Martin is a Postdoctoral Researcher focused on the bioenergetics and physiology of wildlife in the context of their life history and exposure to natural and anthropogenic disturbance. He utilizes non-invasive technologies, such as drone photogrammetry and biologging to model how organisms acquire and spend energy. In February 2025, Martin defended his Ph.D., in which he modeled the size, body condition, and energetic requirements of North Pacific humpback whales on their Southeast Alaskan feeding and Hawaiian breeding grounds. From this foundation, he leverages applied research, mentorship, and scientific communication to inform effective conservation management outcomes. Martin works closely with the Alaska Whale Foundation as a Postdoctoral Fellow.
Find Martin on Google Scholar and ORCID:
Dr. Martin van Aswegen
Martin's Research Aims
At the nexus of bioenergetics, ecophysiology, and ecology, Martin’s current research examines the relationship between marine mammal energetics and their environment. Using an integrated approach that merges drone-based photogrammetry, biologging techniques, and climate-oceanographic modeling, his work aims to:
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Determine how variation in humpback whale body condition relates to climate and oceanographic drivers operating at regional and basin-wide scales.
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Quantify inter- and intra-annual rates of blubber acquisition in humpback whales foraging on their Southeast Alaskan feeding grounds.
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Develop a bioenergetic model to predict fluctuations in blubber storage throughout the humpback whale migration, accounting for variation in body size and reproductive class.
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Determine the relationship between female humpback whale body length and reproductive output.
Biography
Martin’s passion for marine science was shaped by his upbringing in marine hotspots across South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. He earned a B.Sc. (Hons) in Marine Science from Murdoch University in 2017 and moved to Hawaiʻi in 2019 to pursue his Ph.D. at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, which he completed in early 2025. Since 2019, he has authored more than 18 publications on the morphology, energetic, demographics, and ecology of marine mammals. Outside of work, Martin enjoys exploring the ocean and mountains, traveling, and finding good coffee.