Multiculturalism in the Aquatic Sciences

Profiles of Aquatic Scientists

This section highlights active members of the aquatic science professional community. Individuals who have advanced degrees and are contributing to the strength and diversity of the aquatic science community may be included. This includes minority and majority scholars and role models. Please submit nominations, including self nominations, to Dr. Ashanti Pyrtle, apyrtle@marine.usf.edu.

Profiles are listed in alphabetical order by last name. Except for teaching purposes, photographs should not be reproduced without first receiving permission from the person profiled.

Dr. Nancy Maria Aguilar, nmaguilar@ucsd.edu CURRENT POSITION: NSF Postdoctoral Fellow INSTITUTION/COMPANY/AGENCY: University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA ACADEMIC PREPARATION: Ph.D., 2000, University of California, San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Marine Biology; A.B., 1992, Occidental College, Biology, Graduation with Distinction RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS: My professional interests are diurnal fluctuations in oxygen concentration in aquatic environments, cardiovascular and respiratory adaptations to hypoxia (low oxygen) in fishes and control of breathing in vertebrates.

Dr. Edwin Alfonso, alfonso@nrlssc.navy.mil CURRENT POSITION: NRL/ASEE Guest Researcher INSTITUTION/COMPANY/AGENCY: Naval Research Laboratory, Stennis Space Center, MS ACADEMIC PREPARATION: Ph.D., 2001, University of Puerto Rico, Marine Sciences, Physical Oceanography; M.S., 1995, University of Puerto Rico, Marine Sciences, Physical Oceanography; B.S., 1990, University of Puerto Rico, Theoretical Physics RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS: General Interests: Internal tides, coastal seiches, ocean carbon cycle, and coastal currents. Particular Interest: The impact of internal tides on phytoplankton primary productivity and optical properties.

Dr. Claudia Benitez-Nelson, cbnelson@geol.sc.edu CURRENT POSITION: Assistant Professor INSTITUTION/COMPANY/AGENCY: Dept. of Geological Sciences/Marine Science Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC ACADEMIC PREPARATION: Ph.D., 1998, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution/MIT, Oceanography; B.S. 1992, University of Washington, Chemistry; B.S., 1992, University of Washington, Oceanography RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS: One of the major questions that I am currently seeking to answer is "What are the processes that dominate natural and/or anthropogenically induced climate change?" Towards that end, my primary research interests are understanding the biogechemical cycling of nutrients, particularly phosphorus and carbon, in marine ecosystems using a variety of radioisotopes. As a result, my research ranges from atmospheric processes (aerosol residence times, nutrient fluxes), to particle formation (carbon export) and burial (age-dating). See http://www.geol.sc.edu/cbnelson/index.htm for additional information.

Dr. Brian L. Bingham, bingham@cc.wwu.edu CURRENT POSITION: Associate Professor and Minorities in Marine Science Undergraduate Program (MIMSUP) Director INSTITUTION/COMPANY/AGENCY: Department of Environmental Sciences, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA ACADEMIC PREPARATION: Ph.D., 1990, Florida State University, Biology; M.S., 1985, Brigham Young University, Utah, Zoology; B.S., 1983, Brigham Young University, Utah, Zoology RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS: My personal research interests center on processes which structure marine benthic communities including larval supply, settlement, and early juvenile mortality. My recent work focuses on the effects of environmental stresses on epibenthic invertebrates. In addition to conducting research I serve as the Director of the National Science Foundation-funded Minorities in Marine Science Undergraduate Program (MIMSUP), which began in 1991. MIMISUP is designed to introduce members of racial or ethnic groups under-represented in science and engineering to academic and professional careers in marine science. Targeted groups include Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, African Americans, Latino/Hispanics and Pacific Islanders. See http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~mimsup/index.html for additional information about MIMSUP. I also co-direct the Marine and Estuarine Science graduate program (MESP) at Western Washington University. See http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~spmc/ for additional information about MESP.

Dr. Bradford E. Brown, Brad.Brown@noaa.gov CURRENT POSITION: Senior Advisor to the Director of NOAA Fisheries INSTITUTION/COMPANY/AGENCY: NOAA ACADEMIC PREPARATION: Ph.D., 1966-69, Oklahoma State University, Zoology (Fisheries) Statistics; M.S., 1960-62, Auburn University, Fisheries Statistics; B.S., 1957-60, Cornell University, Conservation; 1955-56 Harvard University; High School Diploma, 1955, Shrewbury High School, Shrewbury, Massachusetts RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS: Application of science to living marine resource management, Assessment of status of living marine resources, Development and implementation of large marine ecosystem approach to sustainable development i.e., multi-sectoral, international cooperative approach to management of large (approximately 200000km^2) ecological units of the coastal ocean in Africa and the Caribbean, and Strengthening capacity of minority serving institutions in marine science and diversify the marine science workforce.

Dr. Benjamin Elias Cuker, benjamin.cuker@hamptonu.edu CURRENT POSITION: Professor of Marine and Environmental Science INSTITUTION/COMPANY/AGENCY: Hampton University, Hampton, VA ACADEMIC PREPARATION: Ph.D., 1981, North Carolina State University, Zoology, Ecology minor; M.S., 1978, University of Michigan, Natural Resources, Resource Ecology; B.S., 1976, University of Michigan, Natural Resources RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS: After moving to Hampton University, I developed a special program to promote minority students who are interested in the aquatic sciences. The program is run in conjunction with the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) and the National Science Foundation. Every year since 1990, minority students from around the U.S. attend ASLO meetings and participate in a series of activities that serves to broaden their exposure to the aquatic sciences. See http://www.hamptonu.edu/academics/schools/science/marine/aslo/index.htm for additional information. As a result of this work, I was recently awarded a Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation. The money associated with this award was used to create the Minorities At Sea Together (MAST) program for undergraduate students. The month-long program which takes place aboard a 53-foot long ketch, combines the study of marine science, marine policy, the heritage of African Americans on the water, and sailing. See http://www.hamptonu.edu/academics/schools/science/marine/mast/index.htm for additional information.

Dr. Christina L. De La Rocha, christina00@esc.cam.ac.uk CURRENT POSITION: University Assistant Lecturer (Equivalent to Asst Prof) INSTITUTION/COMPANY/AGENCY: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge Cambridge, UK ACADEMIC PREPARATION: Ph.D., 1997, University of California, Santa Barbara, Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology; B.A., 1992, University of California, Santa Cruz, Marine Biology RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS: My primary research interests involve biogeochemical cycles and primary production, nutrient availability and diatom ecology, and method development and mass spectometry. Through the use of novel stable isotope and trace element based proxies, I am able to determine how biogeochemical cycles, ocean chemistry, and marine productivity have varied in the oceans over time scales ranging from weeks to tens of millions of years. With nutrient availability and diatom ecology, I try to determine if there are any advantages to silicon limitation.Using the newly developed multi collector ICP mass spectrometers, I determine how well we can measure and what we can learn from the isotope abundances of not previously well investigated elements such as Si, Ca, B, Cd, Zn, Fe, etc. See http://www.esc.cam.ac.uk/new/v10/index_climate.html for additional information.< BR>

Dr. John C. Garza, carlosjg@cats.ucsc.edu CURRENT POSITION: Adjunct Assistant Professor INSTITUTION/COMPANY/AGENCY: Ocean Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz ACADEMIC PREPARATION: Ph.D., 1998, University of California-Berkeley, Integrative Biology; M.S., 1991, University of California-San Diego, Biology; B.A., 1990, University of California-San Diego, Biology RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS: My research focuses on the genetics of natural populations of marine organisms. I use molecular genetic data to answer questions about the biology and evolution of natural populations. While much of my research is not species-specific, I am currently applying these population genetic methods and tools to Pacific salmon, Oncorhynchus, and pinnipeds in California. Among the many topics that I am interested in are the evolutionary process of repetitive DNA such as microsatellites and minisatellite markers. These markers are used for a variety of applications in population biology and I am interested in how the mutational processes affects their use in the study of natural populations. My approach has been to collect molecular data which allow the testing of alternative models of molecular evolution and mutation. The conclusions are then used to guide the use of standard population genetic measures in the study of important marine populations. This includes analysis of genetic population structure, phylogeography and variance in reproductive success. In addition, I am working on the development of methods for the detection of demographic changes using molecular data. Two new areas of research into which I hope to move in the near future is the molecular genetic analysis of trophic interactions and the mapping of genes for ecologically and evolutionarily important traits in natural populations of salmon.

Dr. Deidre M. Gibson, doliolid@yahoo.com CURRENT POSITION: Post Doctoral Researcher INSTITUTION/COMPANY/AGENCY: The University of Connecticut Department of Marine Sciences, Groton, CT ACADEMIC PREPARATION: Ph.D., 2000, University of Georgia, Marine Sciences; B.S., 1990, University of Washington, Oceanography; A.A.S., 1988, Shoreline Community College, Marine Biology Technology; A.A.S., A.A.A.S., 1985, University of New Orleans General Science Studies RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS: Research is a very important part of my future goals. I have been fortunate enough to work with doliolids, a unique taxon of the zooplankton community responsible for rapid colonization of neritic environments, especially off the coast of Georgia. Doliolids (Tunicata, Thaliacea) have been over- looked as an important contributor to the marine food web because of the difficulty in obtaining life history information in the field and in the laboratory. In my dissertation studies, I have been able to successfully quantify, in the laboratory, the feeding and growth of the only sexual stage in the lifecycle, and reproduction rates of one of the two asexual stages at four food concentrations and temperatures found on the southeastern continental shelf. I am initiating collaborative research ideas with Dr. G.-A. Paffenhöfer (Skidaway Institute of Oceanography) to investigate the role that gelatinous zooplankton fecal pellets play in the vertical flux of carbon, and as a possible food source to other zooplankton and bacteria in the coastal ocean; with Dr. E. Hoffman (Old Dominion University) to continue laboratory research and field studies on the various life stages of the doliolid to enhance an existing mathematical model that will increase our knowledge on how these zooplankton function in the marine environment; and with Dr. P. Kremer (University of Connecticut), to continue research on the biology of salps to determine their role in the neritic environment.

Dr. Matthew R. Gilligan, gillganm@savstate.edu CURRENT POSITION: Professor and Marine Science Program Director INSTITUTION/COMPANY/AGENCY: Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Savannah State University, Savannah, GA ACADEMIC PREPARATION: Ph.D., 1980, University of Arizona, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; B.A., 1972 Hartwick College, Biology; RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS: I am particularly proud of the success of students with whom I have had the opportunity of sharing my knowledge and experience. My advice to young scientists: be a pest - ask questions and don't be satisfied with all answers; have the heart of a lion; have the patience of Job; and be multi-culturally competent. The only correct route to success is your own. Dr. Gilligan's testimony before the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy may be read here.

Dr. Christopher Kekoa Hiroshi Guay, ckguay@lbl.gov CURRENT POSITION: Scientist INSTITUTION/COMPANY/AGENCY: Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA ACADEMIC PREPARATION: Ph.D., 1999, Oregon State University, Chemical Oceanography; M.S., 1997, Oregon State University, Chemical Oceanography; B.S., 1992, University of California-Davis, Chemistry; 1987-1989, Harvey Mudd College (Claremont, CA) RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS: My work focuses on the chemistry of substances in seawater (both natural and human-made) and how they are transformed by physical and biological processes in the oceans. One of the things that I am most interested in is using data about the chemical composition of seawater to examine the relationship between the oceans and the Earth's climate. For example, I have been involved with an ongoing project that uses chemical tracers to investigate recent changes in the circulation of the Arctic Ocean -- changes which may be a sign of the effects of greenhouse warming. See www-esd.lbl.gov for additional information.

Dr. Frank Reginald Hall, frhall@uno.edu CURRENT POSITION: Assistant Professor/Geoscience Educator INSTITUTION/COMPANY/AGENCY: Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA ACADEMIC PREPARATION: Ph.D., 1991, University of Rhode Island, Geological Oceanography; M.S., 1983, Lehigh University, Geology; B.A., 1978, Kean University of New Jersey, Earth Science, collaretal major: Oceanography RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS: My career has changed dramatically in the last few years. My emphasis has changed from science research to science education and research. I work with K-12 teachers helping them understand science content. The diverse nature of the ocean/aquatic sciences prepared me well for this position. I find it easy to talk and teach the physical sciences: Physics, Earth Science, and Chemistry. I particularly like using local environment themes as the context for understanding science. I find my new position very rewarding and interesting. However, I feel that it is important that I continue to work with the scientific community so as to remain current in regards to future trends in science. I am working with some undergraduate students on paleoceanographic research projects from the Norwegian Sea. In addition, I am beginning a program in the Gulf of Mexico, performing sedimentologic analyses on cores that we extract.

Bonita C. Johnson, Johnson.bonita@epa.gov CURRENT POSITION: Microbiologist, United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Region IV Science and Ecosystem Support Division (SESD), Bioassessment and Toxics Evaluation Section INSTITUTION/COMPANY/AGENCY: United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) ACADEMIC PREPARATION: M.S., 1991, Auburn University, Environmental Science; B.S., 1988, Tuskegee University, Biology/Chemistry RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS: My research specialties are aquatic toxicity and microbiology. Some of my current research initiatives include; (1) Toxicity Evaluation and Reduction Programs involving the use of Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) acute and chronic tests of reproduction, growth, inhibition, and mortality to assess the toxic effects of Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) effluent, surface water, ground water, sediment pore water, storm water, and soil leachates on the freshwater organisms Ceriodaphnia dubia (water flea) and Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow);(2) Toxicity Evaluation and Reduction Programs involving the use of the Microtox Test System to determine the toxic effects of drinking water, WWTP effluent, septic truck discharge, and landfill soil leachate on the luminescent marine bacteria, Vibrio fischeri.:Microbiological studies of WWTP effluent, ground water, surface water, and recreational waters to detect and enumerate total and fecal coliform, enterococci, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and other thermal tolerant organisms which may serve as indicators of potential disease causing agents present in these water; (3) Technical and Compliance related Quality Assurance Programs which help States adhere to federal requirements governing Water Treatment Plant operations, chemical and biological laboratory analyses, and drinking water quality under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA); (4) Technical and Compliance related Quality Assurance Programs which help States adhere to federal requirements governing Wastewater Treatment Plant operations, chemical and biological laboratory analyses, national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permitting, and water quality criteria under the Clean Water Act (CWA); (5) Outreach and Education Programs developed to educate individuals in a variety of organizations of environmental issues, regulations, and policies affecting local, State and Indian lands; (6) Outreach and Education Programs organized to address the specific concerns of community groups regarding ongoing environmental is sues that may potentially impact their communities; (7) Education Initiatives designed to promote and encourage young people to pursue careers in the areas of Science, Mathematics, and Technology through hands-on interactive learning activities.

Dr. George I. Matsumoto, mage@mbari.org CURRENT POSITION: Education and Research Specialist INSTITUTION/COMPANY/AGENCY: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA ACADEMIC PREPARATION: Ph.D., 1990, University of California, Los Angeles; A.B., 1984, University of California at Berkeley, Marine Biology emphasis RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS: -Open ocean and deep sea communities with particular emphasis on invertebrates, -Ecology and biogeography of open ocean and deep sea organisms, -Functional morphology, natural history, and behavior of pelagic and benthic organisms -Systematics and evolution of ctenophores and cnidarians (molecular phylogeny). -Education initiatives at the undergraduate and graduate level. See http://www.mbari.org/~mage/ for additional information.

Dr. Joseph Peter Montoya, j.montoya@biology.gatech.edu CURRENT POSITION: Associate Professor INSTITUTION/COMPANY/AGENCY: Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biology, Atlanta, GA ACADEMIC PREPARATION: Ph.D., 1990, Harvard University, Organismic and Evolutionary Biology; A.B., 1980, University of California, Biology RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS: My research interests fall into the general area of biological oceanography, with an emphasis on the planktonic nitrogen cycle of tropical and subtropical oceans. The availability of nitrogen limits biological production in many parts of the world ocean, and biological processes play a critical role in supplying this critical plant nutrient to the productive upper water column. My research is very interdisciplinary, drawing on both biological and chemical oceanography, as well as the broader field of biogeochemistry. My lab utilizes the stable isotopes of nitrogen as a natural tracer for biologically mediated transformations of nitrogen, an approach that we complement with focused tracer experiments designed to quantify individual fluxes of N through biologically active pools. My research is both field- and laboratory-based, with one or two major cruises per year. Recent field expeditions have included studies of N2-fixation in the SW Pacific and the Sargasso Sea as well as studies of the biogeochemistry of benthic communities associated with methane hydrates in the Gulf of Mexico. See http://www.biology.gatech.edu/professors/montoya.html for additional information.

Dr. Percy M. Washington, pmwashington@msn.com CURRENT POSITION: Aquatic Ecologist/Fishery Scientist INSTITUTION/COMPANY/AGENCY: Gaia Northwest, Inc., Seattle, WA ACADEMIC PREPARATION: Ph.D., 1982, University of Washington, Fisheries Science; M.S., 1972, University of Washington, Fisheries Biology; B.S., 1965, University of Washington, Fisheries Biology RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS: I am trained and experienced in program, project and field crew management, experimental design, estuarine, marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecology, applied mathematics, statistical analysis, and automatic data processing (mainframe, mini, and microcomputers).

Dr. C. Susan Weiler, weiler@whitman.edu CURRENT POSITION: Research Associate INSTITUTION/COMPANY/AGENCY: Whitman College, Biology Department, Walla Walla, WA ACADEMIC PREPARATION: Ph.D., 1978, Scripps Institution of Oceanography/U.C.S.D., Oceanography; Graduate courses 1972/73, University of Michigan School of Natural Resources; B.A., 1972, University of California at San Diego, Biology; Junior year abroad program 1969/70, University College Nairobi, Kenya; Summer courses 1969, 1973, University of Southern California Catalina Island Marine Laboratory, Invertebrate Zoology and Phytoplankton Ecology RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS: I now run several programs for recent PhDs that are dedicated to enhancing interdisciplinary understanding and peer networking, with a goal of representing diversity at all levels. Working with students and recent graduates enables me to interact with young scientists from around the world, and to help ensure that anyone with an interest can participate in new discoveries and take full part in the global scientific community. Other research interest include phytoplankton physiological ecology, UV effects on aquatic organisms, climate change and impacts, aquatic science education and human-resource issues. See http://www.whitman.edu/biology/WeilerBio.html for additional information.

Dr. Lisa D. White, lwhite@sfsu.edu CURRENT POSITION: Professor of Geology and Department Chair INSTITUTION/COMPANY/AGENCY: San Francisco State University Department of Geosciences San Francisco, CA ACADEMIC PREPARATION: Ph.D., 1989, University Of California, Santa Cruz, Earth Sciences, 1989; B.A., 1984, San Francisco State University, Geology RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS: My research focuses on the age and paleoceanographic setting of diatomaceous and related biosiliceous rocks (mostly from around the Pacific Rim), particularly from the Miocene epoch. This research has taken me to many countries of the world including Egypt, Israel, Zimbabwe, Japan, Russia, and Costa Rica.

Dr. Dawn J. Wright, dawn@dusk.geo.orst.edu CURRENT POSITION: Professor and Staff Researcher INSTITUTION/COMPANY/AGENCY: Dept. of Geosciences, Oregon State University (Adjunct with OSU College of Oceanic & Atmospheric Sciences and Northwest Alliance for Computational Science and Engineering) ACADEMIC PREPARATION: Ph.D., 1994, University of California, Santa Barbara, Physical Geography/Marine Geology; M.S., 1986, Texas A&M University, Oceanography; B.S., 1983, Wheaton College (Illinois), Geology RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS: GEOGRAPHY - Geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial analysis; marine geography; geography of Cyberspace; metadata; geographic information science in higher education. MARINE GEOLOGY - Fissuring, faulting, hydrothermal, and magmatic processes at mid-ocean ridges; volcanic- tectonic cycles and hydrothermal circulation; processing and interpretation of high-resolution deep-sea video and photographic images. See http://dusk.geo.orst.edu/ for additional information.

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