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

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.

 

 

Aly Putnam (PhD Candidate, UMass Amherst) I am a marine ecologist with a focus on species interactions and biological invasion in intertidal systems and how climate change interacts with introduced/range expanding and native species (invertebrates and algae). I’m a mother, first generation college student, disabled scientist, and am passionate about JEDIA (justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility), education, and supporting the next generation of scientists.

 

 

lab member JamesJames 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.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

Alice LubeckAlice Lubeck (ORISE Fellow) I am currently working on a synthesis of climate information, and climate informed management actions to inform state agencies with their 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan revisions. My background is in social science, specifically environmental social-psychology.

 

 

 

Kevin BurgioKevin Burgio, Ph.D. (ORISE Postdoctoral Fellow) I am an integrative ecologist and generally study how disturbance, like climate change and habitat loss, affects the distribution and extinction risk of birds and other animals. Additionally, I do research in the fields of science communication and education. Currently, I am working on synthesizing how climate change is affecting the Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the Northeastern U.S. in anticipation of the 2025 revisions of the State Wildlife Action Plans (for more, see kevinburgio.com) and link to Kevin’s CV).

 

 

Amy TefferAmy Teffer (Postdoctoral Fellow, UMass Amherst) I am an interdisciplinary fisheries scientist and disease ecologist, mother, artist, and other things focused on how climate change and human disturbances interact to affect the health, survival and fitness of fishes and the function of the systems they support. I focus my science communication, interpretation, and idea development through the lens of creative expression and wellbeing.

 

 

Past lab members

Rebecca Dalton, PhD Student, NSF GRIP

Amanda Davis, M.S. Student

Sarah Endyke, USGS Intern

Holly Goyert, Postdoctoral Fellow

Valerie Hartigan, REU Intern, Smithsonian Institution

Henry Legett, Postdoctoral Fellow, NSF INTERN

Lise Montefiore, PhD Science to Action Fellow

Emily Powell, Postdoctoral Fellow

Keenan Yakola, M.S. Student