People
Michelle Staudinger I am a marine ecologist and mother of twin boys, dedicated to making science accessible to everyone. I have over a decade of professional experience working in the fields of fish ecology, climate change, and marine conservation. Before coming to University of Maine, I worked for the U.S. Geological Survey and the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center located at the University of Massachusetts. My lab is currently located at the Darling Marine Center in Walpole, Maine, but my community of students and early career scientists interact virtually from a variety of locations across the Northeast U.S.
Current lab members
Chloe Root (M.S. Student, UME) My graduate project investigates the first-year growth and developmental phenology of the American lobster in the Gulf of Maine. I have a strong interest in marine invertebrate ecology and a passion for fisheries biology. Before starting graduate school, I worked for state agencies, specializing in aquaculture and endangered species research. In the future, I plan to continue conducting research that can be used to make informed fisheries management decisions.
Abby Remick (M.S. Student, UME) My research focuses on the foraging ecology of predatory fish and marine bird species in the Gulf of Maine. I want to understand how the diet composition of these two groups compare amongst a changing climate. Prior to my graduate experience, I worked heavily with the commercial fisheries industry which helped shape my interest in fisheries research. I am passionate about using a holistic approach to understand the connectivity that exists in nature and apply this to my graduate research and daily life as a naturalist driven by curiosity.
Chandler Sendek (M.S. Student, UME) I am an ecologist with an interest in rivers, estuaries, and coastal zones. I take a holistic approach to better understand the connections among these coastal systems to help influence robust management practices. I am specifically interested in aquatic invertebrates and their interactions with their environment and other organisms. I have spent the last five years working in a wide range of positions in both the public and private sectors. I am excited to use the knowledge and skills I have developed in that time to study the green sea urchin fishery in the Gulf of Maine.
Hsiao-Yun Chang (Postdoctoral Fellow, UME) I specialize in fisheries biology, marine ecology, and species distribution modeling under climate change as a fisheries scientist. My research revolves around understanding the response of aquatic species to climate change, particularly in terms of their distribution, ecology, and fisheries implications.
Sarah Guitart (M.S. Student, UMass Amherst) My graduate research focuses on developing and evaluating new ways to monitor Common and Roseate Tern diets in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts so that seabird colony managers can take on annual diet monitoring programs. I love all aspects of seabird ecology but my current interests lie in feeding ecology and climate change. Additionally, I’m passionate about holistic field safety, increasing inclusivity and accessibility in field work, and supporting other early career scientists.
James Garner (PhD Candidate, UMass Amherst) My interests center in refining, streamlining, and developing accessible and equitable use-inspired biodiversity and fisheries abundance monitoring tools that utilize environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques and technology.
Past lab members
Aly Putnam, PhD Student, ORISE Fellow: Species responses to climate change in coastal ecosystems: biodiversity, adaptation, and the role of native and introduced species
Kevin Burgio, PhD, ORISE Postdoctoral Fellow: A regional synthesis of climate data to inform the 2025 State Wildlife Action Plans in the Northeast U.S.
Alice Lubeck, ORISE Fellow: A regional synthesis of climate data to inform the 2025 State Wildlife Action Plans in the Northeast U.S.
Amy Teffer, Postdoctoral Fellow: Increasing Tribal climate adaptive capacity for coastal resources in the Northeast
Rebecca Dalton, PhD Student, NSF GRIP: How and why is the timing and occurrence of seasonal migrants in the Gulf of Maine changing due to climate?
Amanda Davis, M.S. Student: Identifying New England’s underutilized seafood species and evaluating their market potential in a changing climate
Sarah Endyke, USGS Intern: A novel monitoring framework to assess intertidal biodiversity in mixed coarse substrate habitats across the Boston Harbor Islands
Holly Goyert, Postdoctoral Fellow: How and why is the timing and occurrence of seasonal migrants in the Gulf of Maine changing due to climate?
Valerie Hartigan, REU Intern, Smithsonian Institution: Cephalopod biodiversity and trophic structure in the western North Atlantic Ocean
Henry Legett, Postdoctoral Fellow, NSF INTERN: How and why is the timing and occurrence of seasonal migrants in the Gulf of Maine changing due to climate?
Lise Montefiore, PhD Science to Action Fellow: Vulnerability of estuarine systems to water quality change under future and climate land-use
Emily Powell, Postdoctoral Fellow: Coastal management approaches to support the integration of ecological and human community planning for climate change
Keenan Yakola, M.S. Student: How and why is the timing and occurrence of seasonal migrants in the Gulf of Maine changing due to climate?