Matt Duggan is a Ph.D. candidate at Cornell University studying deep reef ecology, with a focus on fish communication and ecosystem function in mesophotic and rariphotic environments. His research integrates machine learning, artificial intelligence, and bioacoustics to better understand marine ecosystems and support conservation of vulnerable reef habitats.

At the core of his work is exploration and discovery of the natural world. Through field expeditions and collaborative research, he has had the opportunity to study some of the world’s most remote and understudied marine ecosystems firsthand. Following graduation with top honors and dual degrees in Biological Sciences and Computer Science from the University of South Carolina Honors College, he received the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. He now conducts research through the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, where he combines computational methods with ecological field research to investigate deep reef ecosystems and marine soundscapes.

During the first six months of his Ph.D. program, he joined the Smithsonian's Deep Reef Observation Project (DROP), contributing to expeditions exploring mesophotic and rariphotic reefs throughout the Caribbean and Pacific. In Curacao, he founded and spearheaded the Deep Reef Bioacoustics Initiative, a collaborative research effort focused on understanding the acoustic ecology of deep reef ecosystems. This research provides critical insights into anthropogenic impacts, biodiversity shifts, functional group change, and baselines for monitoring and conservation of vulnerable reef habitats.

In addition to his research, Matt also founded the accessible acoustic recorder, called FinDrop. This recorder reinvents a microphone for underwater, utilizing an array of digital MEMS microphones to reach sensitivity and sound to noise ratio of leading commercial models. The FinDrop is designed to be accessible and affordable, with a user-friendly interface and open-source software, making it an ideal tool for researchers, conservationists, fishermen, and citizen scientists alike. Matt has led the development, software engineering, and field testing. FinDrop has beed deployed across the world, including in the Caribbean, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and has been used to collect critical data on marine soundscapes and reef ecosystems. It is scheduled for commercial release late 2026.

In addition to his research, Matt is passionate about mentorship and leadership development. He has served as a mentor for undergraduate research projects, fostering the next generation of scientists and promoting diversity and inclusion in STEM fields. He has also been actively involved in outreach and science communication efforts, sharing his research with the public through talks, workshops, and social media.