Alumni
Kailee Berge
Kailee was a graduate student in the Kerr Lab between 2023-2025. During that time, her research focused on Atlantic bluefin tuna stock composition analysis. Her master’s thesis research applied a machine learning ensemble model and isoscape approach to assign samples to a natal origin using otolith chemical signatures. With the assigned natal origins, Kailee characterized trends in stock composition and the effects of stock mixing in the western bluefin tuna stock, which is a key priority for improving the assessment and management of Atlantic bluefin tuna. Kailee Received her master’s degree in the fall of 2023 and is now pursuing her PhD.
Dr. Amanda Hart
Amanda was a Post Doctoral Research Associate in the Kerr Lab between 2021-2023. During that time, her research focused on integrating climate and ecosystem information into fisheries management systems and evaluating management efficacy through simulation testing. In addition, Amanda contributed to the American plaice stock assessment research track and led the modeling efforts for the Georges Bank stock of the Atlantic cod stock assessment research track. Dr. Hart is now a Fish Biologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Dr. Mackenzie Mazur
Mackenzie was a Post Doctoral Research Associate in the Kerr Lab between 2020-2021. During that time, her research focused on developing fisheries management procedures that consider climate-driven changes and evaluate whether they result in more adaptive, successful management of groundfish species given forecasted climate change in the Northeast U.S. Shelf. Dr. Mazur is now a Research Scientist at the Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Ocean Canada.
Dr. Alex Hansell
Alex was a Post Doctoral Research Associate in the Kerr Lab in 2020. During that time, his research focused on accounting for changes in availability and environmental effects in the western bluefin tuna stock assessment. Dr. Hansell is now a stock assessment scientist at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Dr. Samuel Truesdell
Sam was a Post Doctoral Research Associate in the Kerr lab during 2018-2019. His primary work involved the development of a management strategy evaluation (MSE) for groundfish in the northeast US that had the capacity to integrate environmental data into stock dynamics. Dr. Truesdell is currently a Fish Biologist at NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center.