Current Ph.D. Students
Charles Muirhead
Charlie (right) and Aladino Sandoval share ideas on the best recording locations for an acoustic survey of river dolphins in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, Perú. See published results here.
Since 2007 Charlie has worked as a bioacoustics analyst characterizing the seasonal movements and distribution of whales and dolphins throughout the world’s oceans. Geospatial variation in noise exposure, bycatch, and ship strike risk was a central theme in this research. His dissertation will focus on large-scale monitoring and status assessment of river dolphins in the Amazon basin; emphasizing cost-effective methods that can be readily standardized and adopted by researchers throughout South America.
Ph.D. Candidate Marine Science & Conservation, Duke University
M.Sc. Environmental Science 2018, University of Massachusetts at Boston
B.S. Biology 2006, State University of New York at Cortland
charles.muirhead@duke.edu
curriculum vitae | Personal Website | LinkedIn | Mendeley | ResearchGate
Taylor Machette
Ph.D. Student Marine Science & Conservation, Duke University
Nick Kaney
Nick’s broad research interests examine marine mammal behavior through a bioacoustics lens. This interest has led him to analyze remote sensing datasets of offshore species such as North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) and Goose beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris). He has also conducted behavioral sampling and play-back experiments of nearshore species like bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris). Nick plans to build off these research experiences to look at marine mammal behavior and communication to inform conservation efforts.
Ph.D. Student Marine Science & Conservation, Duke University
B.S. Biology 2023, Duke University
Viola Panigada
Viola’s research interests lie in using modern remote sensing approaches and modelling frameworks to inform and enhance the conservation of vulnerable and threatened species. Her proposed PhD project focuses on fin whale movement ecology in the North Atlantic Ocean and exchanges with the Mediterranean Sea, building up on her previous research on the topic. Viola‘s past work involved analysing fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) and spinetail devil ray (Mobula mobular) movements and behavioral ecology and using satellite imagery to identify and count whale and albatross species from space.
Ph.D. Student Marine Science & Conservation, Duke University
viola.panigada@duke.edu
Project Manager: WoW
Kristin Hodge