Our Experts
Michael O’Neill
Associate Curator of Aquatic Collections
Animal Care, New England AquariumEducation
MS, Marine Science & Technology, University of Massachusetts Boston
BS, Environmental Geoscience, Boston College
BA, Biology, Boston College
About
Born and raised in Greater Boston, Mike has always been drawn to the aquatic ecosystems in Boston’s backyard. He is a certified divemaster and has spent the last 10 years of his career working within the Animal Care team at the New England Aquarium. As Associate Curator of Aquatic Collections, his work focuses on the advancement of animal care practices and operations in support of the aquarium’s exhibit collection planning, sustainability, and animal welfare programs. Mike is an officer of the AZA Research and Technology Committee and contributor to the AZA Aquatic Collections Sustainability Committee.
Mike is also the administrator of the Gulf Stream Orphan Project. This citizen science initiative tracks the dispersal of subtropical and tropical fish species in the Northwest Atlantic by the Gulf Stream. Through collaboration with other marine conservation organizations and citizen scientists, Mike studies the occurrence and potential impact of these extralimital species on the coastal ecosystems of New England and beyond.
Affiliations
Behind the Scenes with Our Animal Care Team
At the Aquarium and in our Animal Care Center in Quincy, our team provides exceptional day-to-day support for the animals in our care, managing their diet, providing enrichment sessions, and much more.
