海角社区

Each spring, National Wildlife Week reminds us to reconnect with nature, celebrate its resilience, and honor those working to protect it. This year, we shine a spotlight on Daniel Sinopoli, a Ph.D. candidate of the Department of Biological Sciences, working in the at the 海角社区 Museum of Natural Science, whose passion for fish and commitment to biodiversity are helping redefine our understanding of North America鈥檚 freshwater wildlife.

Daniel鈥檚 Journey From Fishing Poles to Field Notes

Daniel鈥檚 journey into the world of science began on the banks of upstate New York streams, fishing with his dad and observing nature firsthand. In the summer of 2012, Tropical Storm Irene swept through the Adirondacks, leaving behind a transformed landscape. Amid the destruction, Daniel noticed something miraculous: trout still schooling in a battered pond. That moment planted the seed of curiosity that would grow into a career in fisheries science.

Through high school research programs and hands-on fieldwork, Daniel developed a deep respect for the resilience of aquatic life. But it wasn鈥檛 until he encountered natural history collections during his undergraduate and master鈥檚 studies that he truly found his niche鈥攎useums, taxonomy, and evolutionary biology.

Daniel鈥檚 current research focuses on the taxonomy and life history of gars and bowfins鈥攖wo groups of ancient fishes native to North America. Historically dismissed as 鈥渢rash fish,鈥� these species have been largely overlooked in conservation and scientific studies. Daniel鈥檚 mission is to change that.

鈥淒ue to decades of neglect, there may be more species of gar and bowfin than we currently recognize. We need to document this diversity before it disappears.鈥�

By studying preserved specimens from centuries past, Daniel hopes to uncover new insights into their evolutionary relationships. In fact, a recent research trip took him all the way to the Mus茅um Nationale d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris, where he examined gar and bowfin specimens collected in the 1800s. It was a surprising yet deeply rewarding experience that underscores how global collaboration supports local conservation.

For Daniel, science isn鈥檛 just about the lab鈥攊t鈥檚 about versatility. His work draws on everything from bioinformatics and statistics to chemistry and ecology. He encourages students pursuing STEM careers to start early and dive into research that feels personal. 鈥淎sk your professors what their labs are working on,鈥� he advises. 鈥淵ou never know where it might lead. I started by helping a grad student and ended up inheriting their project!鈥�

When he鈥檚 not immersed in his research, Daniel enjoys hiking and birdwatching, especially now that he鈥檚 experiencing Louisiana鈥檚 ecosystems for the first time. 鈥淓verything down here is new,鈥� he says. 鈥淚鈥檝e gained a much greater appreciation for every little thing out in nature.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檝e gained a much greater appreciation for every little thing out in nature.鈥�

As we celebrate National Wildlife Week 2025, Daniel Sinopoli reminds us that protecting wildlife begins with curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to look closer鈥攅specially at the creatures history has too often ignored. Through his work, forgotten fish are getting a second chance to be seen, studied, and saved.