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.
Katie DeWater MS ‘26
Katie is a master’s student in marine science and an NSF Graduate Research Fellow. She previously graduated from UNE in 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in marine science and minors in GIS and applied mathematics. Katie’s research focuses on quantifying beach characteristics, including dune volume, dry beach width, and wave runup, to better understand how Maine’s sandy beaches are changing. She is also conducting a case study of Camp Ellis, Maine, examining recent geomorphic changes alongside stakeholder perspectives on coastal management decisions. When Katie is not in the lab or flying a drone, she enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, skiing, scuba diving, and fishing. She also loves playing guitar, softball, and trying new recipes.
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.
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.
Ethan Bombord ‘27
Grey Trost ’27
Grey is an Environmental Science and Marine Science major, with a minor in GIS. He grew up in rural Illinois before moving to the coast to pursue his studies. He is incredibly passionate about conservation of species and ecosystems, and loves using GIS as a tool to help further conservation research. When he is not focusing on school and research, he likes to spend time outdoors in the woods and on the beach, as well as hanging out with his cat. As he continues with his career, he hopes to continue to work GIS into his other studies and projects as a tool to protect vulnerable populations.
Nicci Stamos BS ’27
Past Students
Bryan Corvelo ’27 – Environmental Science
Jessica Maguire ’26 – MS Marine Science
Johanna Birchem ’26 – BS Environmental Science
Sophie Cronin ’26 – Environmental Studies
Ben Gowell ‘ 25 – MS Marine Science
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