Ashley A Stoehr, Ph.D.
Office Location
Area of Specialization
- Eco-physiology
- Comparative Anatomy
- Comparative Biomechanics
- Fish Biology
Professional Affiliations
- Member of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Society of Icthyologists and Herpetologists, American Elasmobranch Society
- Member of Sigma Xi, Phi Betta Kappa
Degrees & Certifications
- PhD, Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, MA (2018)
- MS, Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, MA (2012)
- BA, Political Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI (2010)
- BS, Marine Biology, University of Rhode island, Kingston, RI (2010)
Teaching Responsibilities
- BI111/113 Concepts in Biology I
- BI112/114 Concepts in Biology II
- BI126/127 and BI 206/207 Anatomy and Physiology I
- BI128/129 and BI 208/209 Anatomy and Physiology II
- BI 203 Genetics and Evolution Lab
- BI 204 Ecology and Evolution Lab
Research Interests & Grants
I am interested in how the anatomy and physiology of organisms influence their ability to exploit or persist in changing environments. My research investigates the impact of temperature on the physiology, behavior, and distribution of marine organisms – be they large, pelagic fishes or interstitial, intertidal organisms. More specifically, I aim to understand what specializations, if any, allow some large, pelagic fishes, like bigeye thresher sharks and swordfish, to hunt in cold, hypoxic environments; and how anthropogenic impacts like climate change alter intertidal communities in Long Island Sound.
I use field, biochemical and biomechanical techniques to address hypotheses at the cellular through the organismal levels of study. This approach helps to elucidate how, for example, physiological mechanisms control species’ distributions and behaviors (e.g., surface-orientated vs. deep-diving fishes). Understanding how organisms survive in diverse ecosystems is vital to accurately predicting species distribution patterns in our changing world.
- Young Professional Recruitment Fund, American Elasmobranch Society ($50), 2015
- Grant in Aid of Research, Sigma Xi ($750), 2014, Dissertation Research: Effect of temperature on the net-work and power-output of red muscle isolated from swordfish, Xiphias gladius
Awards & Fellowships
- Distinguished Doctoral Fellowship, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, (>$120, 000), 2010-2018
- National Defense Science and Engineering Fellowship, US Dept. of Defense, (~$120,000) 2011-2014