Ph.D. Graduates
Dr. Joe Fader (2022)
Foreign Affairs Specialist
Office of Law Enforcement, NOAA Fisheries
Dr. Austin Allen (2021)
Dissertation title: Estimating the Cost of Locomotion in Common Bottlenose Dolphins: Calibration, Validation, and Application to Study the Impacts of Disturbance
I am a conservation biologist who studies marine mammal physiology and ecology using a diverse array of technologies to better quantify impacts on marine mammal populations. Currently I focus on developing tag-based estimates of energy expenditure for toothed whales. I use experimental trials with trained cetaceans in marine mammal facilities, where we can measure oxygen consumption to estimate energy expenditure, in order to better interpret animal-borne bio-logging data from deployments in free-ranging populations. Converting activity metrics into units of energy expenditure (e.g., calories) helps us understand the energetic costs of environmental and anthropogenic impacts on marine mammal populations.
Post-doctoral Researcher
Duke University
Dr. Seth Sykora-Bodie (2020)
Advisor to the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations and National Programs,
NOAA Fisheries
Dr. William R Cioffi (2020)
Dr. Vivienne Foroughirad (2019)
Postdoctoral Fellow in Biology
Georgetown University
email: vjf5@georgetown.edu
Dr. Joy Stanistreet (2017)
Dr. Julia Burrows (2017)
Dr. Kristina Cammen (2017)
Dr. Haydee Dominguez (2016)
Dr. Meagan Dumphy-Daly (2015)
Instructor and Director, Rachel Carson Scholars Program, Nicholas School of the Environment
Duke University
email: meagan.dunphy-daly@duke.edu
Dr. Sara McDonald (2014)
Director of Conservation, South Carolina Aquarium
Dr. Kenady Wilson (2015)
Dr. Wendy Dow Piniak (2012)
Dissertation Title:
Acoustic Ecology of Sea Turtles: Implications for Conservation
Biologist, NMFS Office of Protected Species
Adjust Professor, Duke University Marine Lab
email: wendy.dow@duke.edu
Dr. Lynne Hodge (2011)
Dissertation Title:
Monitoring marine mammals in Onslow Bay, North Carolina, using passive acoustics
Research Scientist
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Dr. Lesley Thorne (2010)
Dissertation Title:
Seabird foraging in dynamic oceanographic features
Assistant Professor
Stony Brook University
email: lhthorne@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
Dr. Catherine McClellan (2009)
Dissertation Title:
Behavior, ecology, and conservation of sea turtles in the North Atlantic Ocean
Post-doctoral Researcher
University of Exeter
email: C.McClellan@exeter.ac.uk
Dr. Caroline Good (2008)
Spatial ecology of the North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis)
Office of Protected Resources, NOAA Fisheries
Dr. Leigh Torres (2007)
- Dissertation Title:
Top predator distribution and foraging ecology in Florida Bay, Florida
Marine Spatial Ecologist
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)
Wellington, New Zealand
email: l.torres@niwa.co.nz
Dr. Vicky Thayer (2007)
- Dissertation Title:
Life history parameters and social associations of female Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) off North Carolina, USA
Marine Mammal Stranding Co-coodinator
NC Division of Marine Fisheries
email: vgt@duke.edu
Dr. Ari Friedlaender (2006)
- Dissertation Title:
Spatial ecology of Humpback and Minke Whales off the Western Antarctic Peninsula
Professor, Ocean Sciences, University of California Santa
Cruz
email: ari.friedlaender@ucsc.edu
Dr. Andrew Westgate (2005)
- Dissertation Title:
Population structure and life history of short-beak common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the North Atlantic
Research Professor
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
email: westgatea@uncw.edu
Dr. Dave Johnston (2004)
- Dissertation Title:
Fine scale oceanographic features and foraging marine predators: The ecology and conservation of an island wake in the Bay of Fundy, Canada
Associate Professor of the Practice of Marine Conservation Ecology
Duke University Marine Laboratory
email: david.johnston@duke.edu
Dr. Caterina D'Agrosa (2004)
- Dissertation Title:
The application of spatial analytical techniques toward the ocnservation of long-lived marine vertebrates: the pelagic longline fishery as a case study
Dr. Tara Cox (2003)
Dissertation Title:
Evaluation of strategies to reduce bycatch of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)
Professor
Department of Marine Science
Savannah State University
email: coxt@savstate.edu
Dr. Damon Gannon (2003)
- Dissertation Title:
Behavioral ecology of an acoustically mediated predator-prey system: bottlenose dolphins and sciaenid fishes
Assistant Director for Academics, University of Georgia Marine Institute
Dr. Heather Koopman (2001)
- Dissertation Title:
The structure and function of the blubber of odontocetes
Professor and Chair
Biology and Marine Biology Department
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
email: koopmanh@uncw.edu