Our team
Will Kochtitzky, PhD
I love leading this passionate group of students working on the impacts of climate change in Maine and polar regions. We use a wide range of geospatial methods to quantify the rapid changes we are observing at all latitudes.
Our work is currently supported by the Maine Space Grant Consortium, Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program, Maine Community Foundation, Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, and the University of New England.
Jessie Maguire MS ‘26
Jessie is a master’s student at UNE studying Marine Sciences. She graduated from Monmouth University in 2024 with a major in Marine and Environmental Biology and Policy and a minor in GIS. Jessie’s research focuses on generating species distribution models (SDMs) for vulnerable marine species within the Gulf of Maine under predicted warming scenarios. She is also conducting lab studies on black sea bass (Centropristis striata) to measure consumption rates under different warming treatments. When Jessie isn’t in the lab, she can be found at the beach, drawing, or dancing.
Bryan Corvelo ’27
Bryan is an Environmental Science major pursuing a minor in Biology and GIS. Originally taking GIS-161 as a required course for his major, he began to quickly develop a love for cartography and spatial data analysis. Bryan plans to incorporate these skills into his future career, ideally as a GIS specialist for an environmental agency. Originally from the small town of Sterling, MA, he enjoys spending time outdoors, and has a love for coniferous trees and music by Steely Dan.
Ben Gowell BS ‘25 MS ‘25
Ben is a 4+1 master’s student studying Marine Sciences with a minor in Chemistry. His research focuses on determining the stock composition and migratory behavior of southern Maine’s recreational striped bass (Morone saxatilis) using acoustic telemetry and scale chemistry. His broader research interests include fisheries ecology, hard parts chemistry, migratory behavior, and conservation. When he’s not in the lab, Ben enjoys surfcasting, playing sports, and spending time with friends and family.
Johanna Birchem ‘26
Johanna is an Environmental Science major with minors in GIS and Climate Change Studies. Before attending UNE, she lived and graduated from high school in Lake of the Woods, Minnesota. Within environmental science, she is interested in population movements through telemetry in response to climate change, concentrating on fisheries. Recently, she has been surveying beaches through various drone flights to monitor dune changes in response to storms, assisting in lidar surveys, digitizing dunes, creating profiles of beach characteristics, and producing trail maps for a local land trust. Outside the lab, Johanna enjoys hunting, fishing, canoeing, playing guitar, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Ruth Ellis ‘25
Ruth is an environmental science major with a GIS minor. Before college, she grew up and graduated high school in Merrimack NH. With a huge love for the environment and specifically the impacts of climate change on vulnerable ecosystems and people, she devotes her college studies to understanding and combatting the negative effects of climate change. Her current research focuses on coastal erosion, storm damage, and salt marsh health and monitoring. When not occupied by schoolwork or research she likes to spend her free time painting, making music, swimming, kayaking, being outside, and spending time with friends, family, and her dogs!
Elizabeth O’Brien ’29
Elizabeth is a Marine Science major with a concentration in Marine Biology. She comes to UNE from Joppatowne, Maryland. Elizabeth has helped deploy Sofar Spotter Buoys in coastal Maine to monitor waves, among other projects. She’s interested in using GIS to study changing climate and how it affects marine life and ecosystems. Outside of marine science, Elizabeth has a love for drawing, creative writing, animal care, going to concerts, and spending time with friends.
Lincoln Smith ’29
Lincoln Smith loves working with GIS and spends a lot of time outside class or lab looking through maps of different places around the world. He is majoring in Environmental Science. Growing up near the coastal beaches in Maine has shown him what a special place they are, and now that he is attending UNE, he wants to help keep them beautiful and make a positive impact for the community. He has been a part of the GIS lab since his first semester at UNE and has worked on piloting drones to survey southern Maine beaches to measure coastal erosion. Outside of school he loves to hike, fish, bike on the road and in the mountains, camp, cook on an open fire, and go to the beach.
Past Students
Tyler Janik ’26 – BS Aquaculture, Aquaponics, and Aquarium Science
Kaitlyn DeWater ’25 – BS Marine Science – Marine Biology
Kaleigh Potter ’25 – BS Environmental Science
Jack Genoways ’25 – BS Marine Science – Marine Biology
Matthew Pittsley ’24 – BS Environmental Science
Paige-Marie Merrill ’24 – BS Environmental Science
Luke Gould ’23 – BA Marine Affairs
Michael Fish ’23 – BS Environmental Science