Caitlin Dudzik
BSc - Aviation Flight Technology | Eastern Michigan University (USA)
MSc - Wildlife and Fisheries Biology | Clemson University (USA)
MSc - Marine Biology | James Cook University
Favourite papers?
Afonso, A.S. & Fidelis, L. (2023). The fate of plastic-wearing sharks: Entanglement of an iconic top predator in marine debris. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 194(A).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115326
Baker, J.D., Johanos, T.C., Ronco, H., Becker, B.L., Morioka, J., O’Brian, K., & Donohue, M.J. (2024). Four decades of Hawaiian monk seal entanglement data reveal the benefits of plastic debris removal. Science, 385(6716), 1491-1495. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ado2834
Hoyos-Padilla, E. M., Casanova-Santamaria, I., Loria-Correa, J. C., & Sulikowski, J. (2023). The successful use of a submersible ultrasound to confirm pregnancy on free swimming bull sharks, Carcharhinus leucas, in a provisioned shark site. Frontiers in Marine Science, 10, Article 1193563. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1193563
Caitlin’s path into marine science has been shaped by an unconventional background in aviation and extensive experience working in remote environments. Her early career involved coordinating complex flight operations in some of the most isolated regions on Earth, including four summer seasons in Antarctica, where she planned and implemented logistics that enabled scientific fieldwork.
She later spent three years on Wake Island as a United States Air Force-contracted air traffic controller, where she developed a strong interest in marine ecosystems—spending much of her time in the water observing sharks and advocating for sustainable fishing practices. A subsequent seven-month volunteer placement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Johnston Atoll ultimately prompted a career transition into conservation.
Prior to beginning her current studies at James Cook University, Caitlin spent 12 months on Kure Atoll (Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Hawai‘i), contributing to a range of conservation initiatives. These included albatross habitat restoration, rehabilitation of critically endangered Laysan ducks, Hawaiian monk seal monitoring and tagging, and large-scale marine debris removal. Working in such resource-limited environments shaped her practical, problem-solving approach to field research.
While at James Cook University, Caitlin has managed a shark research laboratory housing over 30 sharks, supporting students and volunteers while maintaining aquaria systems for ongoing physiology studies. She has also contributed as a researcher on the Dwarf Minke Whale Project on the Great Barrier Reef, conducting in-water behavioral observations and delivering science communication presentations to passengers. In addition, she has supported turtle health research through husbandry and monitoring of captive loggerhead turtles, and served on the College of Science and Engineering Learning and Teaching Committee, contributing to the development of guidelines for effective online course delivery.
Caitlin’s current research work focuses on shark ecology and predator–prey interactions, with an emphasis on understanding the ecological role of large predators and informing their conservation.
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Quantifying predation and evaluating drivers of abundance of tiger sharks and albatross fledglings at Kure Atoll, Hawaii
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Evaluating 3 decades of Cairns Underwater Association spearfishing competition data
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PADI AWARE Global Shark and Ray Census
