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. 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. 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)
Seabird foraging in dynamic oceanographic features
Assistant Professor
Stony Brook University
email: lhthorne@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
Dr. Catherine McClellan (2009)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Dr. Heather Koopman (2001)
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