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Lab Members

Principal Investigator 

Nicole M. Thometz, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, University of San Francisco

Ph.D.     2014     Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, UC Santa Cruz

B.S.        2008     Biology, University of Portland 

Dr. Thometz is a broadly trained physiological ecologist who specializes in marine mammal physiology, ecology, & behavior. A longstanding area of interest includes the ontogeny of energy demands, development of diving capacities, reproductive energetics, and foraging behavior of sea otters. Currently, her main research focus concerns the unique physiology, diving capacities, and behavioral flexibility of Arctic phocids, specifically: ringed, bearded, and spotted seals. In addition, she has studied the foraging behavior and diving physiology of Weddell seals in the Antarctic, the metabolic demands and diving capacities of Hawaiian monk seals, and the comparative physiology of sound production muscles in a variety of odontocete species.

Past Graduate Student Researchers

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Sophia Lyon

Master's Student, University of San Francisco

M.S.     2021      Biology, University of San Francisco

B.S.      2016      Biology, Santa Clara University

Thesis: "Investigations of southern sea otter foraging ecology at the northern range extent".

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Michelle Hartwick

Master's Student, University of San Francisco

M.S.     2020      Biology, University of San Francisco

B.S.      2016      Marine Biology, UC Santa Cruz

Thesis: "Assessing seasonal changes in body condition for spotted (Phoca largha), ringed (Pusa hispida), and bearded (Erignathus barbatus) seals".

Mariah Tengler

M.S.     2019      Biology, University of San Francisco

B.S.      2015      Marine Biology, Alaska Pacific University

Thesis: "Physiological development of locomotor muscle in ringed, bearded and spotted seals".

Past Undergraduate Researchers

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Lexy Anderson

B.S. Biology 2020

Audrey Sun

B.S. Biology 2020

Bensu Tangil

B.S. Biology 2020

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Amanda Telfer

B.S. Biology 2020

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Esther Grady

B.S. Biology 2019

If you are interested in joining the Thometz Lab as an undergraduate or master's student, please email Dr. Thometz at nthometz @ usfca.edu. In your email be sure to include your CV as well as a brief description of your research interests and career goals. 

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