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.

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.

Assistant Director of Research and Animal Care

Dr. Lisa Mazzaro received her PhD in nutrition in 1995 from the University of Connecticut in conjunction with Mystic Aquarium. Lisa brings a unique skill set to the Research Department, in that she has a full understanding of animal husbandry issues and animal behavior having worked in the Husbandry Department at the Aquarium for 9 years prior. She also was in charge of the Seal Rehabilitation Clinic for two years. Lisa is currently a Research Scientist in the Department of Research and Veterinary Services and maintains an Assistant Professor in Residence Appointment in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Connecticut. She serves as the nutrition adviser for the Marine Mammal Taxon Advisory Group. Some of her research accomplishments include nutritional studies on Steller sea lions, the study of iron storage disease in fur seals, vitamin A and E metabolism in pinnipeds, and the lack of a need to supplement salt in the diet of penguins housed in fresh water.

Veterinary Intern

Dr. Jen Flower graduated with a DVM from the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010.  During veterinary school Jen spent her summer vacations and much of her clinical time completing veterinary externships at aquariums and zoos including the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium, The Cleveland Zoo, The Akron Zoo, and the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia.  Jen also obtained further zoological and aquatic medicine experience by participating in veterinary courses including MARVET in Akumal, Mexico and an African Wildlife Capture and Care course in Limpopo, South Africa.  Following graduation Jen was accepted as the Veterinary Intern at Mystic Aquarium.  Jen is interested in pursuing a veterinary career working at an aquarium or at a zoo with a strong marine mammal program that offers opportunities for research and conservation medicine.

Research Scientist

Dr. Tracey Spoon earned her PhD in Animal Behavior from the University of California Davis in 2002. Based on her interests in understanding the complexities of successful reproduction of animals in captivity as a conservation measure, her dissertation research focused on the importance of mate compatibility in mate choice, the coordination of parental care, and a pair’s ultimate reproductive success in cockatiels. After completing her doctoral work, she conducted postdoctoral research examining the genetics of breeding systems and population dynamics in tropical and invasive plants and mate choice and population genetics in threatened populations of diamondback terrapins. Dr. Spoon also holds an Adjunct Professor position in the Department of Biology at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. She joined the Mystic Aquarium team in January 2008 to characterize and assess the immune system of marine mammals.

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 Vet

Kathy obtained her veterinary degree at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2005.  Prior to veterinary school she volunteered for the Cape Cod Stranding Network assisting with stranded marine mammals and cold-stunned sea turtles.  She recently completed a two year internship at National Aquarium in Baltimore, providing primary care to a very diverse collection of animals including bottlenose dolphins. Dr. Tuxbury also served as the lead veterinarian for the Marine Animal Rescue Program at the National Aquarium working with several pinniped species.  In addition to assisting Mystic Aquarium, she is currently as Associate Veterinarian at VAC Abbott Animal Hospital in Massachusetts.

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.