Research

Greg Kaufman is the Founder and Executive Director of Pacific Whale Foundation and author of numerous books and scientific publications on cetaceans. A pioneer in non-invasive humpback whale research off Maui in the mid-1970s, Greg founded Pacific Whale Foundation in 1980. He committed his new organization to educating the public, from a scientific perspective, about whales and their ocean habitat. Greg oversees the longest running humpback whale research programme off Australia (started in 1984) and Ecuador.

An innovator in sustainable marine ecotourism, Greg is a highly sought after advisor to governments, agencies and other stakeholders on best practices for responsible dolphin and whalewatching programs. He is also one of the world’s leading advocates for whales and whale protection issues. Greg is an Invited Participant to the International Whaling Commission’s Scientific Committee and is a contributor to the Sub-Committees on Whale-watching, Southern Hemisphere Whales, and Bycatch.

Greg has served on the Hawaiian Island Humpback National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Committee, and is a contributing member to the Southern Oceans Research Partnership. He co-led the United Nations Environmental Programme’s Regional Workshop on Marine Mammal Watching in the Wider Caribbean Region, and was the U.S. delegate in a recent international workshop held in Patagonia to develop a Five Year Global Plan for Whalewatching.

Cristina received a Ph.D. in Biology and a B.A. in Biology and Chemistry at the Central University of Ecuador. Her research interests are conservation of marine mammals and their ocean habitat in Ecuador. Since 1997, her studies have focused on the breeding grounds of humpback whales in the Machalilla National Park in Ecuador. Cristina has also directed marine mammal environmental education programs and written books on environmental education for indigenous children living in the Ecuadorian jungle and coast.

Stephanie came to Pacific Whale Foundation in 2013 as a marine mammal biologist and was appointed to research manager in 2015. She also serves on NOAA’s Hawaiian Monk Seal and Large Whale Entanglement Response teams. Her research interests include marine mammal behavior and ecology with a focus on under-studied species. As an international researcher, she has worked with harp and harbor seals in eastern Canada, Antillean manatee and bottlenose dolphins in Belize, and developing communities and marine conservation in South Africa.

As Pacific Whale Foundation’s senior biologist, Stephanie ensures that our research evolves to answer the most biologically relevant questions for the species being studied. Her research focuses on North and South Pacific population of humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins, Hawaiian spinner dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins, and false killer whales, studying aspects of population ecology, behavior, patterns of residency, associations between individuals, and animal health.

Jens came to Pacific Whale Foundation in 2013 as a data analyst and was appointed to research manager in 2015. He serves as research chair (alternate) on the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Marine Sanctuary advisory council and as a first responder on NOAA’s Large Whale Entanglement Response team. His research interests include investigating potential anthropogenic impacts on cetacean populations. He also has a wide and varied background as an analyst, including studying lobster fecundity in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, modelling the impacts of aquaculture pens on the surrounding environment, and evaluating ecosystem goods and services in coastal South Africa.

As Pacific Whale Foundation’s senior data analyst, Jens is responsible for designing our research studies and ensuring that information is collected in a standardized manner to allow for rigorous statistical analysis. His research focuses on distance sampling, modelling cetacean population dynamics, and cetacean interactions with marine debris.

Jessica joined Pacific Whale Foundation in 2015 after completing her Master of Science in Biology from Syracuse University. Her research focused on the use of bioacoustics to identify seasonality, age and identity of North Atlantic right whales. She previously worked with Allied Whale, assisting with their North Atlantic Humpback Whale and Finback Whale Catalogs. Jessica manages Pacific Whale Foundation’s humpback whale photo-ID catalogs and leads the field work for our land-based study on humpback whale behavior.

Grace joined the Pacific Whale Foundation in 2017 as a research assistant after completing her graduate studies on sound patterns and social vocalizations of the Amazon River dolphins in Peru. Her research has focused on odontocete photo-identification, with emphasis on under-studied species such as the Dusky dolphins in New Zealand, and Amazon River dolphins in Brazil and Peru. Grace manages Pacific Whale Foundation’s odontocete photo-ID catalogs.

Abigail joined Pacific Whale Foundation in 2018 after completing her Master’s in Coastal Environmental Management from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment. Her research has focused on evaluating the impacts of human interactions on bottlenose dolphins in the Florida panhandle. She was previously a contractor for NOAA’s Southeast Regional Office, where she worked as a large whale biologist assisting with the management and conservation of large whale species in the Gulf of Mexico.

Dave started as a research volunteer in November 2011 and is primarily involved in quality control of the South Pacific Humpback Whale Catalog. He holds a B.S. from Kansas State University and served in U.S. Army tours in South Korea and Germany. Dave’s many hobbies include hiking, scenic photography, whalewatching, seashell collecting, and reading.

Lorraine is a retired Administrative Assistant and Equine Veterinarian Technician. She started volunteering in the research department in November 2011 and manages our library of references. Lorraine is an avid reader, enjoys various activities with the Kaunoa Senior Center, and volunteers at the Maui Humane Society.