Dr. Jay Rotella, Co-Principal Investigator

Jay is a Professor in the Ecology Department at Montana State University and member of the MSU Fish and Wildlife Ecology and Management Program. His work focuses on animal population ecology, modeling and estimation of population parameters, and effects of abiotic and biotic factors on population dynamics. Jay's research includes both basic and applied topics that span from management of wild populations to life-history evolution. Jay received his PhD in Wildlife Biology, University of Idaho, 1990. More on Jay.

Dr. Donald Siniff, Co-Principal Investigator

Don is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior at the University of Minnesota where his work has centered on the population dynamics of large mammals. Don's research has focused on the population characteristics of three species of Antarctic seals, concentrating on a long-term program on Weddell seals with shorter term studies on the crabeater and leopard seals of the Antarctic. He has also studied sea otters in Alaska and California since 1975. Don received his PhD from the University of Minnesota, 1967. More on Don.

Terrill Paterson, Weddell seal research field team leader

Terrill is a PhD student at Montana State University, and has a background in science education. He began working on the Weddell seal project in 2013. Terrill is the 2014 Field Research Team leader. He is also an accomplished field photographer and videographer.

Michael Yarnall, Weddell seal research field team

Michael graduated in 2011 from Montana State University with a double option in Ecology & Evolution and Fish and Wildlife Management.  This is his third season working for the Weddell Seal Project.  In addition to previous work on the Ice, Michael has worked as a wildlife technician on a diverse range of projects and species, including goshawks, sage grouse, and trout.  Most recently he worked for the US Forest Service developing multiple habitat improvement projects to benefit a variety of species including mule deer, mountain goats, upland game birds, and neotropical migrants.

This is Kirstie’s second year working on the Weddell Seal Project with Montana State University. Prior to coming to McMurdo, Kirstie received a BA in Biology from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa and has worked as a Bio-Science Field Technician on a variety of projects including: the Colorado River Fisheries Project with the US Fish and Wildlife Service; a variety of terrestrial mammal projects with Colorado Parks and Wildlife; the seabird component of the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) project at Palmer Station, Antarctica; the Hawaiian Monk Seal Project in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands; and the Steller Sea Lion observation program at Ugamak Island, Alaska. Kirstie is currently a graduate student in the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Colorado State University where she is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Ecology and Fish & Wildlife Studies.

Kaitlin Macdonald, Weddell seal research field team

Kaitlin Macdonald has worked on Montana State University research projects since 2012. The 2014 Weddell  seal project season is Kaitlin’s first on the project. Kaitlin has done field work with mountain ungulates and small mammals. She most recently worked as a field technician studying dispersal of Hoary marmots in northwest Montana. She holds a B.A.  in Environmental Studies and a B.S. in Economics from Montana State University.

Jonathan Rees, Weddell seal research field team

Jonathan Rees is originally from Yardley Pennsylvania and a graduate of the University of the Arts with a Bachelors of Music in Jazz Studies and a Master of Arts in Teaching in Music Education. He taught for four years in the Pennsylvania Public School system and performs professionally on national and international stages touring with ensembles such as The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Joshua Stamper Quartet, and the Philadelphia Boys Choir. For the past five years Mr. Rees has worked as a Park Ranger and EMT with the National Park Service and most recently as a research assistant with MSU on various ecology and range science projects. Mr. Rees is a constant adventurer and is thrilled to be studying seals on one of the most remote and beautiful places on earth.

Eric Boyd, Weddell seal research field team

Eric Boyd recently received his BS in Fish & Wildlife Management from Montana State University. He has worked as a field technician on a previous large carnivore population study involving Grizzly Bears in the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem. His backcountry experience is extensive and has mountain travel and safety, first responder, and swiftwater rescue knowledge. Eric began working on the Weddell Seal Project in 2014.

Mary Lynn Price, Weddell seal project video and digital specialist

Mary Lynn has been working with the Weddell seal project since 2010 as a public outreach and informal science education video and multimedia producer.  Her digital production background includes short format videos for news and science organizations, educational institutions, film festivals, art galleries, and internet projects. She developed and maintains the Weddell Seal Science multimedia web portal, and produces short videos for public outreach and informal science education. She has deployed to Antarctica to produce videos since 2008 when she participated in an International Polar Year project producing short video portraits on woman working in Antarctica. Her recent work also involves editing 4K stereoscopic 3D underwater footage for natural history cinematographers. More on Mary Lynn.