Annie Masterman
Research Associate IAnnie is joining GMGI with a certificate of completion from the Gloucester Biotechnology Academy, a bachelor’s degree in marine biology from University of Alaska Southeast, and five years of experience as a fisheries laboratory technician at the NOAA Auke Bay Laboratory in Juneau, Alaska. With a passion for marine research and a recent education in molecular biology, Annie is interested in exploring the marine environment through molecular tools and applying those methods to ecosystem monitoring and species conservation. Outside of work, Annie likes to run, craft, and develop her growing subsistence farm.
Education
2022 – BS Marine Biology, University of Alaska, Juneau, Alaska
2025 – Certificate of Completion, Gloucester Biotechnology Academy, Gloucester, Massachusetts
Research Interests
My research interests are driven by a deep curiosity about the natural world. In my previous role as a laboratory technician with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), I had the opportunity to explore many facets of the marine realm—from the body plans of copepods to the life history of humpback whales, and much more in between. Much of this work centered on biological themes such as diet, behavior, and food web ecology.
I am now shifting my focus to exploring marine environments through the lens of environmental DNA (eDNA). I find it exciting to contribute to critical marine research without removing fish from their habitat. As part of the fisheries team, my work is guided by questions such as: How does human development influence habitat use? How can eDNA be leveraged to better understand commercially important marine species? And what other areas of marine research can benefit from eDNA applications?
Research Profile Links
Cheeseman, Ted, Ken Southerland, et al. “A collaborative and near-comprehensive north pacific humpback whale photo-ID dataset.” Scientific Reports, vol. 13, no. 1, 23 June 2023, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-36928-1
Cheeseman, Ted, Jay Barlow, et al. “Bellwethers of change: Population modelling of North Pacific humpback whales from 2002 through 2021 reveals shift from recovery to climate response.” Royal Society Open Science, vol. 11, no. 2, Feb. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.231462.