Michael Tift, PhD
Assistant Professor in Department of Biology and Marine Biology
Director of the UNCW Marine Mammal Stranding Program
Originally from Ohio, I received a B.S. and M.S. from Sonoma State University on several different aspects of physiology in deep-diving northern elephant seals. I then went on to Scripps Institution of Oceanography to earn my Ph.D. studying hypoxia tolerance and carbon monoxide (CO) production in deep-diving mammals. My postdoctoral training was at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and focused on the investigation of endogenous carbon monoxide (CO) production in a high-altitude human population in Peru.
My current research interests lie mainly in the comparative physiology of vertebrates. A major focus of my lab has focused on the role of gasotransmitters (carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, nitric oxide) in the health and function of wild animals. Considered by many to be strictly toxic, these gases are now known to be naturally produced in the body and are being used in clinical studies to treat many diseases and injuries associated with hypoxia and ischemia-reperfusion events. We are teaming up with several different groups to understand the functional and evolutionary role of these gases in helping certain populations of animals and humans tolerate hypoxia and ischemia-reperfusion events.
We recently started an NSF-funded project in 2022 investigating the physiological ecology of crabeater seals in Antarctica. This project is investigating the impacts of climate change on the health and behavior of crabeater seals, the most abundant large mammal in the wild. For more information about this project, visit this site.
We have also begun investigating the brain lymphatic system in wild animals. This project is supported by the Office of Naval Research. It was less than 20 years ago that we believed the central nervous system had no physical structures associated with the lymphatic system. Shown to be present in humans, rodents, and non-human primates, the newly discovered glymphatic system (named for its tie to glial cells) in the brain has changed how we view brain physiology and health. Despite the importance of this system, we know nothing about this system in wild animals. Our lab is investigating the diversity and function of this system in a wide variety of mammals.
Assistant Professor in Department of Biology and Marine Biology
Director of the UNCW Marine Mammal Stranding Program
Originally from Ohio, I received a B.S. and M.S. from Sonoma State University on several different aspects of physiology in deep-diving northern elephant seals. I then went on to Scripps Institution of Oceanography to earn my Ph.D. studying hypoxia tolerance and carbon monoxide (CO) production in deep-diving mammals. My postdoctoral training was at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and focused on the investigation of endogenous carbon monoxide (CO) production in a high-altitude human population in Peru.
My current research interests lie mainly in the comparative physiology of vertebrates. A major focus of my lab has focused on the role of gasotransmitters (carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, nitric oxide) in the health and function of wild animals. Considered by many to be strictly toxic, these gases are now known to be naturally produced in the body and are being used in clinical studies to treat many diseases and injuries associated with hypoxia and ischemia-reperfusion events. We are teaming up with several different groups to understand the functional and evolutionary role of these gases in helping certain populations of animals and humans tolerate hypoxia and ischemia-reperfusion events.
We recently started an NSF-funded project in 2022 investigating the physiological ecology of crabeater seals in Antarctica. This project is investigating the impacts of climate change on the health and behavior of crabeater seals, the most abundant large mammal in the wild. For more information about this project, visit this site.
We have also begun investigating the brain lymphatic system in wild animals. This project is supported by the Office of Naval Research. It was less than 20 years ago that we believed the central nervous system had no physical structures associated with the lymphatic system. Shown to be present in humans, rodents, and non-human primates, the newly discovered glymphatic system (named for its tie to glial cells) in the brain has changed how we view brain physiology and health. Despite the importance of this system, we know nothing about this system in wild animals. Our lab is investigating the diversity and function of this system in a wide variety of mammals.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Tiffany Keenan, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher & Stranding Coordinator for UNCW Marine Mammal Stranding Program
Tiffany has over ten years of experience working with stranded marine mammals – first as an undergraduate volunteer in the UNCW Marine Mammal Stranding Program, and then as a master’s and PhD student in the lab of Ann Pabst and William McLellan. Tiffany now serves as the new Stranding Coordinator for UNCW’s Marine Mammal Stranding Program. Currently, Tiffany’s research focuses on the anatomy of the central nervous system lymphatic structure of marine mammals. The brain’s glial-lymphatic system (AKA glymphatic system) is a waste clearance system that facilitates the removal of toxic proteins and metabolites from the central nervous system. The glymphatic system also plays a critical role in nutrient delivery, fluid regulation, and brain immunity. Interestingly, glymphatic clearance mainly occurs during sleep, and is highly suppressed during wakefulness, and in certain disease states associated with low oxygen (i.e., hypoxia). This system is also highly sensitive to events associated with immersion in water, such as diving. Human studies have indicated that impaired glymphatic function contributes to pathology in neurodegenerative disorders, traumatic brain injury, and stroke. Therefore, the brain lymphatic system of marine mammals, who experience these conditions on routine dives, may be highly susceptible to alterations in function, or even damage. Expanding our knowledge of the brain lymphatic system of mammalian divers is critical to the evaluation of pathobiology and could lead to new strategies to improve central nervous system health.
Postdoctoral Researcher & Stranding Coordinator for UNCW Marine Mammal Stranding Program
Tiffany has over ten years of experience working with stranded marine mammals – first as an undergraduate volunteer in the UNCW Marine Mammal Stranding Program, and then as a master’s and PhD student in the lab of Ann Pabst and William McLellan. Tiffany now serves as the new Stranding Coordinator for UNCW’s Marine Mammal Stranding Program. Currently, Tiffany’s research focuses on the anatomy of the central nervous system lymphatic structure of marine mammals. The brain’s glial-lymphatic system (AKA glymphatic system) is a waste clearance system that facilitates the removal of toxic proteins and metabolites from the central nervous system. The glymphatic system also plays a critical role in nutrient delivery, fluid regulation, and brain immunity. Interestingly, glymphatic clearance mainly occurs during sleep, and is highly suppressed during wakefulness, and in certain disease states associated with low oxygen (i.e., hypoxia). This system is also highly sensitive to events associated with immersion in water, such as diving. Human studies have indicated that impaired glymphatic function contributes to pathology in neurodegenerative disorders, traumatic brain injury, and stroke. Therefore, the brain lymphatic system of marine mammals, who experience these conditions on routine dives, may be highly susceptible to alterations in function, or even damage. Expanding our knowledge of the brain lymphatic system of mammalian divers is critical to the evaluation of pathobiology and could lead to new strategies to improve central nervous system health.
Current Graduate Students
Alicia Cotoia - Ph.D. Student
I graduated from Salve Regina University with a B.S. in Biology in 2019. During that time, I gained research experience by studying the molecular and cellular effects of nutraceuticals on gastric cancer, with a specialized focus on hypoxic pathways. I have also worked with Mystic Aquarium's research department, where I assisted in determining molecular markers of the immune response in belugas. Now as a doctoral student in the Tift Lab, I am researching the regulation and protective effects of carbon monoxide (CO) in marine mammal cells. This work is supported by NSF. 
Anna Pearson - Ph.D. Student
I graduated from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill with a B.S. in biology and minors in chemistry and Spanish. I joined the Tift lab in 2019. I completed a Master's degree in 2022 in the Tift Lab, where I reported the first measurements of red blood cell lifespan in any marine mammal species (bottlenose dolphins and belugas). I used this information to understand how their rate of red blood cell and hemoglobin turnover, relates to their endogenous carbon monoxide (CO) content. I am now a PhD student in the Tift lab studying the physiological ecology of crabeater seals in Antarctica. This work has been supported by NSF and the Marine Mammal Commission. |
Olivia Jackson - M.S. Student
I graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in Psychology and minors in Biology and Chemistry in 2017. Prior to joining the Tift Lab, I worked on a number of studies pertaining to human health and performance in the context of extreme environments. My graduate research is focused on the newly discovered brain lymphatic system in marine mammals. I hope my work improves our overall understanding of the brain lymphatic system and neuroprotection in marine mammals and humans. This work is supported by the Office of Naval Research. 
Sofia Rivadeneyra - M.S. Student
Sofia joined the Tift Lab in Fall 2022 as a Fulbright Fellow from Peru. For the last decade, Sofia has been working as a Research Scientist at the Instituto del Mar del Peru (IMARPE), studying the ecology of pinnipeds, cetaceans, and seabirds along the Peruvian coast and in Antarctica. Sofia's thesis will be focused on understanding trends in the population of South American pinnipeds (sea lions and fur seals) in relation to long-term changes in climate, oceanographic conditions, and fisheries interactions. This is a highly collaborative project involving colleagues from IMARPE and Exeter University. This work is primarily supported by IMARPE's previous efforts and the Fullbright program. |
Kristi Mitchell - M.S. Student
I am a former intelligence analyst in the United States Marine Corps, and graduated with a B.S. from UNCW. I have been working in the Tift lab since Fall of 2019. I am now pursuing my Masters degree in Biology in the Tift Lab focusing on the role of endogenous carbon monoxide (CO) and heme oxygenase activity in naked mole rats, one of the most extreme hypoxia-tolerant mammals on the planet. I hope my research highlights the importance of CO in hypoxia tolerance of other species. This work is supported by NSF. 
Alyssa Scott - Ph.D. Student I graduated from the University of Washington with a B.S. in Biological Oceanography. Through a NOAA Hollings internship, I gained experience in marine mammal acoustics, migration mapping, and aging. Being the Stranding Coordinator for the San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network in Washington state helped me find my passion for marine mammal ecology. I am a PhD student in the Tift Lab investigating the ecology of crabeater seals. I will be using tracking data from animals tagged in 2022-2023 and stable isotopes to investigate the differences in the trophic ecology and distribution of the species across a latitudinal gradient along the Western Antarctic Peninsula. This work is supported by NSF. |
Current Undergraduate Students
Brooklynn Nelms
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Bri Zaccheus
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Tyler Lewis
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Abby Baker
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Blake Riegert
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Kat Truesdale
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