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Paul Richardson

  • Lab Chief, Evolutionary Ecology
  • 1998. B.S., Biology (Chemistry minor). Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia.
  • 2001. M.S., Biological Oceanography. Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia.
  • Professional Experience
  • Skills
  • Publications
  • Presentations
  • Teaching Experience and Service
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    Email: jprichar@vims.edu
    Office: Maury Hall 204 
    Phone: (804) 684-7148, 7883 
    Evolutionary Ecology Web Site


    Professional Experience

  • Laboratory Manager and Research Scientist at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, The College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia. May 2001 - Present.

    Responsible for all aspects of field and laboratory duties performed at the VIMS Evolutionary Ecology laboratory. Supervise and advise graduate students, interns and laboratory employees. Construct and devise field studies. Process samples for chlorophyll and nutrient analyses with a spectrophotometer. Conduct monthly surveys of the fauna and flora of Chesapeake Bay grass beds. Responsible for ordering and maintaining supplies. Fiberglass, PVC, wood, and other construction of laboratory and field experimental infrastructure. Laboratory designated small boat operator.

  • Research Assistant for: Dr. Fred C. Dobbs1 and Dr. Mounir Laroussi2, Department of Ocean, Earth, & Atmospheric Sciences1, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. Applied Research Center2, Newport News, Virginia. August 1999 - May 2001.

    Independent and supervised research of the effectiveness and mechanisms of using plasma to kill bacteria and bacterial spores. Many skills were utilized including fluorescent, light and scanning electron microscopy of microorganisms, ATP analysis for microbial biomass, tritiated leucine incorporation to measure bacterial production, and sole source carbon substrate utilization (Biolog) experiments. Performed electronics technician and lab management duties.

  • Marine Technician for Robert C. Kidd, Department of Ocean, Earth, & Atmospheric Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. May 1999 - August 1999.

    Provided technical support to scientists in the Ocean Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department. Duties included small boat and trailer operation, electronic work, carpentry, metal work, and vehicle maintenance.

  • Research Intern for Dr. Greg Ruiz, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), Edgewater, Maryland January 1999 - April 1999

    Worked on the Marine Bio-invasions Program at SERC and conducted independent research on the interactions of a pathogen Vibrio cholerae and a copepod Acartia tonsa in simulated ballast-tank conditions. Duties included interviewing the first officers of cargo and coal ships, sampling ships' ballast water, and analyzing ballast water data in the lab.

  • Laboratory Technician for Dr. Fred C. Dobbs, Department of Ocean, Earth, & Atmospheric Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. July 1998 - January 1999

    Involved in a ballast water project with faculty and other researchers. Conducted interviews and sampled ballast water aboard coal ships. Utilized tritiated leucine incorporation to investigate the feeding ecology of groundwater protozoans for a groundwater project.

  • Laboratory Assistant for Dr. Gregory A. Cutter, Department of Ocean, Earth, & Atmospheric Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. September 1996 - December 1998

    Prepared samples for analysis, reagents, and other standard solutions. Used pH meters, micro?balances, columns and resins for trace metal analyses. Collected samples aboard the R/V Cape Hatteras in the Chesapeake Bay and the Sargasso Sea on a seven-day oceanographic cruise.

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    Skills

    • Microscope
      • Scanning Electron microscopy
      • Differential interference contrast
      • Microphotography
      • Epifluorescence
    • Boating Skills
        Crew in races on a 34-ft sailboat Highly proficient in small powerboat and trailer operations.
    • Computer Skills
      • SPSS Base 9.0
      • Arc View, Arc Info
      • ERDAS Imagine software
      • Microsoft Office
      • Sigma-Plot
    • NAUI-SCUBA certified
    • Heavy equipment operation
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    Publications

    • Duffy, J.E., J. P. Richardson, and K.E. France. (2004) Relative influence of biodiversity and trophic structure on eelgrass ecosystem functioning. Ecology. In review.
    • Duffy, J.E., J.P. Richardson, and E.A. Canuel. (2003) Grazer diversity effects on ecosystem functioning in seagrass beds. Ecology Letters. 6:1-9.
    • Laroussi, M., J.P. Richardson, and F.C. Dobbs. (2002) Effects of nonequilibrium atmospheric pressure plasmas on the heterotrophic pathways of bacteria and on their cell morphology. Applied Physics Letters. Vol. 81, No.4.
    • 2002 Laroussi, M., F.C. Dobbs, Z. Wei, M.A. Doblin, L.G. Ball, K.R. Moreira, F.F. Dyer, and J.P. Richardson. (2002) Decontamination of water by excimer UV radiation. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science. Vol. 30, No. 4.
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    Presentations

    • Richardson, J. P., J.A. Philpot, and J. E. Duffy (2002) Eelgrass mesocosms for food web experiments: a reality check. Benthic Ecology Meeting. Orlando, FL (poster)
    • Choi, K.H., J.P. Richardson, J.W. Williams, A.Valle-Levinson, and F.C. Dobbs. (2001) Diel Variation of bacterioplankton in the Lower Chesapeake Bay: A Eularian study. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque, NM. (poster)
    • Richardson, J.P., M. Laroussi, and F.C. Dobbs. (2000) The effect of atmospheric pressure plasma on bacteria. Virginia Branch American Society for Microbiology Meeting, Farmville, VA (oral presentation)
    • Richardson, J.P., M. Laroussi, F.C. Dobbs and F. Dyer. (2000) The effect of atmospheric pressure plasma on Bacillus subtilis, cell numbers and carbon substrate utilization. 27th Annual IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science, New Orleans, LA. (poster)
    • Richardson, J.P., (1999) The fate of Vibrio cholerae O139 associated with Acartia tonsa and Rhodomonas under simulated ballast tank conditions. Presentation of research results to the SERC community. (oral presentation)
    • Richardson, J.P., K.H. Choi, and F.C. Dobbs. (1998) Groundwater bacteria: effects of phosphate enrichment and predation by protozoans. American Society for Microbiology, Virginia Branch Meeting, Lexington, VA. (poster)
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    Teaching Experience and Service

    • 2002 - 2003, VIMS Mentor for The Governor's School for Science and Technology student, Sonia Abdelaziz.
    • 2000 - 2001, OEAS Graduate Student Organization Vice President (vocational and professional) O.D.U.
    • 2000, 2001, 2002, Volunteered for the Regional National Ocean Sciences Bowl Competition (Blue Crab Bowl) for high school students.
    • 2000 - Present, Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), Speaker's Bureau volunteer - Deliver presentations concerning the health of the Chesapeake Bay and the mission of the CBF.
    • 2000, Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Volunteered to organized the OEAS Graduate Student Organization, members to plant eel grass (Zostera marina) in the Lynnhaven River.
    • 2000, Center for Marine Conservation, Beach cleanup volunteer.
    • 1999, Clean the Bay Day, volunteer.
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    Biological Sciences / VIMS
    P.O. Box 1346, Gloucester Pt., VA  23062-1346, USA
    Telephone:  804-684-7344;  FAX:  804-684-7293 )