Wendy Noke Durden, M.S.

Wendy Noke Durden is a Research Scientist II at Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute’s Florida Laboratory in Melbourne Beach. She holds B.S. degrees in Biology and Psychology and a M.S. degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Central Florida. She began her career in the marine mammal field volunteering for the cetacean stranding network while completing her Master’s thesis on dolphin interactions with the commercial blue crab fishery. She has studied the population biology, behavioral ecology, and health of marine mammals for over 20 years and has published nearly three dozen scientific manuscripts. She is committed to mentoring future scientists and frequently oversees internships, undergraduate research projects, and provides guidance to graduate students.  Her research is broadly focused on the conservation, health and ecology of local whale and dolphin populations. She oversees the marine mammal research and rescue program including marine mammal stranding response, dolphin population ecology research, and the rescue and monitoring of entangled, out of habitat, or free-swimming dolphins in need of intervention.