Connor Shea

Connor is a biological oceanographer whose research studies ocean ecosystem structure and aims to better understand the ways marine biota influence their aquatic environment on local to global scales. Joining GMRI’s Biological Oceanography Lab in spring 2026 as a postdoctoral researcher, Connor is investigating the role of forage fish in transporting carbon and nutrients around the Gulf of Maine.

In his research, Connor combines simple observational science, at-sea specimen collection, and analytical chemistry to illuminate ecosystem structure. He then relies on statistical models and strategic collaborations to put those findings into meaningful social or environmental contexts. He strives to do work that is responsive to the needs and curiosity of communities around the Gulf of Maine and welcomes insight from diverse viewpoints.

Connor did his undergraduate work at Ithaca College, where he graduated in 2016 with bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and physics. He then worked several temporary appointments from Massachusetts to Alaska, discovering his passion for field work and marine science. In 2019, he joined the Department of Oceanography at University of Hawaii at Manoa where he used amino acid stable isotope analysis to investigate the role of zooplankton in the ocean carbon cycle, earning his MS and PhD by Fall 2025.

When he is not at GMRI, you can find Connor working on his boat, chasing the surf, or exploring the local woods and waters with his wife Julia.