Lauren started at the Florida Institute of Oceanography as a Marine Technician in July 2025. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Florida State University in 2022, where she first began sailing on research vessels while completing a thesis in marine biogeochemistry. After college, she worked in fisheries monitoring and habitat rehabilitation before sailing to Antarctica with a research team investigating glacial melt in the Southern Ocean. Lauren now works aboard the R/V Hogarth and R/V Weatherbird II, supporting scientific teams during and between research cruises and assisting with shipboard instrumentation and science operations. She especially enjoys the collaborative and problem-solving nature of shipboard science and the opportunity to work alongside scientists on a diverse range of oceanographic research projects.
Email: laurenhearn@usf.edu