FAU graduate students. Additionally, as a full Professor for the Department of Biological Sciences, Dr. Wyneken teaches a course entitled Vertebrate Structure Development and Evolution and offers Directed Independent Research (DIR) class credit opportunities. DIR allows FAU students to earn credits each semester working in the Marine Lab – both physically and metaphorically “getting their feet wet” in the marine sciences! DIR students in her lab gain invaluable, hands-on experience caring for sea turtles, conducting research, and working in a lab setting.
Dr. Wyneken’s impact reaches beyond the confines of FAU’s campus, most notably with the creation of the Glenn W. and Cornelia T. Bailey Marine SEA (Science, Education, and Arts) Scholars Program in 2020. This unique program delivers financial assistance to students who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to become ambassadors in community outreach, focused on FAU Marine Research Lab studies and activities. This program has developed many well-rounded, skilled, and knowledgeable individuals who are motivated to understand science through (i) participation in established studies at the FAU Marine Research Lab, (ii) engagement in the public education and outreach activities, and (iii) enhanced effective communication of science to broad audiences. This year, Dr. Wyneken secured $1.6M from the Glenn W. Bailey Foundation to continue supporting the program. Her outreach initiatives reach the community not only through the GW&CTB SEA Scholars Program but also through the Marine Lab public viewing gallery that attracts more than 200,000 visitors annually. Dr. Wyneken also welcomed many Palm Beach County officials to the Marine Lab this year.
In her time at FAU, Dr. Wyneken has received 4 awards from the school including the Excellence in Graduate Mentoring, the Dean’s Award for Excellence, the Presidential Awards for Outstanding Faculty-Led Community Engagement, and now, the College of Science Researcher of the Year Award. She is a prolific pillar of the university in more ways than we can count, making her undeniably worthy of this award. Congratulations, Dr. Wyneken, and thank you for the incredible work that you continue to do for FAU and for sea turtles globally!
