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Why does your support matter? You see, the health of animals like whales, our ocean and humans are interconnected. Yet the greatest threats to whales are caused by humans.

We’ve made positive impacts before—like freeing whales from ocean trash and conducting vital research that led to shipping lane changes—all because of this caring community.

Today, you can get your gift matched and help provide double the tools and resources experts need to continue this critical work. Together, we can protect these gentle giants and their ocean home.

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Lian Hortensius

Lian Hortensius, M.S., M.A.

Director, Animal Data Scientist

Lian Hortensius joined The Marine Mammal Center in March 2021 as an Animal Program Data Scientist. In this role, she uses historical and current data to provide insight into the Center’s activities. Lian and her team manage the database used for animal-related data. The database has multiple purposes, including making it easier for the animal care team to do their job, meeting reporting requirements and managing research data.

Before joining the Center, Lian built strong data science products at a Fortune 500 company and worked as a business analyst in several industries, including Be the Match, operated by the National Marrow Donor Program.

Lian has a Master of Science in Statistics and a Master of Arts in Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, as well as a Master of Science in Neuropsychology from the University of Utrecht.

Lian lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, young daughter and dog. She loves reading, games, improv and theater.


Areas of Expertise

  • Data Analysis & Statistics
  • Programming
  • Project Management

Recent Publications 

{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/California sea lion\/cropped-images\/csl-on-a-rock-shutterstock-87-0-1270-992-1740414498.jpg","alt":"sea lion on rock","title":"Klebsiella pneumoniae in stranded california sea lions (Zalophus californianus) of central California between 2017-2022","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/klebsiella-pneumoniae-in-stranded-california-sea-lions-zalophus-californianus-of-central-california-between-2017-2022","label":"Research Paper"}
sea lion on rock
Research Paper

Klebsiella pneumoniae in stranded california sea lions (Zalophus californianus) of central California between 2017-2022

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{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/California sea lion\/cropped-images\/csl-release-photo-by-brian-simuro-127-0-1270-992-1740515772.jpeg","alt":"three sea lions on the beach","title":"Evaluation of Two Serologic Tests for Rapid Detection of Anti-Leptospira Antibodies in California Sea Lions","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/evaluation-of-two-serologic-tests-for-rapid-detection-of-anti-leptospira-antibodies-in-california-sea-lions","label":"Research Paper"}
three sea lions on the beach
Research Paper

Evaluation of Two Serologic Tests for Rapid Detection of Anti-Leptospira Antibodies in California Sea Lions

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