Born and raised in London, England, Dr. Yannis Papastamatiou spent his early years snorkeling in the warm waters of Greece. He obtained an undergraduate degree from the University of Southampton, before moving to the United States of America to get his Master's from California State University Long Beach, and Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii. He is currently an Assistant Professor at Florida International University where his lab researches the physiological and behavioral ecology of sharks and other predators. His shark research has taken him all over the world, including Japan, Mexico, the Bahamas, the Pacific Islands, Alaska, and Belize, resulting in nearly 60 publications in the scientific literature.
Check out our WEBINAR with Yannis to learn more. You can also see Yannis on this year's Shark Fest on Nat Geo.
You can keep up with his research on Instagram, following Yannis and the PECLab at FIU.
1. What is your favorite shark, and why?
The oceanic whitetip shark. I admire their ability to survive in the oceanic equivalent of the desert and their curiosity in the water. Plus they are a beautiful looking shark.
2. If you could see/study/swim with any shark, what would it be and why?
I would love to see a basking shark and see/study megamouth sharks.
3. Can you tell us a little about your current research?
We have ongoing projects looking at the energetics and hunting behavior of great hammerhead sharks, the conservation of shark populations in Belize and The Bahamas, and the ecology of sharks at remote islands off Mexico, to name just a few!
Yannis diving with sharks in Fakarava, French Polynesia © Lauren Ballesta
4. What inspired you to study sharks?
Spending my summers in the sea off the coast of Greece. Also, the National Geographic special on sharks with Eugenie Clarke and Valerie Taylor, and the film Jaws!
Yannis studying the scalloped bonnethead shark (Sphyrna corona) off the pacific coast of Colombia with Dr. Diego Cardenosa. Credit: Diego Cardenosa.
5. What advice do you have for students interested in a career in marine science/shark science?
Don't get too laser-focused on sharks. Make sure your training is broad and that you don't neglect physics, mathematics, or computer coding (if you have the opportunity). These are skills that are very important career-wise, but many neglect them. Try and develop interests and skills in research areas (e.g. conservation biology, predator ecology) versus wanting to study a single species (e.g. you only want to study white sharks).