Lisa Whitenack, PhD

"You should be writing."

Arrow crab among algae

Welcome to Allegheny, judgmental arrow crab!

A vibrant color photograph of renowned American marine biologist and ichthyologist Eugenie Clark, known as the "Shark Lady," captured in her element during a dive or research expedition. She is wearing a large diving mask pushed up on her forehead, snorkel attached, and a wetsuit or dive gear. She smiles broadly and joyfully while partially submerged in clear ocean water, surrounded by bubbles, with her face lit by sunlight reflecting off the surface. A large white buoy or float and underwater scenery are visible in the background, conveying her lifelong passion for studying sharks and marine life, her pioneering work in shark behavior, and her role as one of the first prominent female scientists in oceanography.

An underwater photograph of a bull shark swimming gracefully in deep blue ocean waters, captured from a slightly below and side angle. The shark has a robust, heavy-set body with a blunt snout, small black eyes, and a grayish-brown upper body fading to a lighter underside. Its dorsal fin is prominent, pectoral fins are broad, and several remora fish cling to its back near the tail. Sunlight filters from above, creating beams and highlights on the shark's skin as it glides with an open mouth revealing rows of sharp teeth, evoking the powerful yet often misunderstood nature of this coastal species known for its adaptability and occasional aggression toward humans.

Ichthyologist Eugenie Clark, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘓𝘢𝘥𝘺, died #OTD in 2015. A pioneer in scuba diving for research purposes, she proved sharks are capable of learning and was a world authority on Tetraodontiformes. She founded Mote Marine Lab and used her fame to drive global marine conservation. #WomenInSTEM

Watercolor painting of a blue and purple seahorse surrounded by sea grass

Today I spent a blissful couple of hours learning some basic watercolor techniques - a temporary reprieve from <gestures to everything>. I took a chance and freehanded this seahorse, and I’m so happy with it!

My department at CSU Northridge is hiring a vertebrate functional morphologist! We've got a great EEB group, and we're looking for someone to carry forward a tradition of enriching organismal courses and community-engaged research. App review starts March 15

csucareers.calstate.edu/mob/cw/en-us...

Summer Workshop in Comparative Biomechanics (phylogenetic methods etc.) in Riverside, California:
moenlab.ucr.edu/workshop-pcms/

Doomscroll safety stop 🛑

Look at this gorgeous jelly!

I love how the photo is also giving big outer space vibes.

Ok carry on

NSF GRFP applicants (and mentors): Was your application Returned Without Review and deemed ineligible despite fitting in the allowed topics?
1) Write NSF
2) Write your Congressperson
3) CC us at grfp@grant-witness.us so we can compile + follow up

Details and template at grant-witness.us/grfp-letter

Take back our science

We must stand up for something bigger than us.

We must stand up for SCIENCE: the method used to ask questions and seek knowledge.

This is the corner of our democracy where we have power AND NOW IS THE TIME TO EMBRACE THAT POWER.

So, get in dorks!
March 7th, 2026
@standupforscience.bsky.social

"Disapproving Rabbits Minnesota Rebel ICE" Sticker for Sale by Birdchick Buy "Disapproving Rabbits Minnesota Rebel ICE" by Birdchick as a Sticker

So I’ve taken Disapproving Rabbits out of retirement as part of the resistance. Proceeds will go to The Bond Between who are taking in pets after people are disappeared by ICE. www.redbubble.com/i/sticker/Di...

Stand With Minnesota Donation Directory Stand With Minnesota is a hub for supporting, learning, and taking action to support Minnesotans impacted by ICE and federal enforcement.

If you want to support people in Minnesota, there are many ways to donate listed here:

Awwww, hi Mike!!!! I'm glad you two got to hang out.

The image shows a blue Smilodon (a kind of extinct big cat with long canine teeth) roaring to the viewer on a red and orange background. It is framed by the words "CHIN UP" and "FANGS OUT". The style is like a vintage screenprint though the artwork is digital.

A Smilodon for the ice age. Protect your neighbors. #pleistocene #sabertooth #megafauna #iceage

not at all a religious man but absolutely not counting out Da Pope’s influence on that throw

OMG, this game! Go Bears!!🐻 💙🧡

My brain is doing fantastic things with this. Punctuation matters, y’all! 🦀🔪

Oooh, that would be a fun exercise!

a close up of a jellyfish in a tank with blue lights Alt: a close up of a giant isopod in a tank with blue lights

My marine biology students are giving me life right now. Many of them were so eager to share what their favorite marine animal was for their taxonomy practice, especially with their classmates. Lots of passing laptops around to show each other stargazers, oarfish, lion mane jellies, giant isopods…

And they linger extra long because asthma. Good times, good times.

In case no one has told you lately:

1. You are strong
2. You are beautiful
3. Sea cucumbers have fish that live in their buttholes and eat their ever-regenerating gonads like some sort of sick undersea Prometheus
4. You are deserving of love

These are super cute and brought a smile to my face, despite the horrors of the U.S. right now

My version is that, but when coughing from flu leftovers. It’s not going well.

For the mollusc folks!

Summer fish class at Friday Harbor Labs 🐟
5 weeks, field + lab, real projects.
Open to grads, postdocs, and undergrads. Financial aid available.
Apply: February 16, 2026
Reach out to @cmdonatelli.bsky.social @fishguy.bsky.social or @karlycohen.bsky.social with questions!
Details in the flyer ⬇️

AMNH REU

Come learn with us! #REU!

Mark your calendars!

🧪🐠 I am hiring a postdoc! Work will be on patterns of biodiversity across phylogenetic scales using teleost fishes as a model. Apply by end of Jan 2026 for full consideration apply.interfolio.com/179070 I encourage folks to reach out with any questions. Please Share!

Oooh, such cool teeth! Hurrah for heterodonty!

Postdoctoral Fellowship - DSI DSI Postdoctoral Fellowships support multi/interdisciplinary training and collaborative research in data sciences.

Data sciences postdoc fellowship in EEB @ U.Toronto app deadline Jan 23 2026. Opportunity for independent research, encourages collab across labs/disciplines. Lots of great folks to interact with, Come join us!
datasciences.utoronto.ca/postdoctoral...