Faculty Listed Alphabetical
A
Isabella Alcaniz (*currently not accepting students)
ialcaniz@umd.edu
web site
Dr. Isabella Alcaniz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Government and Politics, University of Maryland (UMD). Her research on environmental and climate politics, international financial mechanisms for climate change, social network analysis, the state in the global south, and Latin American politics has been published in the British Journal of Political Science, World Politics, Water Policy, Environmental Science & Policy, and elsewhere. In 2016, she published her book Environmental and Nuclear Networks in the Global South: How Skills Shape International Cooperation, with Cambridge University Press.
B
Tsvetan Bachvaroff
bachvarofft@umces.edu
web site
Dinoflagellate evolution with special emphasis on the parasitic dinoflagellates; using large scale sequencing and phylogenetic methods to describe the evolutionary history of different types of genes in dinoflagellates
Helen Bailey (Olde) (currently not accepting students)
hbailey@umces.edu
web site
Ocean-climate variability and ecosystem response; zooplankton community and population dynamics; application of satellite techniques in marine fisheries
Andrew Baldwin (*currently not accepting students)
baldwin@umd.edu
web site
Wetland ecology and water quality; plant community dynamics of coastal marshes and mangroves; disturbance and regeneration ecology of wetland vegetation; wetland seed banks; influence of sea level rise on coastal wetlands; community and ecosystem processes of created and restored wetlands; nutrient effects on wetland plant communities
Hongsheng Bi
hbi@umces.edu
web site
Ocean-climate variability and ecosystem response; zooplankton community and population dynamics; application of satellite techniques in marine fisheries
Lee Blaney
blaney@umbc.edu
web site
Fate and transport of emerging contaminants in natural and engineered systems; environmental detection of pharmaceuticals or treatment processes aimed at removing pharmaceuticals from drinking water/wastewater matrices
Neil V. Blough (*currently not accepting students)
neilb@umd.edu
web site
Methods for detecting and identifying free radicals in condensed phases; impact of (photo)oxidative reactions on the transformation and fate of organic & inorganic compounds in natural waters and biological systems
Donald F. Boesch (*currently not accepting students)
boesch@umces.edu
web site
Use of science in environmental policy & management, particularly related to understanding the causes of and solutions to coastal eutrophication
William Boicourt (*currently not accepting students)
boicourt@umces.edu
web site
Physical oceanography of shallow waters, estuaries, river plumes; remote sensing and autonomous samplers; physical-biological interactions and food web dynamics
Kaye L. Brubaker
klbrubak@umd.edu
web site
Physical hydrology; numerical modeling; stream and estuary water-quality modeling; water vapor transport; hydroclimatology; land-atmosphere interactions
Mercedes Burns (*currently not accepting students)
burnsm@umbc.edu
web site
Evolutionary ecology of reproductive traits and behaviors, sexual conflict, reproductive polymorphism, arthropod biology
Allen C. Bush (*currently not accepting students)
bush@umbc.edu
web site
Chemical structure and 3-dimensional conformation of complex carbohydrates of glycoproteins and polysaccharides of the cell surface using biophysical methods
Walter R. Boynton (*currently not accepting students)
boynton@umces.edu
web site
Estuarine whole systems ecology, nutrient budgets, eutrophication, sediment nutrient dynamics, environmental policy
C
James Carton
carton@umd.edu
web site
Exponential growth in the power of computers and richness of observational coverage is revealing how the ocean and sea ice systems exchange heat, mass, and momentum with the atmosphere to produce weather and climate. These same tools are just beginning to explore how ocean circulation and the biological processes that carry out half of the planet's photosynthesis are able to sequester 20-30% of the excess carbon dioxide that humans release into the atmosphere each year. The ocean's growing contributions to the global economy; including fisheries, recreation, and waste disposal; are adding to the stresses on these systems with unanticipated consequences. The ocean climate lab exploits the power of these new computational and observational tools to explore the science of ocean/sea ice variability, interactions with atmosphere and land, and how human activities are changing the ocean/sea ice systems.
Mark S. Castro
mcastro@umces.edu
web site
Atmosphere-biosphere interactions, greenhouse gas fluxes, global environmental changes, effects of atmospheric deposition and human activities on nutrient dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems, the composition of the atmosphere
Som Chatterjee
schatterjee@umaryland.edu
web site
Decipher the biological basis for pathogenic of S. aureus using a wide variety of molecular biology, genomic, biochemical, and immunological approaches; study beta-lactam drug resistant phenotypes and genotypes through proteomics and genomics; explore non-canonical (novel) targets responsible for beta-lactam resistance in S. aureus to re-sensitize resistant bacteria to beta-lactam drugs; explore novel approaches, such as developing nano-bodies, to treat staphylococcal infections.
Feng Chen (*currently not accepting students)
chenf@umces.edu
web site
Ecological interaction among marine viruses, bacteria and phytoplankton; phylogenetic diversity and molecular evolution of marine microbes; whole cell or in situ molecular detection; functional genes and microbial genome; research focuses on the diversity and function of microorganisms
Marcos Cheney
macheney@umes.edu
web site
Nanostructure technology for environmental, biomedical and clinical applications; surface chemistry; nuclear medicine; trace metals and radionuclides detection and removal; electrokinetic phenomena
Paulinus Chigbu
pchigbu@umes.edu
web site
Fisheries ecology; influence of variations in climatic factors on water quality and biota; culture of rotifers and copepods for use in rearing marine fish larvae; trophic dynamics in marine and freshwater environments; zooplankton ecology
J. Sook Chung
chung@umces.edu
web site
Response of crustaceans to the neurotransmitter, neurohormones and pheromones that regulate critical events in the life cycle
Mark Cochrane (*currently not accepting students)
mark.cochrane@umces.edu
web site
Understanding spatial patterns, interactions and synergisms between the multiple physical and biological factors that affect ecosystems; climate change, human dimensions of land-cover change and the potential for sustainable development; the drivers and effects of disturbance regime changes resulting from various forms of forest degradation, including fire, fragmentation and logging as well as the mitigating effects of forest and land management.
Lou Codispoti
codispot@umces.edu
web site
Arctic Ocean processes, nutrient and carbon budgets, descriptive physical oceanography, coastal upwelling and chemical oceanographic instrumentation
Emily Cohen
emily.cohen@umces.edu
web site
Understanding animal migration biology in the context of the full annual cycle; using field, lab, and remotely sensed data integrated with rigorous quantitative tools to: address fundamental questions about migration biology, understand how and why migration is changing and migratory species are declining, and develop tools for the inclusion of stopover and airspace habitats into conservation and management efforts for migratory species.
Victoria J. Coles (*currently not accepting students)
vcoles@umces.edu
web site
Physical and biological response and feedbacks to climate variability and change; Observation and modeling of ocean circulation and ventilation, biogeochemical tracer, and ecosystem cycling
Rita Colwell
rcolwell@umd.edu
web site
Research interests focused on global infectious diseases, water, and health. Currently developing an international network to address climate change and infectious diseases and water issues, including safe drinking water for both the developed and developing world.
Other interests include K-12 science and mathematics education, graduate science and engineering education and the increased participation of women and minorities in science and engineering
Lee Cooper
cooper@umces.edu
web site
Interdisciplinary aspects of biogeochemistry and ecology, including stable and radioisotope composition of organic materials and natural waters; aquatic plant physiology; high latitude oceanography and hydrology
Jeffrey C. Cornwell
cornwell@umces.edu
web site
Sediment biogeochemistry; burial of sediment and associated chemical constituents; nutrient exchange in sediment; influence of tidal marshes on ecosystem N and P balances
Jacob Cram
jcram@umces.edu
web site
I am a microbial ecologist whose research focuses on entire microbial communities. I am interested both in which organisms are present and in how those those organisms affect and in turn are shaped by their environment. My group observes micro-organisms in their native environments through molecular biology techniques and microscopy. We also use statistical and mechanistic models to integrate data and better understand microorganisms in their environments, as well as perform experiments to see how entire communities respond to perturbations.
Maurice Crawford (*currently not accepting students)
mkcrawford@umes.edu
web site
Estuarine habitat conservation/restoration; the dispersal and movement of organisms, and the interplay between science and policy
Thomas Cronin
cronin@umbc.edu
web site
Visual ecology, especially of marine invertebrates with a concentration on crustacean visual neuroscience
Jonathan Cumming
jrcumming@umes.edu
web site
Plants exhibit a wide degree of variation in their ability to function under environmentally stressful conditions, such as nutrient deficiencies, drought, and toxins in soils. This variation reflects genetic pathways conferring stress resistance, including morphological and metabolic adjustments that overcome stress. Plant roots additionally cooperate with soil microbes in many ways, bring new capabilities to the host plant. These symbioses involve mycorrhizal fungi and a vast variety of bacteria that improve access soil resources, overcome limitations of saline and metalliferous soils, and broadly improve root metabolic function. We are currently growing various lines of poplar (Populus spp.) that have been selected for stress resistance, investigating drought tolerance, soil microbial communities, and the contribution of poplar trees and microbes to soil carbon sequestration as a means of mitigating climate change.
Kathleen Cusick
kcusick@umbc.edu
web site
Microbial ecology of coastal marine systems, with an emphasis on saxitoxin-producing harmful algal bloom ecology and evolution using a combination of genetics, genomics, and transcriptomics.
D
Robert Dadson
rbdadson@mail.umes.edu
International programs in soybean breeding; insect resistance of soybeans; agronomy and breeding of food enzymes; biological nitrogen fixation
Kausik Das
kdas@umes.edu
Understanding of the capillary and wetting dynamics on under-sea bio-solid substrates, the role of viscous bio-films on contact line dynamics to reveal the micro-scale information of the under-liquid wetting transition, and use it into developing macroscopic tools and techniques to i) develop tools for characterization of under-water pollutant plumes and its impact on marine ecosystems; ii)Develop surfaces which will simultaneously behave as superhydrophobic (water repellant) and superleophobic (oil repellant); (iii) Develop efficient under-water structures with antifouling properties; iv) Develop novel micro-fluidic devices for mixing/demixing.
Shiladitya DasSarma
sdassarma@som.umaryland.edu
web site
I have spent many years studying the evolutionary biology of microorganisms growing in extreme environments and the effects of environmental stressors on cells. My research ranges from microbial genomics to the impacts of saline waters in climate change to vaccine development against tropical diseases. My interests include climate education, having co-authored a Climate Introduction and A Roadmap for Responding to Climate Change. I received MIT’s MacVicar Award for climate leadership and I serve as UMB’s Representative to the MEES Program.
Eric Davidson (*currently not accepting students)
edavidson@umces.edu
web site
Biogeochemistry and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, including the effects of management, land use change, and climatic change on soil C and N stocks, trace gas emissions from soils, and leaching of plant nutrients to streams and groundwater. Current study areas include the Brazilian Amazon Basin and Cerrado region and the forests of New England.
Allen P. Davis (*currently not accepting students)
apdavis@umd.edu
web site
Environmental chemistry; aquatic and interfacial environmental chemistry as related to water/ wastewater treatment processes and in natural aquatic/soil systems
Cathlyn D. Davis (Stylinski) (*currently not accepting students)
Cathlyn.Davis@umces.edu
web site
Environmental science education and scientific inquiry in precollege classrooms; remote sensing and plant ecophysiology
William Dennison
dennison@umces.edu
web site
Coastal ecosystem ecology; ecophysiology of marine plants; bioindicators in nearshore environments; assessing ecosystem health
Joseph Dodoo
jddodoo@umes.edu
Application of TG/MS/GC to the study of the spontaneous combustion of low rank coals and lignites
Shao-Jun (Jim) Du
sdu@som.umaryland.edu
web site
Cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling differentiation of muscle and nerve cells during embryogenesis; genetic regulation of muscle and bone development
E
Erle C. Ellis (*currently not accepting students)
ece@umbc.edu
web site
Landscape ecology; biogeochemistry, sustainable resource management
Andrew Elmore (*currently not accepting students)
aelmore@umces.edu
web site
Land use and land cover change; ecohydrology; biogeochemistry; remote sensing and spatial analysis; effects of urban development and agriculture on stream ecosystems; impact of climate change om forest phenology and biogeochemistry
Dia-Eldin Elnaiem
daelnaiem@umes.edu
web site
Biology of Leishmania parasites in their sand fly vectors; biology, ecology and population genetics of sand fly vectors of leishmaniasis in East Africa; epidemiology and control of visceral and cutaneous Leishmaniasis; epidemiology and control of malaria; ecology and control of mosquito vectors of disease in Maryland coastal bays.
Katharina Engelhardt (*currently not accepting students)
kengelhardt@umces.edu
web site
Effects of species richness on wetland ecosystem functioning and services; community ecology and ecosystem ecology; plant community ecology
Keith N. Eshleman
keshleman@umces.edu
web site
Watershed and wetlands hydrology; groundwater/surface water interactions; biogeochemical processes in upland and wetland ecosystems; hydrochemical modeling; ecosystem interactions with land use change; acidification of surface waters