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Discovery's Shark Week : Presenter

Age-Dependent Dispersal and Relatedness in Tiger Sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier)

Reviewing the genetic evidence for sex-biased dispersal in elasmobranchs

Multiple paternity in two populations of finetooth sharks (Carcharhinus isodon) with varying reproductive periodicity

Genetic evidence supports a range extension for the Brazilian cownose ray Rhinoptera brasiliensis in the western North Atlantic

Advanced Biological Discovery (Honors)

MAR 3701

MAR 4411/5031

MAR 4100/5511

Toby Daly-Engel's research uses a combination of genomics, field ecology and modeling to study mating systems, habitat use and the impacts of climate change on shark populations.  

She is interested in how reproductive behaviors, particularly from a female fitness perspective, interact with the environment to influence species, populations, individuals and genomes. 

Dr. Daly-Engel (she/her) grew up in upstate New York and got her BA in biology at Oberlin College. She worked in Boston for two years before going on to get her Master’s and Ph.D. in zoology with a specialization in ecology, evolution and conservation biology at the University of Hawaii.

She won accolades as an assistant professor at the University of West Florida, where she ran a shark tagging field program and helped found the West Florida chapter of the Association for Women in Science.

In Fall 2017, she moved her research to the Florida Institute of Technology. 

As director of the Florida Tech Shark Conservation Lab, Dr. Daly-Engel and her students work with collaborators from state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations and public groups to study how reproduction and rising temperatures shape movement patterns in large migratory fishes, identify cryptic species, and work to increase representation for women in science, especially women of color.

Molecular Ecology

Shark Behavior

Marine Biology

Field Ecology

Genomics

Faculty Profile

Daly-Engel Shark Conservation Lab

ORCID Profile

Google Scholar Citations

Don’t Call Them ‘Shark Attacks,’ Scientists Say

Why some scientists want to rebrand shark attacks as 'negative encounters'

Florida Tech Shark Biologist Toby Daly-Engel Will Star in Shark Week and SharkFest Programs

Expert: What to do if you spot a shark while swimming

New shark species discovered by research team led by Florida Tech professor

florida-tech-shark-biologiststars-in-national-geographic-program-on-shark-attacks

Assistant Professor | Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences

Toby Daly-Engel, the distinguished shark biologist and director of Florida Tech’s Shark Conservation Lab, is a featured expert on “When Sharks Attack…and Why,” an eight-episode program debuting this week as part of National Geographic’s SharkFest 2023. 

The series debuts July 6 at 9 p.m. Eastern on National Geographic with new episodes airing nightly through July 12. It is also now streaming on Disney+, Hulu and the National Geographic website. The series will air on Nat Geo Wild starting July 26 at 8 p.m. Eastern.

 As its name suggests, “When Sharks Attack…and Why” investigates shark encounters in America and around the world. “Many attacks are appearing in new and surprising places,” the network notes.

Episodes explore incidents in New York, California, Hawaii, Indonesia, Australia and elsewhere.

At Florida Tech, Daly-Engel conducts research using a combination of genomics, field ecology and modeling to study shark mating systems and habitat use, and the impacts of climate change on shark populations.

On the program, she is our expert guide to anatomical and physiological aspects of sharks, many of which are unique to this species. We first meet Daly-Engel in Episode 1, New York Nightmare. Filmed in her lab, she talks viewers through key parts of a shark’s body using a small dogfish shark. 

She tells viewers that while a shark’s sense of smell is often touted, these apex predators also have powerful hearing, far better than humans. (In a later episode, she notes a shark’s vision in murky waters is about 10 times stronger than human vision in those conditions.) 

“I really enjoyed delving into the science behind shark-human interactions,” Daly-Engel said, “and busting the myths that make people afraid of the water.”  Daly-Engel is no stranger to SharkFest.

Last year she was featured in another SharkFest series, “Shark Attack File,” and she has been on SharkFest and Discovery’s Shark Week programing multiple times, including 2021 when she appeared on three programs across both networks.

Looking to know more about shark encounters and attacks? Then let us help with your coverage and questions. 

Toby Daly-Engel is an assistant professor in the Department of Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences department at Florida Tech. He's available to speak with media about this topic - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.



Florida Tech Shark Biologist
Stars in National Geographic Program on Shark Attacks

Shark expert Dr. Toby Daly-Engel shares some details on what surprises her about sharks.

BUILD is a live interview series like no other—a chance for fans to sit inches away from some of today’s biggest names in entertainment, tech, fashion and business as they share the stories behind their projects and passions. Every conversation yields insights, inspiration and plenty of surprises as moderators and audience members ask questions. It all happens several times a day live and live-streamed on BUILDseries.com.
 
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The Most Surprising Fact About Sharks According To Dr. Toby Daly-Engel

Digital entertainment program BUILD Series takes its popular and extensive live interview show to the next level, adding a new, daily morning talk show “BUILD Brunch," as BUILD Series continues its commitment to bring its fans closer to culture. Airing weekdays at 11am live on BUILDseries.com/Brunch, it will feature a roundtable of diverse, young and influential personalities speaking to breaking news, hot topics and the latest in entertainment. Dr. Toby Daly-Engel joins the table to talk about Discovery's "Shark Week."

BUILD is a live interview series like no other—a chance for fans to sit inches away from some of today’s biggest names in entertainment, tech, fashion and business as they share the stories behind their projects and passions. Every conversation yields insights, inspiration and plenty of surprises as moderators and audience members ask questions. It all happens several times a day live and live-streamed on BUILDseries.com.
 
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BUILD Brunch: July 23, Dr. Toby Daly-Engel Joins The Table

They're big, they're angry, and they're pregnant! These large Great White females migrate to Guadalupe for one last big feed of seals before they go off to have their pups. But where do they go? Dr. Mauricio Hoyos believes they head to a biosphere reserve on the coast of Baja because local fishermen report catching many Great White pups there. So, Hoyos and his science team of Michelle Wcisel and Dr. Toby Daly-Engel track the sharks to Baja, use genetics to identify which pups belong to which females and confirm a birthing ground to be protected. Dr. Daly-Engel joined BUILD to tell us all about Discovery's "Shark Week."

BUILD is a live interview series like no other—a chance for fans to sit inches away from some of today’s biggest names in entertainment, tech, fashion and business as they share the stories behind their projects and passions. Every conversation yields insights, inspiration and plenty of surprises as moderators and audience members ask questions. It all happens several times a day live and live-streamed on BUILDseries.com.
 
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Dr. Toby Daly-Engel Discusses Discovery Channel's "Shark Week"

Dr. Toby Daly-Engel's Shark Conservation Lab at the Florida Institute of Technology focuses on preserving populations of elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) and other fishes by studying their molecular ecology and evolution. Dr. Toby grew up in the mountains in upstate New York, but always loved sharks. She got her Masters and PhD at the University of Hawaii using genetics to study shark reproduction, worked on biomonitoring for conservation at the University of West Florida, and is now a professor at the Florida Institute of Technology, which is on the Atlantic Coast of Florida near Cape Canaveral. There, her work focuses broadly on researching the evolution of shark reproduction and dispersal patterns, speciation, and habitat use, in order to more effectively conserve and manage these fascinating creatures.

Women in Science: Dr. Toby Daly-Engel

Digital entertainment program BUILD Series takes its popular and extensive live interview show to the next level, adding a new, daily morning talk show “BUILD Brunch," as BUILD Series continues its commitment to bring its fans closer to culture. Airing weekdays at 11am live on BUILDseries.com/Brunch, it will feature a roundtable of diverse, young and influential personalities speaking to breaking news, hot topics and the latest in entertainment.

BUILD is a live interview series like no other—a chance for fans to sit inches away from some of today’s biggest names in entertainment, tech, fashion and business as they share the stories behind their projects and passions. Every conversation yields insights, inspiration and plenty of surprises as moderators and audience members ask questions. It all happens several times a day live and live-streamed on BUILDseries.com.
 
Follow us:
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/BUILDseriesNYC
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/BUILDseriesNYC
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/BUILDseriesNYC
 
#BUILDseries
#Interview

Dr. Toby Daly-Engel Joins The BUILD Brunch Table

Learn how scientists are using genetics and other tools for shark conservation. Dr. Engel is tracking the secret life of baby sharks ( shark reproduction) to better understand these animals. This data is critical for conservation. 

To learn more about Dr. Engels lab: https://research.fit.edu/dalyengellab/

Dr. Toby grew up in the mountains in upstate New York, but has always loved sharks. She attended Oberlin College in Ohio, and then worked in biotech for two years before going on to get her Masters and PhD at the University of Hawaii using both lab- and field-based tools to study the evolution of shark reproductive strategies.  As an assistant professor at the University of West Florida, she ran a  program for shark tagging and research for five years before moving to the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne. Now, as head of the Shark Conservation Lab at Florida Tech, Dr. Toby and her students conduct integrated lab-field research on the molecular ecology and evolution of elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) and other fishes in order to devise innovative ways to manage and protect these fascinating creatures.

The Secret Life of Baby Sharks with Dr. Toby Daly-Engel

Dr. Toby Daly-Engel, director of the Shark Conservation Lab at Florida Tech, leads the discussion on why shark reproduction is so dangerous, why you are more likely to get attacked by a vending machine, and what you can do to help protect shark populations. 

Faculty Bio: 

Dr. Toby Daly-Engel is the director of the Shark Conservation Lab at Florida Tech, where she and her students work with collaborators from state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and public groups to conduct biomonitoring of Atlantic sharks, understand the impacts of rising temperatures on shark movement patterns, and identify novel species. Dr. Daly-Engel's research uses a combination of genomics, field ecology, and modeling to study mating systems, habitat use, and the impacts of climate change on shark populations. 

Dr. Daly-Engel has authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications and made several media appearances based on her work, such as appearing on Discovery Channel’s Shark Week 30th Anniversary special “Great White Shark Babies” in 2018. She also has a passion for promoting the representation of women in science-based fields, especially women of color.

Find more Lunch and Learn Lectures Hosted by the Florida Tech Alumni Association: https://www.fit.edu/alumni/events/ 

Learn more about Florida Tech's department of Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences: https://www.fit.edu/engineering-and-science/academics-and-learning/ocean-engineering-and-marine-sciences/

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