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, and the University of New England.
Katelyn (Katie) DeWater ‘25
Katie is a Marine Sciences major with minors in GIS and Applied Mathematics. Before attending UNE, she lived and graduated from high school in Livonia, NY. Her research focuses on quantifying the impacts of climate change on Maine’s salt marshes. Recently, she has been digitizing salt marsh pool expansion to understand patterns of erosion and the impacts of sea level rise. When Katie is not in the lab, she enjoys spending as much time outside as possible and can be found hiking, skiing, swimming, gardening, and biking.
Kaleigh Potter ’25
Kaleigh is a junior Environmental Science major with a minor in GIS! Before coming to Maine, she graduated high school and lived in Methuen, MA. Within environmental science, she is interested in studying ecology as well as documenting/quantifying climate change impacts. Currently she is mapping the locations of glaciers that terminate in lakes to inform the Randolph Glacier Inventory and better understand glacier dynamics in the Russian Arctic, Antarctica, and Arctic Canada. Outside of research and studying, she enjoys drawing and painting, as well as spending time outside and with friends!
Charles (Jack) Genoways ‘25
Jack is a Marine Science major with a minor in GIS. Before transferring to UNE, he studied human ecology for one year at the College of the Atlantic and graduated from the University of Nebraska High School in Lincoln, NE. Jack is fascinated by the biology and ecology of marine species from phytoplankton to corals to whales. Recently, he has become interested in using satellite and remote sensing data to map and monitor biomass and distribution of species in order to assess and mitigate the effects of climate change on marine communities. He is also interested in sea floor mapping, particularly looking for new technology to improve data collection. Jack is also mapping marine-terminating glaciers in South America and Antarctica. When Jack is away from his studies, he enjoys spending time outside tidepooling, SCUBA diving, hiking, skateboarding, and drawing.
Matthew Pittsley ‘25
Matthew is an Environmental Science major with minors in GIS and Marine Biology. He is from Massachusetts’ Southcoast currently residing in Barnstable on Cape Cod but graduated from Bristol Plymouth RTS in Taunton, MA. Matthew’s main interests are in coastal and wetland ecology, and he is interested in how the environments are changing due to climate change and the impacts on coastal communities. Outside the lab, Matthew can be found at the beach, exploring Portland, or skiing, if he’s not busy with homework or at one of his other jobs.
Past Students
Luke Gould ’23 – Marine Affairs
Michael Fish ’23 – Environmental Science