Mystic Aquarium

Executive Vice President of Research & Zoological Operations

Leading the exceptional Mystic Aquarium research team is Dr. Tracy Romano, a founder of the field of marine mammal neuroimmunology and leader in the field of marine mammal health. After receiving her PhD in 1993 from the University of Rochester, School of Medicine, Tracy was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship through the National Research Council to investigate the marine mammal immune system and the impact of stress and the environment on marine mammal health. These studies were carried out in collaboration with the U.S. Navy’s Marine Mammal Program and The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA. After her postdoc, Tracy was awarded $1 million in grant money to establish a research laboratory focused on studying stress and the immune system at the U.S. Navy facility. Some of Tracy’s main research accomplishments include: the first cloning and molecular characterization of Dolphin CD4 (an important immune recognition molecule and receptor for HIV), the finding that the majority of dolphin T cells express class II molecules (which is unique to dolphins), field studies of the beluga and bowhead whales in the Arctic, studies that addressed the effects of loud sound and changes in water temperature on the health of dolphins, and participation in a study mandated by Congress to understand how repeated chase and encirclement with tuna nets impacts the health of dolphins in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (CHESS experiments). Tracy moved her laboratory and research program to Mystic Aquarium in spring 2004 to assume the role of Vice President of Research and Veterinary Services. She is currently the Executive Vice President of Research & Zoological Operations at the Aquarium.

Veterinarian Emeritus

Dr. J. Lawrence Dunn is a leader and pioneer of marine mammal medicine and research. He attended the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and received his VMD in 1973. He served as the staff veterinarian for the aquarium from 1973-2008. Dr. Dunn has provided Aquatic Animal Health Consultant Services to nearly thirty public and private aquariums and federal and state government agencies. He has held numerous national and international office and committee posts relating to marine mammal medicine and has given over 100  presentations at universities, symposia and conferences on the subject of aquatic animal disease and medicine. His research and professional interests include infectious disease, aquatic animal medicine, marine mammal reproduction and strandings. Dr. Dunn has mentored multiple students who have become successful veterinarians and researchers in the aquatic animal health field.

Staff Veterinarian & Director of Animal Care

Dr. Allison Tuttle graduated with a DVM from North Carolina State University in 2002. Following graduation, Allison completed a 2-year Internship in Aquatic Animal Medicine at Mystic Aquarium. Allison also completed a Residency in Zoological Medicine with an Aquatic Health Management focus at North Carolina State University in 2007. During the residency, Allison was part of a team providing medical care to the 3 North Carolina Aquariums, the North Carolina Zoological Park, the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Hospital and for stranded marine mammals along the North Carolina coast. Allison returned to Mystic Aquarium in fall 2007 to assume the role of Staff Veterinarian and Director of Animal Care and enjoys providing medical care to the wide variety of species housed at the Aquarium. She is also involved with clinical research pertaining to the health of our animal collection. Allison’s main medical interests relate to infectious disease and preventative medicine.

Veterinary Intern

Allyson graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts, West Indies in 2011.  She completed veterinary externships at Memphis Zoo and Aquarium, Oregon Zoo, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and Oklahoma State University's Zoo, Exotics and Wildlife Department.  Her interest and love for aquatic medicine and conservation began with her undergraduate degree in marine biology.  After finishing her BSc, Ally worked as a research diver for Pacific coast marine science stations and as an educator and marine mammal trainer at the Vancouver Aquarium. Before joining Mystic Aquarium as the Veterinary Intern in June 2012, she worked in private practice as a small animal and exotic pet veterinarian.

Research Scientist

Dr. Paul Anderson has pursued his interests in marine aquaria since his youth as an avid hobbyist.  His zeal for the marine environment led him from his hometown in Massachusetts to Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL to pursue a BS degree in marine science; along the way, supervising the aquaria of the Galbraith Marine Science Laboratory and investigating a commensal relationship between territorial damselfish and mysid schools in Belize, Central America.  His hobby became his profession when he joined Mote Marine Aquarium (Sarasota, FL) as an Aquarist and Mobile Exhibit Coordinator in 1997 and later, The Pier Aquarium (St. Petersburg, FL) as its Senior Aquarist and Education Coordinator.  His love for science and learning brought him to The University of Florida (Gainesville, FL) in 2002, where he earned his PhD in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences; developed focused interests in fish behavior, physiology, and sensory biology, and the application of those sciences to improve fish health, welfare, and reproduction in the contexts of aquarium husbandry and aquaculture.  In 2008, Dr. Anderson joined The Florida Aquarium (Tampa, FL) as its first Conservation and Research Coordinator, cultivating a blossoming and diverse program in marine conservation, research, restoration, rescue and rehabilitation.  In 2012, he joined The University of Tampa (Tampa, FL) as an Adjunct Faculty Member, training future biologists in fundamental biology and environmental science courses.  Over his career, Dr. Anderson has published twelve peer-reviewed scientific publications, given over 92 presentations in the field to audiences of all ages all over the United States, garnered over $700,000 in grants and scholarships to support marine science research and conservation initiatives, and has been featured on programs aired on ABC, National Geographic, and other media outlets.  He is a member of the Animal Behavior Society, the American Fisheries Society, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the World and U.S. Aquaculture Societies.  Having joined the Sea Research Foundation and the Mystic Aquarium as a Research Scientist in Fall 2012 as part of a milestone in the growth of its Research and Veterinary Services, Dr. Anderson is eager to round out the expertise of the organization with his contributions and insights into fish and elasmobranch behavior, physiology, and sensory biology; while also applying those sciences to complement a productive research program in marine mammal health.

Research Scientist

Mandy received a PhD in 2011 from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) where her research integrated laboratory based methods and samples collected from free ranging animals and those under human care.  The focus of this research was to study how endocrine function as altered by body condition, reproductive status, and stress influences the immune system of harbor seals and Steller sea lions. During her tenure at UAF Mandy was awarded two fellowships including one in the National Science Foundation sponsored GK-12 project CASE: Changing Alaska Science Education. Before moving to Alaska to pursue a PhD, Mandy spent six years working with the U.S. Navy’s Marine Mammal Program during which time she earned a M.Sc. in Biology, Evolutionary Biology Program from San Diego State University. Prior to coming to Mystic Aquarium Mandy was a Term Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Alaska Anchorage where she taught undergraduate and graduate courses including Marine Mammal Biology and Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II. Mandy joined Mystic Aquarium in August 2012 as a Research Scientist where her research interest includes infectious diseases and the impacts of stress on the health of marine mammals.

Animal Management Specialist

Gayle Sirpenski has a longstanding history with Mystic Aquarium, having first served as an interpreter in the Education Department in 1979. She was also a Senior Aquarist and Lab Technician, supervising staff in the daily care and management of marine mammals, penguins, and fishes, as well as water quality analysis. Since 1991, Gayle has been a member of the Research and Veterinary Services Department with the critical role and title of Animal Management Specialist. Her responsibilities include the management of all animal medical records and inventories, ensuring that the aquarium is compliant with all state and federal government permit and regulatory requirements, and acting as the liaison with other institutions regarding animal transfers, loan agreements and management programs. She manages the biological sample requisition and distribution and is responsible for monitoring the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee as well as chairing the Mystic Aquarium Intern Advisory Board. Gayle has been a member of the American Zoo & Aquarium Association (AZA) since 1990 and is active on numerous conservation and animal management committees. She is a member of the Marine Mammal Taxon Advisory Group and a founding member of the Penguin Taxon Advisory Group and the African Penguin Species Survival Plan (SSP). These committees evaluate the need for captive propagation and management of a group of related species, as well as facilitate programs and research projects that address health issues and promote in situ conservation.

Research Assistant

Suzin earned a Bachelors degree in Genetics and Developmental Biology from Cornell University in 1992 and a Masters degree in Biology and Medicine from Brown University in 2002.  Using the tools of molecular genetics, she has worked in a variety of settings on widely diverse organisms.  Suzin began her career  with the  Australian National University’s Department of Prehistory on a study of extinct Australian megafauna using ancient DNA and biological residues from stone tool artifacts.  Upon returning to the United States, Suzin worked briefly for Roche Molecular Systems on the development of commercial forensic assay kits.  She then did research for the U.S. Forest Service studying the molecular genetics of forest trees with a focus on retrotransposable elements.  A move to Connecticut brought her to DeKalb Genetics in Mystic, where she performed marker-assisted breeding of corn.  Suzin then spent seven years at Pfizer Global Research and Development in the Pharmacogenomics group studying genetic contributions to disease state, progression, and drug response in numerous therapeutic areas.  Prior to coming to the Mystic Aquarium, Suzin was employed once again by Roche Diagnostics for the development of a commercial assay for HIV-1 using next-generation DNA sequencing.  Suzin joined the RAVS Department in June 2011 and spends most of her time characterizing the effects of stress on the immune systems of cetaceans and testing marine mammals from all over the world for Brucella.

Senior Research Scientist

Peter Auster joined Mystic Aquarium in November 2011 as a Senior Research Scientist.  He is a marine ecologist and his work is focused broadly on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in the ocean.  Although now retired from the University of Connecticut, he retains a faculty appointment as a Research Professor in the Department of Marine Sciences and has ongoing projects there.  For the past 30 years, Peter has conducted studies to understand how behavior of marine fishes and dynamics in patterns of habitat use influence their distribution and abundance across underwater landscapes – essentially conducting fundamental ecology in the sea.  From an applied science perspective, his work has focused on understanding the ecological effects of fishing, one of the most pervasive of direct human impacts in the sea, and on developing a scientific basis for using marine protected areas as a conservation tool.  This work has spanned the globe where he has served as a scientist or chief-scientist on over 40 major research cruises and led many shore-based projects. His fieldwork is primarily based on using the same types of techniques underwater that wildlife biologists use on land. That is, making direct underwater observations to study how individual animals respond to variations in nature. Scuba, research submersibles, and remotely operated vehicles have been central for conducting much for this work, resulting in over 130 scholarly and technical publications.  Among numerous forms of professional recognition, Peter is a Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation, was elected a Fellow in the American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists, and was the Mote Eminent Scholar in Fisheries Ecology at Florida State University during the 2010 -11 academic year.  Peter serves on multiple panels and committees that are focused on marine resource management and conservation.

Research Fellow

Graduating in 2006, Laura holds a BSc in Marine and Freshwater Biology from the University of London. Laura first came to the aquarium as a RAVS intern during the summer of 2005, working on the identification and quantification of different lymphocytes in wild bottlenose dolphins. Since then, she has also worked as an assistant in the marine mammal and sea turtle stranding program and as a technician on multiple aspects of the marine origin Brucella project. In 2008 she was accepted into the oceanographic program at UCONN, Avery Point with the opportunity to conduct her research at Mystic Aquarium.  She is currently persuing a PhD with an interest in diving behavior and health.

Lab Manager

Amy DelMonaco graduated in 1991 from Roger Williams University with a BS in Marine Biology and a minor in chemistry. She worked in a chemistry lab from 1991-1993 running assays on finished products and releasing them for use, stability testing, and R&D on new products. She was a volunteer at the Mystic Aquarium since 1990, working in the water quality lab and with the education department. She was hired in 1993, and, since then, was promoted to Senior Lab Technician. Her responsibilities include overseeing and running the clinical laboratory, conducting water quality testing, managing the research laboratory and assisting with various research projects.

Research Assistant

Claudia joined Mystic Aquarium as a Research Assistant in January 2012.  She is studying cetaceans and changes in their immune systems in response to stress.  In 1991 she recieved a BS in Medical Laboratory Science with a cytogenetics focus from the University of Connecticut.  Claudia's working background includes twelve years in genetic toxicology at the pharmaceutical company Pfizer; two years at the biotech company DeKalb working on transgenic corn; and six years at Rhode Island Hospital in clinical cytogenetics, primarily in the area of leukemia.

Administrative Assistant

Stephanie began working in the Research department in December 2007. She is responsible for tracking purchase orders, maintaining the busy meeting schedule for Dr. Romano and in general, keeping the staff organized and informed. And Stephanie does it all with a smile.

Relief Veterinarian

Barbara graduated from the University of Maryland in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in Animal Science.  She attended the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine where she was awarded her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1990.  Barbara continued her clinical training during a 13-month internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston.  After working in private practice in Connecticut for two years, she followed her passion for zoo and aquarium medicine and completed a 3-year residency in zoo medicine at the Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo.  After her residency, she worked for Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom for four years then returned to the Bronx Zoo for another three years.  In 2003 Barbara returned to Conecticut and is currently the consulting veterinarian for the Maritime Aquairum in Norwalk.  She also works as a part time clinical vet at South Wilton Veterinary Group  and Brewster Veterinary Hospital in Brewster, NY.

Relief Vet

Lisa graduated with a dual degree from the University of California at Davis in 1994.  She is a DVM and has a Masters degree in Preventive Veterinary Medicine.  She is a former Veterinary Intern at Mystic Aquarium where she emphasized animal health and husbandry for Steller sea lions, northern fur seals, harbor and gray seals, African penguins, beluga whales, bottlenose dolphins and a large collection of fish and invertebrate species.  Lisa was also a consulting veterinarian for the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT.  Additionally, she was the relief veterinarian at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI.  Lisa was responsible for the medical management of over 150 species of zoological animals, including hoofstock, large carnivores, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates.