Dustin Baumbach

About Dustin Baumbach

I obtained a PhD in the Department of Earth and Biological Sciences at Loma Linda University working to understand juvenile hawksbill foraging ecology within a marine protected area along the western end of Roatan, Honduras. Specifically, my research involved identification of juvenile hawksbill prey item utilization and intersexual resource partitioning within the Sandy Bay West End Marine Reserve. I obtained an advanced Padi diver certification and have logged approximately 350 dives during field work during the summer months (June - September) from 20••••17. Additionally, I have a post-baccalaureate certificate in health geographic information systems from the School of Public Health at Loma Linda University and have 4 years of experience using esri’s GIS software. During my PhD I developed unique web-based and smartphone GIS applications that allows citizen-scientists the ability to log sea turtle sightings that were used in mapping juvenile hawksbill home ranges. My current research interests involve marine animal movement patterns, photo identification, and utilizing unique methods in foraging ecology.

Experience

1. Biologist

   HELIX Environmental Planning, Inc.

   Sep 2025 — Present · CA, US

   I am a biologist working to ensure development proceeds in an environmentally compatible method by conducting surveys, writing reports, and consulting with wildlife agencies. I have experience working with birds, desert tortoises, sea turtles, Joshua trees, and a wide variety of other wildlife.

Education

• Loma Linda University

  Postbaccalaureate Certificate, Health Geoinformatics

  2013 — 2015

• Loma Linda University

  Biology, PhD, Biology/Biological Sciences, General

  2012 — 2020

• Pacific Union College

  Environmental Studies, Minor in Chemistry

  2007 — 2012