SCIENTISTS, PRACTITIONERS, AND STUDENTS
We are grateful to the many student interns and volunteers that have helped us collect data over the years, the colleagues that have joined our team and lent their expertise, and the many professional partners who have been so generous with their advice and willingness to collaborate.
You have all made this project what it is today.
Matthew Chatfield, PhD
Principal Investigator
Matt has served as Principal Investigator of the Maine Wood Turtle Project since it began in 2015, and is currently a faculty member in the School of Biology and Ecology at the University of Maine. Matt received his BA in Biology from the University of Chicago and his PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Michigan. His research focuses on the ecology, evolution, and conservation of reptiles and amphibians.
Cheryl Frederick, PhD
Co-Principal Investigator
Cheryl has served as Co-Principal Investigator since the start of the Project. She is an animal behaviorist at the Center for Wildlife Studies. Her background includes teaching, animal care, and conservation projects in field and zoo settings. She received a BS in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, a MS in Biology from the University of Massachusetts in Boston, and a PhD in Animal Behavior from the University of Washington. Her research has focused on social and environmental influences on behavior, welfare, and reproductive biology.
Gregory LeClair
Researcher, graduate student
Greg is a graduate student at the University of Maine studying the applications of environmental DNA (eDNA) to the conservation of Wood Turtles, including both in field and forensic settings. He has been involved in the MWTP since its inception, primarily as a crew leader for field research. Greg's research interests include population dynamics, wildlife trade, and new technologies for conservation planning.
Trina Wantman
Researcher, incoming graduate student
Trina is a graduate of Unity College with a BS in Wildlife Biology and an emphasis on herpetology. In previous years she has worked with the University of Pittsburgh, Orianne Society, and Georgia DNR conducting research across a variety of herptofaunal species. These positions have focused on population mark and recapture surveys, disease ecology, and amphibian health monitoring. She has been a part of the Maine Wood Turtle Project since 2015, and is currently conducting research on Wood Turtle nesting ecology.
Lindsay Ware, MS, CPDT-KA
Dog Trainer, Handler
Lindsay is a conservation dog trainer and founder of Science Dogs of New England. She became involved in the MWTP in 2019 to explore the use of scent detection dogs as a low-impact and efficient method of finding Wood Turtles and nests in terrestrial habitat. Lindsay earned her BS in Wildlife Biology from Unity College and her MS in Biology from the University of Western Ontario. She is a CCPDT Certified Professional Dog Trainer and instructs canine training classes in Bangor, Maine.
Jack is the President and Co-Founder of the Center for Wildlife Studies, and currently serves as an Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology. With his expertise in chemical analysis, Jack brings an important skill set to the stable isotope and trace element component of the Project. He received a BA in Environmental Studies, concentrating on Wildlife Biology, at Denison University and a PhD in Fish and Wildlife Biology from Montana State University.
Chili
Research Assistant
Chili is a conservation science dog who has been actively engaged in training for her profession since March of 2020. A highly skilled scent detection expert, she had an auspicious first field season and has continued to impress us with her abilities and her work-ethic. We look forward to watching her progress in the coming field seasons!
Kathleen Dunkel, PhD
Researcher
Kathleen is currently a Landscape Ecologist with the Center for Wildlife Studies, and has been involved with the Project since 2017. Her GIS and spatial analysis skills are helping elucidate Wood Turtle habitat selection, home range, and movement in our study population. Kathleen received her MS in Environmental Science from Alaska Pacific University and a PhD in Forest Resources from the University of Maine.
Jack Hopkins, PhD
Researcher
