Francis Chan
E-Mail: chanft@science.oregonstate.edu

I am interested in the interaction between biogeochemistry and the structures and dynamics of aquatic ecosystems. My research is directed at understanding the factors that regulate the cycling of nutrients and the growth of phytoplankton in the water columns of coastal marine environments. Using comparative approaches, my research also seeks to understand how the structures and dynamics of aquatic systems may vary or remain largely conserved across broad gradients in geographical or environmental settings.

I am the Faculty Research Assistant for the Community Recovery Algal Zone Interaction Experiment (CRAZIE). My research is focused on relating variations in oceanographic mechanisms to benthic community structure in the northern California Current Large Marine Ecosystem. My responsibilities include set up, monitoring, and maintenance of intertidal experiments.

I received my BS at Oregon State University and worked as an intern for the RIOT team in 2006. I had a brief stint as project co-leader of the Rocky Point Project before moving to a research assistant position with CRAZIE.

The overall goal of my research is to understand the contribution of larval transport to coastal ecosystem dynamics in relation to the physical oceanography of the middle and inner shelf, and benthic community structure and dynamics. My current focus is how the nearshore oceanographic regime influences larval dispersal, including supply to the rocky intertidal, and how this relates to benthic recruitment, over a range of spatial and temporal scales. My broad research interests also include marine conservation, development of marine protected areas and non-indigenous species introductions.

I obtained my PhD from the University of Victoria, British Columbia where I studied the recent invasion of the varnish clam (Nuttallia obscurata). My interest in invasive species stemmed from my work at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, where I investigated non-indigenous species of the Northeast Pacific and species poised to invade the region. I have also worked as an outreach educator at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Sciences Centre, facilitating estuarine habitat restoration and volunteer training.

Ruth Milston-Clements
E-Mail: milstonr@science.oregonstate.edu

A s Faculty Research Assistant for the Rocky Intertidal Oceanography Team I am involved in research focusing on the influence of nearshore oceanography on transport and dispersal and settlement of invertebrate larvae. I am responsible for the logistics, set up, monitoring and maintenance of field experiments in the nearshore and rocky intertidal environments.

I gained my MS in Fisheries & Wildlife at OSU in 2001 looking at the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on the salmon immune system. Following graduation I worked for PISCO for 3 years where I was involved in ecological studies incorporating biochemical and physiological techniques to evaluate growth and stress indices of intertidal mussels and sea stars. I spent a year traveling then worked in New Zealand for two years conducting research on the physiological responses of New Zealand Greenshell mussel to environmental and harvesting variables.

My main interests lie in the physiological responses of fish and shellfish to environmental and anthropogenic perturbations.

Kim Page-Albins
E-Mail: pageki@science.oregonstate.edu

As PISCO’s Physical Oceanography Research Assistant, I am in charge of the logistics and data handling for the Physical Oceanography program at PISCO-OSU. This involves assembling, deploying, servicing, troubleshooting, and retrieving all of our oceanographic moorings. As well as downloading, organizing, and analyzing data for our database and for use by other scientists. Furthermore, I coordinate with all PISCO-OSU researchers on the use the R/V Elakha, scheduling its use and serving as chief scientist on each research cruise. At the end of each field season, I prepare a report summarizing all of our oceanography work for the year. Another of my responsibilities is to serve as captain of the R/V Kalipi, a 29ft research vessel operated out of Depoe Bay. This requires upkeep and maintenance on the boat, overseeing its storage during the off-season, launching it and making arrangements for its berthing during the field season, serving as the primary operator for research cruises, and coordinating with researchers on scheduling its use.

Prior to joining PISCO, I worked for NOAA’s Coral Reef Ecosystem Division in Hawaii. I worked as both a NOAA working diver removing derelict fishing gear from the reefs of the NWHI and as scientific researcher surveying algal communities throughout the U.S. Pacific Island Territories. During this time I also completed my Masters Degree studying community ecology of coral reefs at Pearl and Hermes Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Camryn Pennington
E-Mail: penningc@science.oregonstate.edu

As an OnShore Research technician, I am responsible for monitoring projects in the rocky intertidal along the Oregon Coast. These projects address questions regarding larval recruitment, invertebrate fecundity and growth and community structure. My specific responsibilities include leading field teams, deploying projects and data collection. In the lab I work with interns and volunteers, analyze field samples, help organize the research schedule and water the decorative plants.

I graduated with a B.S. in Biology from the University of Puget Sound and completed a senior thesis working in the rocky intertidal. Before PISCO, I worked as a teaching assistant for a tropical biology and conservation program in Costa Rica and conducted research in the San Juan Islands, WA.

As the Policy and Outreach Coordinator for PISCO, I help to facilitate communication between PISCO scientists and the policy managers, non-profit groups and the public. I respond to requests for information and find ways to engage people in the science of PISCO. I work with the other policy coordinators to publish Coastal Connections each year. I also work on the implementation of marine reserves and marine protected areas on the west coast.

I came to PISCO with a background in benthic ecology and coastal zone management in rural communities. After finishing my Masters Degree in Ecology with Fred Grassle at Rutgers, I worked in New Zealand for several years on large coastal resource management projects. I also worked in the Solomon Islands on a Nature Conservancy marine reserve, faciliating local community leadership of the reserve and supporting new economic activities in the absense of traditional harvesting. My current interests lie in involving individuals and families in marine conservation. I am also exploring the idea of resilience from a public policy perspective, in terms of the ways we create protections for natural areas.

Jerod Sapp
E-Mail: Jerod.Sapp@oregonstate.edu

As PISCO Lab Manager, one of my major responsibilities is database management, where I collect, compile, normalize, and standardize data produced by the lab. I perform quality control and format data for uploading into PISCO web data catalog.

I create monthly and annual budget reports and projections. I oversee and track lab spending, and work in conjunction with Mikal’ Davis and Kristen Milligan to balance expenditures.

I strive to facilitate coordination and communication within and among the four PISCO projects at OSU, in both the lab and field (RIOT, Onshore, Mooring, and the Rocky Point Project) and love to go in the field whenever I get a chance, plates, tuffys, CRAZIE, pred rate, pred comp, RIOT, succession, bare rock, tidbits, CT...no problem just bring RedBull.

Brooke Simler-Smith
E-Mail: simlerb@science.oregonstate.edu

COMPASS (Communication Partnership for Science and the Sea), a partnership of Island Press, SeaWeb, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and academic insitutions, is helping marine conservation science mature into a discipline that is less fragmented, better communicated and better connected to and informed by policy. COMPASS staff (located in Washington DC, Monterery CA, and Corvallis OR) work to fulfill COMPASS' mission of accelerating the pace of solutions to important marine environmental problems. COMPASS We are doing this by: stimulating interdisciplinary, conservation-oriented research and action by marine scientists; catalyzing communication among marine scientists, policymakers, nongovernmental organizations, the media, and the concerned public; and translating scientific concepts and information into accessible and policy-relevant forms.

As Program Manager, Brooke develops and coordinates COMPASS activities across the various partner institutions, and administers programmatic functions of the COMPASS partnership (such as program development, grant writing/reporting, etc) . Additionally, Brooke focuses on connecting marine conservation science to policy discussions and processes, and helps to advance marine consesrvation science.

Brooke received an M.S. from Oregon State University’s College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Science in Marine Resource Management, and a bachelor’s degree from Duke University in Environmental Science and Policy. Prior to joining COMPASS, Brooke worked for a Washington DC based environmental consulting firm, where she focused on public policies surrounding Native American environmental justice issues for federal agencies. She has experience in national and state politics and policies surrounding environmental issues stemming from her consulting experiences, her extensive interactions with state and tribal governments across the country, her work with Marine Conservation Biology Institute’s Washington DC Office, a position with the EPA’s Office of Research and Development in Washington DC, and her current position COMPASS.

Adrienne Sutton
E-Mail: suttonad@science.oregonstate.edu

For a decade, PISCO has provided interdisciplinary knowledge and effective outreach to assist society in using coastal resources responsibly. As the Assistant Director of Strategic Planning, I help PISCO to plan for long-term sustainability of the program through implementing a long-term strategic plan and maintaining and expanding partnerships at the state, regional, and federal levels.

I came to PISCO after spending 3 years in Washington DC, where I was a congressional affairs specialist for NOAA on issues ranging from climate change to ocean exploration. During this time, I served as policy advisor at many levels and was actively involved in all major ocean and climate change legislation in the 109th and 110th U.S. Congresses. I hold a PhD in oceanography from the University of Maryland, focused on coastal management and water quality issues of the Chesapeake Bay