Meet the Researchers
Project Leads
Jason Somarelli
PhD, Department of Medicine
Dr. Somarelli is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at Duke University Medical Center and Associate Member of the Duke Cancer Institute. Dr. Somarelli also serves as the Director of Research for the Duke Cancer Institute Comparative Oncology Group and is the Director of the Duke University Marine Laboratory Scholars in Marine Medicine Program. His research team studies a range of topics, including the evolution of cancer therapy resistance, evolution of hypoxia tolerance in marine mammals, and bioengineering new ways to break down plastic pollution.
In addition to his scholarly activities, Dr. Somarelli is active as a mentor, leading multiple outreach and research training programs for high school students and undergraduates. He is the site director for a NCI U54 Cancer Systems Biology Consortium Outreach Core (PI: Wang), director of the Duke Scholars in Marine Medicine undergraduate research training program, co-director of the Diversifying Research and Experiential Learning in Cancer Training, a gap year program funded by Emerson Collective, and co-director of Duke’s BioSTEMs program for high school students.
Nicola Quick
PhD, Marine Conservation
Dr. Quick is a Lecturer in Marine Conservation at the University of Plymouth, UK and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Marine Science and Conservation at the Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University. Her research focuses on the behavioral responses of marine mammals to anthropogenic noise, in particular the effects of navy sonar systems on deep diving cetaceans. This research uses a range of innovative technologies to study the diving behavior of wild cetaceans and to help inform conservation management of cetacean populations.
In addition to her research, Dr Quick leads teaching on marine biodiversity and the effects of human exploitation on the oceans. Dr Quick mentors undergraduate and graduate students on a range of research programs and is heavily involved in public outreach of science. Dr Quick has received external funding for outreach activities in schools and sits on the Diversity and Inclusion committee for the Society of Marine Mammalogy, specifically aimed at increasing the inclusion of women in science.
Thomas Schultz
PhD, Marine Molecular Conservation
Dr. Schultz is broadly interested in how organisms adapt the their environment at a molecular level. His research is largely focused on conservation genetics in wild populations of marine organisms and his lab employs a combination of molecular, genetic, and genomic tools. His lab is currently working on conservation genetics and hybridization in river herring, populations of juvenile summer flounder using the Pamlico Sound as a nursery, environmental selection of blue crabs in Lake Mattamuskeet, identifying genes involved in barnacle adhesion, and use of environmental DNA to detect anadromous fish and species composition in the ichthyoplankton.
Jillian Wisse
PhD Candidate, Marine Science and Conservation
Jillian is working to improve our understanding of acute and chronic environmental stressors so we can better manage our oceans. Her dissertation research specifically focuses on the effects of anthropogenic ocean noise on whales and dolphins, and measures these changes through hormone indicators.
Team Mentors
Will Cioffi
Chris Klein
Emma Stewart
Collaborators
Andy Read
Ashley Blawas
Andreas Fahlman
Greg Merrill
