RESEARCH FOCI
I currently head a biological oceanography/marine microbial ecology research laboratory at the Romberg Tiburon Center, San Francisco State University. My research is centered on the utilization and dynamics of macro- and micro-nutrients, and their effects on phytoplankton and heterotrophic bacteria in coastal and oceanic environments. Currently there are two major research initiatives (funded by three different federal grants) being conducted by my research group:
1) Identifying the effects of organic ligands on trace metal availability to marine bacteria and phytoplankton, and understanding their effects on long-term ecosystem structure and carbon flux.
2) Elucidating the nutritional and ecological factors that initiate harmful algal blooms (HABs), and the specific factors which trigger their production of biotoxins, including domoic acid by toxigenic diatoms.
The ligand research is primarily conducted during cruises to high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll (HNLC) regions of the Pacific Ocean (eastern & western North Pacific), including SEEDS-II during 2004 and PAPA-SEEDS during 2006. The HAB research is both lab- and field-based, primarily in the Pacific Northwest [ECOHAB-PNW] off the coasts of Washington and British Columbia where massive blooms of pennate diatoms are responsible for domoic acid poisoning. In both of these projects, undergraduate and graduate students are active participants, and many collaborators from other institutions are involved and/or utilize the facilities of RTC including the Univ. Maine, Univ. California Santa Cruz, Univ. Western Ontario, NOAA Northwest Fisheries Scientific Center, Univ. Washington and the Univ. Tokyo.
Curriculum Vitae
PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS HELD
09/04 - present Research Professor, Department of Biology, San Francisco State University.
02/00 - 09/2004 Adjunct Professor, Department of Biology, San Francisco State University.
03/98 - present Senior Research Scientist, Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies,
San Francisco State University.
01/96 - 03/1998 Assistant Research Professor, Department of Biological Sciences,
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
01/95 - 06/1995 Instructor, Biological Sciences - Marine, Division of Mathematics and Sciences,
Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA.
Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA.
11/92 - 12/1995 Research Fellow/Associate in Ocean Sciences,
Hancock Institute for Marine Studies, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Hancock Institute for Marine Studies, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
02/92 - 10/1992 Postgraduate Research Biologist, Step V,
Marine Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, La Jolla, CA
Marine Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, La Jolla, CA
07/91 - 09/1991 Visiting Research Scientist, Umeå Marine Scientific Centre,
Umeå University, Norbyn, Sweden
Umeå University, Norbyn, Sweden
02/90 - 01/1992 Postgraduate Research Biologist, Steps III/IV,
Marine Biology Research Div., Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, La Jolla, CA
Marine Biology Research Div., Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, La Jolla, CA
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Oceanography, University of British Columbia, 1990.
M. Sc., Oceanography, Dalhousie University, 1982.
B.Sc. (Honours), Biology/Marine Biology, University of British Columbia, 1978.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & ACTIVITIES
North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES)
- Iron Fertilization Experimental Panel Member (IFEP)
- Harmful Algal Blooms Section Member
- Iron Fertilization Experimental Panel Member (IFEP)
- Harmful Algal Blooms Section Member
