Our Staff
Mark Hall
President/Founder Biomes Marine Biology Center
A Rhode Island native, Mark graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Biology in 1986 and started Biomes as a traveling marine life show for schools in 1988. He opened the Biomes Center for school field trips in 1996. His interest in marine life is life long and he started his first business at the age of 14, called Marine Biological Supply Co., which supplied educational specimens to high school and college science classrooms around the country.
Rebecca Bray
Vice President/Marine Biologist/Educator
Rebecca grew up in upstate New York and graduated from Long Island University/Southampton in 1996 with degrees in Marine Science and Marine Biology. Before joining Biomes in 1996, Rebecca worked as a lab technician and research assistant at Long Island University, an at-sea fisheries observer for the National Marine Fisheries Service, and as an educator for the Mystic Aquarium.
She also runs her own business “The Captain’s Wife” Real Sea Glass Jewelry.
Allison St. Jean
Marine Biologist/Educator
Allison is the newest member of the Biomes staff. She is currently working on two degrees at URI in Marine Biology and Marine Affairs. She gained a lot of experience in the aquaculture of Koi and Tilapia fish during her FFA career in high school. She also has research experience studying the role of nitrifying bacteria in filtration. She worked at the Mystic Aquarium as an Educator where she worked with many of their reptiles. Allie is a native of West Greenwich, Rhode Island.
Graham Hall
Technical Support/Web Developer
Graham is now a graphic design major at New England Tech. He has provided his tech skills to film and edit our movies as well as to teach his computer-challenged dad how to use Photoshop and we-publishing software to help build biomescenter.com.
Dan Savitt
Volunteer Collector/Rehabilitator
Dan is our invaluable volunteer collector, specializing in obtaining many of our tropical stray species of fish. He is also a rehabilitator of sick and unwanted pet reptiles and provides his expertise in helping to keep our reptiles healthy. He has been collecting specimens for Biomes since 1990. Dan is a surgeon at a local hospital.
Sammy J
Environmentally Sound Pest Control Specialist
Sammy is our resident mouser, keeping the 150 year-old Biomes building pest free since 2004. He also comes out to greet visitors and loves all the attention of a roomful of children. Sammy is a rescued feral cat.
Creole
Owner’s Dog
Creole is a rescue from Kentucky. She is half Coonhound and half Catahoula leopard hound.
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Christina D’Agostino
Marine Biologist/Educator
We are fortunate to have Christina returning for her second summer with us at Biomes. Christina grew up in upstate Vermont and holds degrees in both Marine Biology and Communications Studies from the University of Rhode Island. Before joining Biomes in the summer of 2007, she spent time studying coastal ecology and researching the nesting behavior of Herring and Greater Black Backed Gulls at Shoals Marine Laboratory off the coast of Maine. She also did research on the attachment behavior of Blue Mussels in Rhode Island. She one day hopes to pursue a Master's Degree in Marine Conservation.
At Biomes, we pride ourselves on employing a staff of dedicated professionals all holding, or working towards, degrees in the marine sciences. All of our employees possess real world experience in the field and are skilled in relating their knowledge to students and the community. Our staff is what makes the difference in the Biomes experience.
