Email: chrissy@bbsr.edu
Phytoplankton
Ecology Website
Education
M.S. Marine Science, College of William and Mary
B. S. Biology, Chemistry Minor, George Mason University
Major Advisor
Dr.
Walker Smith
Publications
van Hilst, C. and W. O. Smith. (in press) Photosynthesis/Irradiance
relationships in the Ross Sea, Antarctica and their control by phytoplankton
assemblage composition and environmental factors. Marine Ecology
Progress Series.
Smith, W. O. and C. van Hilst. (in review) Effects of assemblage
composition on the temporal dynamics of carbon and nitrogen uptake in the
Ross Sea. Antarctic Research Series.
Professional Experience
8/00 – Present, Research Technician for the Bermuda Atlantic
Time Series project. Focus of work is sample collection and preparation
of bacteriological and viral samples in addition to core sampling.
Bacterial abundance is assessed using epifluorescence microscopy, while
bacterial production is measured using the H3-Thymidine method.
10/95 – 7/97, ASci Inc. Contract with Biological Resource Division,
USGS. Investigated electronic approaches to geocoding specimen locality
data in vertebrate collection at National Museum of Natural History.
Research Assistant with Tadpoles of the United States Project and Vertebrate
Checklist Project.
2/95 – 10/95 Natural Resource Conservation Service, Plant Data Collection
Center, USDA. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), Taxonomy
Work Group Assistant. Focus of work was interaction with the scientific
community to locate and process data and coordinate activities.
6/94 – 12/94 Environmental Careers Organization Inc., Northeast
Region. Awarded Research Associate position with Environmental Protection
Agency. Began work with ITIS project. Worked with National
Estuary Programs to gather information for the Gulf of Mexico Information
Network.
Field Experience
8/00 – Present Monthly BATS cruises on the R/V Weatherbird
II. Collection of core BATS samples including Dissolved O2, DOM suite,
Salts, nutrients, HPLC. Preparation and enumeration of DAPI slides,
H3-Thymidine Bacterial production method. In addition to core sampling
in-situ Pump profilers for LH-PCR analysis, ecto-enzyme assays.
9/97 – 8/00 Virginia Institute of Marine Science - Culture of marine
phytoplankton species, photosynthesis irradiance experiments, processing
of water samples for primary productivity using C14, HPLC pigment analysis,
nutrient analysis, chlorophyll analysis, marsh grass sampling, fisheries
trawl surveys and oyster reef surveys.
6/97 Bermuda Biological Station - Teaching assistant to Dr. Bruce Collette,
NMFS, NOAA. Work involved, teaching class to use dichotomous keys
to identify species, aiding class with dissection and identification of
Euthynnus allteratus. Collection of reef specimens using seine, hook and
line, and rotenone poison station.
9/96 – 12/96 Peru - Field assistant to Dr. Mercedes Foster BRD, USGS.
Worked on several research projects on the ecology of neotropical birds.
Work involved mist-netting, call counting, direct observation, and census
of birds by call.
1/93 Andros Island, Bahamas - Worked with Dr. Luther Brown, George Mason
University. Investigation of Bahamian Blue Holes. Work involved water
sampling for salinity, DO, chlorophyll content. Species identification.
Core samples were taken from bottom of Blue Holes with the aid of SCUBA.
Awards and Certifications
8/01, PADI Rescue Diver
2/01, PADI Advanced Open Water
6/99, Exxon Corporation Scholarship to attend course at Bermuda Biological
Station
4/98, Vice President Gore’s National Performance Review’s Hammer Award
for ITIS project
6/97, Awarded Teaching Assistantship at Bermuda Biological Station,
Highest Student Grade Honor
6/96, Exxon Scholarship to attend course at Bermuda Biological Station
8/91, Scuba Certification: NAUI Open Water I
Outreach
2/99 – 6/00 Marine Educators Outreach Program, VIMS
Program to bring the world of marine science to local schools and youth
groups.
Professional Affliations
2000, American Society of Limnology and Oceanography
1999, Virginia Member at Large Tidewater AFS Chapter
1998, American Fisheries Society
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