Mr Sam Gierhart

Sam Gierhart is a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Exeter; he is a marine spatial ecologist in Dr Witt and Dr Hawkes' lab.

My research combines marine ecology, remote sensing, and data science, using a mix of underwater video, acoustic telemetry, earth observation, and geospatial tools to understand how marine species interact with their environment. Much of my current work investigates the ecological effects of offshore wind farms on marine ecosystems as part of the PrePARED project, and the spatial ecology and conservation of pelagic sharks in English waters through a Natural England Species Recovery Programme project. I have also contributed to the development of CoHDEx, an open-source environmental data tool built for Cefas.

Before completing my MSc, I worked at the Cape Eleuthera Institute in The Bahamas studying the spatial ecology of juvenile sea turtles. After my MSc, I worked at the Marine Management Organisation managing fisheries.

Interests:

• Remote underwater monitoring technologies (BRUV, acoustic telemetry)

• Marine spatial ecology

• Ecological effects of offshore renewable energy

• Earth observation and oceanographic data

• Geospatial data tools and visualisation

Qualifications:

2019 MSc Conservation and Biodiversity, Exeter

2014 BSc Biosciences, Birmingham

Career:

2022–present Graduate Research Assistant, University of Exeter

2020–2022 Marine Management Organisation

2018–2019 Cape Eleuthera Institute, The Bahamas