Patrick N. HalpinDirector of the Geospatial Ecology Program
Professor of Marine Geospatial Ecology in the Marine Science and Conservation Division of the Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University
Co-Chair, Coastal and Marine Systems
Patrick Halpin is a Professor of Marine Geospatial Ecology and Director of the Geospatial Analysis Program at the Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Lab. He received his Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia in 1995.
Prof. Halpin’s research focuses on marine geospatial analysis, ecological applications of geographic information systems and remote sensing; and marine conservation and ecosystem-based management. He leads the Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab (MGEL) at Duke University and sits on a number of international scientific and conservation program steering committees.
Research Scientists
Ana Cañadas
Ana has been conducting research on cetaceans since 1990. She has spent nearly three decades working on numerous marine top-predators research and conservation projects in Spain and Europe. Her main research interests are in populations abundance, distribution and ecology, and the application of science informing conservation and management. More about Dr. Cañadas' research
Ei Fujioka
Ei is a lead developer of marine biogeographic information centers including OBIS-SEAMAP, iOBIS, and the MiCO.eco/system.
Tina Yack
Dr. Yack has over 20 years of experience studying marine mammal bioacoustics and ecology. Her research interests center around utilizing innovative techniques and methods to address conservation and management needs for cetacean species. Read more about Dr. Yack's research
Research Staff
Deborah Brill
Deborah (Debbie) is an Associate in research at MGEL with a B.S. in Marine Biology and Mathematics from the University of North Carolina - Wilmington (2017) and a master's in Coastal Environmental Management from Duke's Nicholas School (2021). Since joining the lab in 2021, her primary research focus has been marine mammal conservation and the effects of offshore wind development on marine wildlife.
Jesse Cleary
Jesse is a geographer with a background in GIS and Remote Sensing and interests in spatial ecology, spatial data science, open-source GIS, and marine spatial planning. He works on a range of data provisioning, cartography, and applied marine GIS projects across the lab, translating the science work of the lab for use in spatial planning processes. He also co-teaches “Geospatial Analysis for Coastal and Marine Management” (ENV 765) and has previously taught “GIS and Geospatial Analysis” (ENV 359), an introductory GIS course for Duke undergrads. Read more about Jesse Cleary's research
Corrie Curtice
Corrie joined the Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab in 2009 after completing her Master’s of Environmental Management at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment with specialties in coastal environmental management and geospatial analysis. With an undergraduate degree in Computer and Information Science and 15 years of professional experience in technology companies, Corrie brings a unique perspective to MGEL. Read More about Corrie Curtice's research
Sarah DeLand
Sarah DeLand is a geospatial analyst whose career has been focused on applying analytical tools towards effective marine spatial management. Her educational foundation was laid at Western Washington University where she later received the prestigious Ernest F. Hollings scholarship from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She went on to pursue a Masters of Environmental Management at Duke University where she specialized in geospatial analysis. Demonstrating an aptitude for GIS, she was recruited to work on the Migratory Connectivity in the Ocean (MiCO) project at the Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab where she contributed to mapping the area use patterns of sea turtles, marine mammals, seabirds, marine fish, and sharks. DeLand has also contributed to describing Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSA) in the Northern Hemisphere and is currently contributing to the development of Regional Environmental Management Plans (REMPs) for seabed mining. Her work has led her to diverse marine planning and conservation settings worldwide and her primary passion lies in harnessing geospatial tools to solve problems facing the world’s oceans.
Ben Donnelly
MGEL maintains a sizable technical infrastructure of high performance computational and storage resources to for intensive statistical modeling and predictions. Donnelly is responsible for DevOps, maintaining, and upgrading these resources, including resolving technical issues with hardware, in-house software development and integration with organizations who collaborate with the lab. As a developer, Donnelly is also produces data visualizations, analyses, and web mapping applications.
Jason Roberts
Originally a software engineer with a passion for scuba diving and other marine hobbies, Jason left Microsoft in 2003 to pursue a full time career in marine research and conservation. At the Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, he splits his time between writing software tools and conducting scientific research. He is interested in facilitating progress in marine ecology and conservation by developing, applying, and helping others apply advanced software tools, statistical methods, and modeling approaches. Read More about Jason Robert's research
PhD Students
Jonathan Choi
Jonathan is a J.D.-Ph.D. student at the Duke School of Law and the Duke Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab. Broadly, Jonathan seeks to better understand the intersection of legal and ecological processes, particularly as it relates to species conservation, biogeography, and ecological connectivity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Before joining the lab in the fall of 2017, he worked as a High Meadows Fellow with the Environmental Health team at Environmental Defense Fund. There he contributed to the team’s successful efforts to pass reforms to the Toxic Substances Control Act, provided GIS and statistical support to the team’s research endeavors, and produced a podcast dedicated to health science communication. He obtained his A.B. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University in 2015. His undergraduate thesis, advised by Professor David Wilcove, explored tropical forest restoration in Costa Rica. His personal website is jonathanjunochoi.wordpress.com
MGEL Alumni & Adjuncts
- Ben Best – PhD
- Guillermo Ortuño Crespo – PhD
- Maria De Oca – PhD
- Ellie Heywood – Research Associate
- Erin LaBrecque – PhD
- Connie Kot – Research Associate
- Laura Mannocci – Postdoctoral Researcher
- Jerry Moxley – PhD
- Sarah Poulin – Research Associate
- Sarah Roberts – PhD
- Beatrice Smith – Researach Associate
- Eric Treml – PhD
- Shay Viehman – PhD
- Brian Wong – Research Associate
Daniel Dunn
Daniel is a research professor with University of Queensland with a continued affiliation with MGEL. As an interdisciplinary marine conservation scientist, he strives for an integrative approach bringing together ecology, biogeography, oceanography, conservation, natural resource management and social sciences.
Rob Schick
Dr. Robert Schick is a quantitative marine ecologist modeling health and disturbance of the North Atlantic Right Whale. His academic journey commenced with the successful completion of a Master's in Environmental Management at Duke University in 2002, which served as the foundation for his subsequent contributions to the field. After his MEM, Dr. Schick's, worked at the New England Aquarium, and NOAA Fisheries, during which he received an honorable mention for the Southwood Prize from the British Ecological Society in 2007. Subsequently, Dr. Schick returned to Duke University to pursue his doctoral studies under the mentorship of Dr. Pat Halpin, focusing on the intricate movements and behaviors of the North Atlantic Right Whale. After graduating in 2009, Schick completed postdocs at Duke with Professor Jim Clark, and at the University of St Andrews with Professor Len Thomas. Dr. Schick's ongoing dedication to the modeling of right whale distribution underscores his commitment to advancing our comprehension of this critically endangered marine mammal.
Andre Boustany
Research scientist at Monterey Bay Aquarium and MGEL