42 associated with various Gracilaria species—many of them stemming from their polyphenol content and antioxidant activity. My initial idea was to test if different growing conditions would affect polyphenol content and antioxidant activity, with the hopes of developing a sports nutrition supplement. Dr. Doug Kalman helped me refine my idea by suggesting I start by characterizing the species. During my preliminary literature review, I was unable to find anything on Gracilaria tikvahiae. From there, Dr. Jaime Tartar connected me with Dr. Bob Speth in the chemistry department, who was kind enough to let me work in his lab. While at the Urban Farming Institute, Jon Albee and Jeff Manchester were pivotal in helping me keep the Gracilaria alive. They accomplished this by designing a system and showing me how to change the tank water, feed my algae, prepare water that had the proper salinity for algae growth, and set the right temperature and lighting. My dad loves to cook and is always trying new recipes. He passed down his love of food and cooking to me. Fitness was something I grew to love later in life. In my early 20s, I began teaching a group fitness class as a side job. During my undergraduate studies, two classes piqued my interest in nutrition science: research methods and sports nutrition. My introduction to seaweed research occurred while I was spending time at the Urban Farming Institute in Oakland Park, Florida, during my community rotation, which was required for the dietetics portion of my NSU master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics/sports nutrition. At the time, a high school student was studying the Gracilaria parvispora species in relationship to Karenia brevits (red tide). While touring the aquaculture lab she was using for this experiment, I wondered if there was any nutritional value in the Gracilaria species. I started reviewing the literature and found there were a slew of benefits Meet a Seaweed Researcher CASSANDRA EVANS, M.S., RD, CISSN M.S. (’21), B.S. (’18) Dietitian, Namaste Nourished Adjunct Professor, Nova Southeastern University and Mary Baldwin University Currently pursuing a doctorate in human and health performance at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professionals in Provo, Utah Cassandra Evans, a two-time NSU graduate, combined her love of research and nutrition science to conduct groundbreaking seaweed research. According to Evans, her research study “may lead to product development that yields new functional food products, potential beverages, and dietary supplements.” DR. KIRAN C. PATEL COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE Shark Encounters
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