Matt is an aquatic ecologist with a Ph.D. in Fisheries Science from Oregon State University and over 25 years of field research in freshwater ecosystems around the Pacific Rim. He is a National Geographic explorer and has led research expeditions in the Russian Far East, Mongolia, Alaska, and British Columbia. Matt also co-chairs the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Salmon Specialist Group, where he advises the IUCN on species status assessments and works with governments and NGOs to support salmonid biodiversity conservation. He works mainly with anadromous fish but specializes in not being overly specialized and enjoys using a variety of disciplines from geomorphology to genetics to understand aquatic ecosystems. In his free time, he loves rafting rivers, fly fishing, and playing soccer..

Education: Ph.D. Fisheries Science, M.S. Fish and Wildlife Management, B.S. Wildlife Biology, B.A. English