Interested in joining the Thorne Lab? Check out our opportunities here.
kimberly(dot)lato(at)stonybrook(dot)edu
Kim is PhD student in Thorne Lab studying seabird ecology. She obtained her B.Sc. from Binghamton University in New York and has worked for numerous conservation non-profits prior to coming to SoMAS. She has most recently worked as a research assistant in Costa Rica, studying the nesting polymorphism of Olive Ridley sea turtles. Her dissertation focuses on the foraging ecology and urban habitat use of herring gulls (Larus argentatus) and great black-backed gulls (Larus marinus) using GPS tracking data and stable isotope analyses. Her work is driven by the overarching objective of understanding the human-wildlife interface and impacts of human pressure on animal populations.
In her free time, Kim enjoys hiking, kayaking, and baking!
Nathan Hirtle
nathan(dot)hirtle(at)stonybrook(dot)edu
Nathan is a PhD student in the Thorne lab using 3D models to accurately represent humpback whale morphology and identify broad scale patterns in delphinid morphology. His future efforts will focus on using quantitative methods to explore predator-prey interactions at the highest trophic levels in relation to climate change. Nathan earned a B.Sc. at Salisbury University in Maryland, where he led a water quality analysis program and studied trends in nutrient data in the Wicomico River. He also explored forage fish ecology using acoustic imaging at Chesapeake Biological Laboratories, which led to his interest in food web dynamics. Before joining the Thorne Lab, Nathan served as an AmeriCorps member in the Education Department of the Salisbury Zoo, where he developed teaching modules to inspire ecological interest in students within the local community. Nathan tries to maintain a healthy work-life balance by listening to music, playing games with friends, and exercising. He can sometimes be found exploring the island running, longboarding, or biking, and likes pretending that he knows how to cook, make coffee, and play guitar.
Chelsi Napoli
chelsi(dot)napoli(at)stonybrook(dot)edu
Chelsi is a PhD student in the Thorne lab, as part of the Ecology and Evolution program at Stony Brook University. She will be studying cetacean body condition and population in the NY bight. She earned her Bachelors degree in Biology at Pace University, and has worked for science and conservation organizations before joining the lab. Most recently, she worked as a naturalist for the New England Aquarium whale watch where her passion for whales and dolphins evolved into her research focus. Her interests are in the population demographics and behavioral ecology of marine mammals. Outside of the lab, you can find her doing crosswords, making bagels, hiking and reading.
Esther Nosazeogie
esther(dot)nosazeogie(at)stonybrook(dot)edu
When she is not studying birds, Esther is doing one of these: trying to get everyone else informed and excited about the natural world, soaking in the outdoors, or enjoying music, literature, and other forms of art.
Check out Esther’s website at naturestorynigeria.com. She’s also on Twitter, https://twitter.com/
Ian Maywar
ian(dot)maywar(at)stonybrook(dot)edu
Taylor Evans
taylor(dot)c(dot)evans(at)stonybrook(dot)edu
Josh Meza-Fidalgo
joshua(dot)meza-fidalgo(at)stonybrook(dot).edu
Zach Hoffman
zachary(dot)k(dot)hoffman(at)stonybrook(dot).edu
Maddy Hallet
madeline(dot)hallet(at)stonybrook(dot).edu
Katie Gallagher
katherine(dot)l(dot)hudson(at)stonybrook(dot)edu
Katherine (Katie) Gallagher is a senior postdoctoral associate in the Thorne Lab. She will be building habitat suitability models for whale species on the Mid Atlantic bight with glider and passive acoustic data. She earned her B.S. in marine biology from Northeastern University in 2017. Katie received her PhD in oceanography from the University of Delaware in 2022, where she used glider and model data to study biophysical coupling within an Antarctic biological hotspot. Broadly, Katie’s interests lie at the intersection of physical and biological oceanography, and how biophysical interactions drive the distributions of prey, their predators, and marine pollutants. Beyond the lab, you can find Katie playing video games, reading, baking, or hiking.
Dylan Sinnickson
dylan(dot)sinnickson(at)stonybrook(dot)edu