Jim Oakden completed his Masters degree at MLML in 1981, and has been a Research Associate ever since. His research revolves around disturbance ecology (the effects of disturbances on natural communities), with a strong applied dimension. He has investigated a variety of anthropogenic disturbances, such as sewer outfalls, harbor dredging, farm runoff, pesticide and heavy metal impacts, highway construction, cable installations, introduced species, and dune disturbance. He has also participated in studies on natural disturbances such as landslides, iceberg scour, marine mammal (grey whale, walrus, and sea otter) feeding, and beach erosion.