Catherine Lohmann

Catherine Lohmann is a Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research focuses on the sensory biology, behavior, and neuroethology of marine animals, with an emphasis on navigation mechanisms, magnetic field perception, and conservation applications. Her lab investigates how marine migrants like sea turtles, salmon, and spiny lobsters use Earth’s magnetic field for long-distance navigation, including geomagnetic imprinting and natal homing. Techniques employed include electron microscopy, electrophysiology, behavioral studies, and oceanographic modeling. The lab also explores sensory ecology of marine invertebrates, technoethology, and interdisciplinary approaches combining biology, physics, and engineering.

Research interests include the neurobiological mechanisms of magnetic detection, wave direction sensing in sea turtle hatchlings, and applications of machine learning to movement ecology. The Lohmann Lab prioritizes innovative cross-disciplinary methods to address complex ecological and evolutionary questions.

No specific scientific awards or grants are explicitly mentioned in the provided texts. The lab’s work aligns with conservation biology, aiming to inform strategies for protecting marine species through a deeper understanding of their sensory and navigational systems.