Jo-Marie E. Kasinak, M.S.
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By training, Jo-Marie Kasinak, MS is an aquatic ecologist working in both freshwater and marine habitats. Jo-Marie is also the director of Project Limulus, a long-term and large-scale study of the horseshoe crab population in Long Island Sound and a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Specialist Group for Horseshoe crabs and co-chair of the education working group.
She primarily teaches in the first year biology course sequences, but also teaches coastal management and upper level biology course designed for coastal and marine science and other biology majors.
She acts as both a first-year adviser and a major adviser, and genuinely loves working with students. As a proud SHU alumna she loves giving back to the University where she discovered her passion for science and research and set her on her career path. When not teaching, or doing research, she can be found hanging with her family (often on campus at events!).
Degrees & Certifications
- MS, Biological Sciences, Auburn University
- BS, Biology, Sacred Heart University
Teaching Responsibilities
- BI 111 Concepts in Biology 1 Lecture
- BI 112 Concepts in Biology 2 Lecture
- BI 113 Concepts in Biology 1 Lab
- BI 114 Concepts in Biology 2 lab
- BI 203 Genetics Lab
- BI 204 Ecology Lab
- BI 274 Coastal Management
- BI 390 Supervised Research
Awards & Fellowships
- Sacred Heart University Distinguished Young Alumni Award (2025)
Research & Grants
Prof. Kasinak’s research has always involved ecology and she has worked primarily in aquatic habitats, both freshwater and marine. Currently she is collaborating on a restoration project in Stratford, CT. The goal of the project is to restore the intertidal habitat and coastal upland at the site. In order to slow shoreline erosion reef balls have been added to the intertidal zone and salt marsh grasses have been planted. In the upland hundreds of trees and shrubs have been planted as well as two pollinator habitats. She is currently a PI on a grant related to this project testing to see if oyster castles are effective at the site.
Kasinak is also the Director of Project Limulus, a long term and large scale study of the horseshoe crab population in Long Island Sound. Each year Project Limulus hosts dozens of talks and beach walks where they educate hundreds of children and adults about horseshoe crabs and the Long Island Sound ecosystem. She is also a member of the IUCN species specialist group for horseshoe crabs and is the Co-chair of the education working group.
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