John Brandon Email & Phone Number

San Francisco Bay Area

Statistical survey design; power analysis; Bayesian inference; population dynamics modeling; and even a little bit of GIS.

San Francisco Bay Area

I work with biologists and lawyers for the Makah Tribe. In this role, I have provided written and oral testimony in federal proceedings as a scientific expert witness on applied mathematical models for population dynamics, and computer simulation for management strategy evaluation.

San Francisco Bay Area

Developed a tier system for management strategy evaluation (MSE) of alternative approaches for calculating a Potential Biological Removal limit (PBR) on human caused mortality of marine mammals. Tiers were defined in terms of data availability, with one tier representing the current approach based on a single abundance estimate. The availability and use of multiple estimates of abundance led to an ability to meet conservation management objectives, while also having lower variability in PBR limits through time, relative to the current approach. Increased stability in PBR would likely reduce the economic uncertainty associated with human activities that are regulated according to this limit (e.g. commercial fisheries bycatch in the U.S.). The computer code for the MSE is open-source, written in Fortran 90 and R, and available via: https://github.com/John-Brandon/PBR-Tier-System

Invited Participants to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission do not sit on national delegations, but travel, and co-author the text of the SC's reports, at the behest of the commission. I serve as a member of the working group on aboriginal whaling. This group includes Applied Mathematicians, Quantitative Ecologists, Biologists, and Statisticians, from around the globe. Most recently, my participation has been focused on providing input for simulation and risk assessment models given complexities in gray whale stock structure, and human caused mortality from various sources across the Pacific.

San Francisco Bay Area

Program lead for the Beaufort Sea aerial survey team. Designed our survey transect placement based on modeling the probability of sighting bowhead whales around Shell's exploratory drilling operation. During the process of designing the survey, I developed simulation code to solve for the spatial allocation of survey effort that would maximize the statistical power of the survey to detect potential shifts in whale migration paths around industry operations. Also had a lot of fun training and flying with my team of field scientists, and working with pilots and meteorologists to keep our team safe in the Arctic.

San Francisco Bay Area

Worked with a team applying mark-recapture models to estimate abundance of the Endangered Cook Inlet stock of beluga whales. Also, led aerial survey teams in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas off Alaska, and coordinated our efforts with senior scientists and operational management under Shell Inc.'s multi-billion dollar operations program. Trained Alaska Natives stakeholders and scientists from the lower 48, in survey technology and safety. Authored survey reports submitted to U.S. federal agencies for monitoring and mitigation purposes.

Seattle, Wa

Much of my dissertation research was motivated by a risk assessment of aboriginal whaling quota systems, given global climate model forecast data. The methods involved developing C++ simulation code to model natural resource dynamics and to evaluate the ability of feedback systems in the aboriginal quota limit algorithms to respond appropriately to climate change. A statistical approach was developed which allowed the climate forecast data to be integrated into a likelihood function for model fitting. I also occasionally stepped in and gave lectures and led computer laboratory sessions when my major professor was away from classes.

La Jolla, Ca And Seattle, Wa

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Fisheries Stock Assessment And Management Strategy Evaluation

Activities and Societies: SeaGrant Fellowship in Population Dynamics and Economics.Integrating multiple sources of information in Bayesian.

Bachelor'S Degree, Biology, Ecology, Behavior And Evolution

Activities and Societies: National Merit Scholarship. Provost's Honors. Captain UCSD men's soccer team.Minored in Anthropology and Earth.