A Shark-infested Co-op Experience
August 1, 2015
When given the chance to study and swim with sharks for a few months, most people would probably politely—or more likely impolitely—decline.
Not Northeastern student Eva Hayes, S’16. When she found a position available at the Bimini Sharklab in the Bahamas, she immediately applied for what she called her “dream co- op.”
“Growing up in California I’ve always been fascinated with sharks,” said Hayes, a combined major in international affairs and environmental sciences. “We’d swim in the ocean and were aware there could be sharks in there.”
Her work at the lab
The Sharklab, a nonprofit established in 1990, works to advance knowledge of marine animal biology, especially sharks and rays, through cutting- edge field and laboratory research. Hayes has been working there since March, and her many responsibilities range from non- invasively tagging sharks for tracking purposes, to helping advanced degree students with their research projects.
A primary focus of the lab is studying the habits of juvenile lemon sharks. To help the lab collect data, Hayes worked some 12- hour night shifts at a lemon shark nursery tagging all of the lemon sharks they catch and release.