Biology and Marine Biology

46

 Graduate Student, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary: Aug

2002 – April 2008

Major Advisor: Dr. Deborah Steinberg, Zooplankton ecologist

Research tasks and responsibilities:

- Monitoring blooms of jellyfish and ctenophores in Chesapeake Bay

- Conducting lab experiments designed to determine (1) the rates of dissolved organic matter

(DOM) excretion by phytoplankton, jellyfish and ctenophore blooms and, (2) the impacts of

jellyfish on bacterioplankton metabolism and growth efficiencies in Chesapeake Bay

- Determination of carbon and nitrogen composition of phytoplankton and zooplankton using a

Coulter CHN elemental analyser

- Characterization and environmental regulation of spring phytoplankton blooms, role of

mixotrophy in sustaining dinoflagellate (Cochlodinium) bloom.

- Measurement of bacterial abundance, cell activity, communities and metabolism using flow

cytometry, radioisotopes, membrane inlet mass spectrometry and fluorescence in situ

hybridization (FISH)

- Measurement of dissolved organic carbon using a Shimadzu TOC 5000 high temperature

combustion system; responsible for maintenance of instrument for lab

- Measurement of dissolved inorganic and organic nitrogen and phosphorus using a Lachet

nutrient autoanalyzer and Shimadzu spectrofluorometer

VIMS field experience and cruises:

- 2002 – Present: Jellyfish Survey Program, Chesapeake Bay, USA. Designed and led

biweekly sampling program measuring gelatinous zooplankton blooms, mesozooplankton,

bacterioplankton, chlorophyll, particulate organic carbon and nitrogen, and dissolved organic

and inorganic nutrients. Program objectives to determine factors controlling jellyfish blooms

and impacts on the environment.

- 2005 – 2006: Dissolved Organic Matter in Ocean environments (DOMINO, National Science

Foundation, Biocomplexity program), Chesapeake Bay, USA and North Pacific. Cruises

investigated impacts of zooplankton, phytoplankton blooms, and viruses on DOM cycling.

- June 2004: Vertical Transport in the Global Ocean (VERTIGO, National Science

Foundation), subtropical North Pacific. Cruises measured biological and physical factors

controlling carbon flux in the mesopelagic ocean. Collected zooplankton using a multiple

plankton net (MOCNESS) system; assisted with deployment and recovery of sediment trap

samples.

Teaching experience:

- Teaching assistant for first year Chemical, Physical, Biological and Geological

Oceanography classes (VIMS MS 501A–D)

- Presented lectures on methods used in microbial ecology, zooplankton ecology, and topics in

biological oceanography to VIMS graduate students

- Conducted pre-exam review sessions for first year students

- Coordinated discussion sessions on current topics in estuarine, coastal and ocean science

- Responsible for grading exams and homework assignments in Chemical Oceanography

 Faculty Research Assistant (FRA) II, Horn Point Laboratory (HPL), University of Maryland

Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), Maryland, USA: Jan 2001 – Aug 2002

Supervisor: Dr. Paul del Giorgio, Microbial Ecologist.

- Determination of bacterial phylogenetic groups using FISH

- Determination of microbial respiration rates using membrane inlet mass spectrometry

- Quantification of bacterial production and respiration