Mrs+Duffields+Fellowship

[|Coastal-Marine Research Group] (Go into the link and then into "Our Team" and "Staff"

Hi All,

I am having an amazing time on my Fellowship but am missing all of the students and Staff at Somerville.I am based at Massey University in Albany and am working under Dr. Karen Stockin in the Coastal- Marine Research Group Common Dolphin project.

So far this week I have been working in the Pathology Lab processing samples from Pilot Whales and Pygmy Sperm Whales. We are preparing samples for DNA analysis (skin samples), toxicology, histology and diet. You can look up the words " DNA, toxicology and histology" to see what they mean. I will then be going to the labs at Palmerston North University to see how all these tests are done - so exciting!!!!! I have also been spending quite a bit of time on the internet doing research on the marine mammals in the Hauraki Gulf.

Depending on the weather over the next 2 days, I will be going on the Dolphin watching boat to begin a project with a PhD student at the University looking at Mother and Calf relationships.

Every day is so different and stimulating and I am learning so much.