Biographical note

Education

PhD, Oceanography, University of Hawai`i, May 2008

Department of Oceanography, School of Oceanography and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawai`i at ManoaThesis Advisors: Francis J. Sansone and Craig R. Smith 

MSc, Marine Environmental Sciences, State University of New York at Stony Brook, August 2001

Marine Sciences Research Center, State University of New York at Stony BrookThesis Advisor: Robert C. Aller

BSc, Marine Science and Biology (Minors: Chemistry, Math), University of Miami, December 1997

Undergraduate Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Program, College of Arts and Sciences and Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami, Florida

Professional experience

2015-present | Associate Professor (Assistant Prof, 2015-2021) | Department of Marine Science, Coastal Carolina University

Teaching> MSCI 111 and 111L - Introduction to Marine Science (Lecture and Laboratory), Fall semesters> MSCI 305 and 305L - Marine Chemistry (Lecture and Laboratory), Spring semesters> MSCI 401 and 401L - Environmental Chemistry (Lecture and Laboratory), Fall semesters> MSCI 395/397/399/497/499 - Undergraduate Internships/Independent Studies/Senior Theses/optional Honors designation, All semesters> CMWS 700 - Graduate Thesis Research, All semestersResearch> Biogeochemistry of nearshore permeable sediments, especially sandy high-energy beaches> Processing of land-derived inputs by coastal sand swashes> Impacts of natural (hurricanes, storm surges) and anthropogenic (beach nourishment and use) disturbance events on sand biogeochemistry> Biogeochemical sensor applicability and performance> Marine policy definitions of good environmental state and appropriate indicators and activities necessary to monitor this state

2011-15 | Post-doctoral and affiliate researcher | Department of Oceanography, University of Hawai`i

> Microphytobenthos in calcareous permeable sediments> A seafloor permeable sediments observatory> He‘eia fishpond productivity and redox cycling> Loihi seamount biogeochemistry> Lake Kauhako physics and biogeochemistry

2011-15 | Marine policy consultant | AP Marine & Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, Cyprus

> Marine environment status assessment, indicator establishment and monitoring network design> Coastal and open-ocean nutrient budgets and dynamics> Non-indigenous species introductions, impacts, monitoring priorities, and necessary measures

2012-15 | Research Associate | Cyprus Subsea Consulting and Services

> Deep-sea glider platforms for society and industry: biogeochemical sensor packages

2013 | Consultant | Cyprus Subsea Consulting and Services

> Environmental impact assessment of hydrocarbon exploitation activities in the EEZ of the Republic of Cyprus 

2012-13 | Instructor | Global Environmental Science Program, University of Hawai`i

> OCN 401 - Global Biogeochemical Cycles (aquatic geochemistry module), FA12, FA13

2011-14 | Associate researcher | Oceanography Center, University of Cyprus

> Integrated European glider fleet infrastructures> Levantine Sea physical and biogeochemical structure and function using autonomous underwater platforms> Establishment of biogeochemistry component of Cyprus Basin Oceanography field program

2010-11 | Lecturer | Department of Biology, University of Cyprus

> BIO 403 - Marine Biology, SP11> BIO 381 - Physiology of Plants and Animals, SP11> BIO 481 - Zoology, FA10> BIO 301 - Environmental Biology, FA10

2007-10 | Fisheries and Marine Research Officer | Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, Cyprus

Research> Open sea aquaculture impacts on marine food webs> Desalination brine discharge impacts on benthic habitats> Cyprus glider infrastructures: development and support Policy> Marine environmental policy formulation and implementation> Marine-Strategy Framework Directive implementation lead> Marine monitoring and observing 

2007 | Consultant | Maritime Communication Services

> Environmental assessment of resource exploitation activities in the EEZ of the Republic of Cyprus

2002-07 | Graduate Research Assistant | Department of Oceanography, University of Hawai`i

> Organic matter cycling and nutrient dynamics in permeable sediments> Large organic falls as deep-sea chemosynthetic communities> Characterization of coral reef sedimentary microbial communities> Mediterranean seamounts> Surface ocean primary production dynamics in the Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea (CHALK project)> Relationships among trophic structure, bioturbation, and organic matter preservation across the oxygen-minimum zone on the Indus margin

2001-06 | Teaching Assistant | Global Environmental Science Program, University of Hawai`i

> OCN 201 - Science of the Sea    > Head-Teaching Assistant, FA03, SP04, SP06    > Teaching Assistant, FA01, SP02, FA05

2003 | Invited Lecturer | Department of Oceanography, University of Hawai`i

> OCN 628 - Benthic Biological Oceanography (geochemical module), SP03

2002-03 | Web designer | Department of Oceanography, University of Hawai`i

> Creation, upgrade and expansion of the departmental website and its educational programs 

1999-2001 | Graduate Research Assistant | Marine Sciences Research Center, SUNY at Stony Brook

> Animal-sediment interactions: the impact of biogenic organic matrices on early diagenetic processes in marine sediments> Diagenetic processes in river-ocean margins: the Gulf of Papua deltaic complex (TROPICS project)> Long Island Sound summertime hypoxia study> Flux measurements from sandy coastal sediments using benthic chambers

1998-99 | Rapporteur | Waste Reduction and Management Institute (WRMI), SUNY at Stony Brook

> Rapporteur, Hudson River Management Workshops

1998-99 | Teaching Assistant | SUNY at Stony Brook

> CHE 134 - Introductory Chemistry Laboratory II, SP99> MAR 101 - Long Island Sound: Science and Use, FA98

1998 | Laboratory Assistant | Marine Sciences Research Center, SUNY at Stony Brook

> Algal physiology laboratory

1997, 1998 | Assistant | Examinations Board, Ministry of Education and Culture, Cyprus

> Planning and conducting of civil-service examinations and grading of public university entrance examinations. 

1997-98 | Fisheries Observer | Saltwater Inc., Anchorage, Alaska

> Subcontracted for the National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S.A.> U.S. Federal Government Groundfish Fisheries, Bering Sea, Alaska Region

1997 | Undergraduate researcher | Undergraduate Marine and Atmospheric Program, University of Miami

> Biological synopses of commercially important fish

1995-7 | Science tutor | College of Arts and Sciences, University of Miami

> Biology, Chemistry, Physics

1992-4 | Second lieutenant | Armed forces of Cyprus

> Artillery Corps

1991 (summer) | Laboratory assistant | Department of Fisheries, Cyprus

> Experimental Mariculture Station

1989-91 (summer) | Field assistant | Department of Fisheries, Cyprus

> Turtle Protection Project

Memberships

> The Geochemical Society (since 2000)> Advancing the Science of Limnology and Oceanography ( ASLO ) (since 2000)> The Oceanography Society (since 2001)> American Geophysical Union (AGU) (since 2003)> American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) (since 2018)> South Carolina Beach Advocates (since 2019)> South Carolina Marine Educators Association (since 2022)

Selected Honors

2021 American Shore and Beach Preservation Association 2021 Rising Star Award2016 Excellence in Teaching Award, ΣΠΑ - CCU Student Branch of the National Society of Leadership and Success 2008 Selected participant, XXI Symposium on Dissertations in Chemical Oceanography (DISCO XXI), U.S. NSF/NOAA2004 Dai Ho Chun Fellowship, Graduate Division, University of Hawai`i at Manoa (declined)1998 Incoming Scholar Award, Marine Sciences Research Center, SUNY at Stony Brook1997 Phi Kappa Phi1995 Alpha Lambda Delta1994-97 J.F. Pearson International Scholarship, University of Miami1994-97 Fulbright Cyprus-American Scholarship Program Award, Fulbright Commission, Cyprus - AMIDEAST, Washington, D.C.1991  Gold Award - Duke of Edinburgh Award Program

Public professional profiles