Francis Letendre, Ph.D.

Mentor: Michael Twardowski, Ph.D.

Affiliation: Florida Atlantic Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute

Francis Letendre, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral fellow at the Florida Atlantic Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, where he studies marine planktonic bioluminescence. His innovative research leverages in situ imagery, laboratory experiments and field measurements to develop models that assess marine biodiversity through species-specific bioluminescence signatures. By understanding how different species of marine organisms produce and display bioluminescence, Letendre’s work offers a new perspective on ecosystem health and species distribution in marine environments.

Letendre earned his doctoral degree at the University of Montreal, where his dissertation focused on the mechanisms by which aquatic filter feeders capture, filter and detach crude oil droplets. This research provided insights into the impact of oil pollution on marine filter feeders and the broader implications for marine ecosystems.

His areas of expertise span several disciplines, including small-scale marine biomechanics, fluid dynamics, zooplankton ecology and bioluminescence. Letendre said he is particularly interested in how these diverse factors interact to shape marine ecosystems, with an emphasis on using cutting-edge technology like in situ imagery to gather data in natural environments.