A National Ocean Service/National Center for Coastal Ocean Science Program
Phytoplankton Monitoring Network
Promoting a better understanding of harmful algal blooms by way of volunteer monitoring
About Us
Steve Morton, PhD.
Contact Information:
- Email: Steve.Morton@noaa.gov
Clonal culture and taxonomy of Pfiesteria, Gambierdiscus, and other toxic dinoflagellates; Mass culture for toxin production
My research interests are two fold: the taxonomy and distribution of phytoplankton and the utilization of volunteers to monitor marine and estuarine phytoplankton. On the taxonomic side of my research we have described a number of new species isolated from the United States and throughout the world. We are also in the process of developing new microscopic methods utilizing scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy. The second part of my research is centered on the Phytoplankton Monitoring Network which is made up of volunteers ranging from middle school student to retired citizen groups. more >>
Allison Sill
Contact Information:
- Email: Allison.Sill@noaa.gov
- Phone: 843-762-8656
- Fax: 843-762-8700
Allison attended Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC where she received her B.S. in Biology. She launched her career in environmental science by serving as the Loggerhead Sea Turtle Project Coordinator for the University of South Carolina's Center for Coastal Ecology, located on Pritchards Island. As Coordinator for this program, she led diverse coastal education programs as well as supervised the collection and reporting of data on nesting Loggerheads. This project fostered her interest in pursuing a Masters Degree in Environmental Science which was completed through Antioch New England. Allison has worked as the Environmental Education Coordinator for the Bald Head Island Conservancy and most recently as an eighth grade environmental science teacher at Charlotte Country Day School. She is excited about all of the opportunities that PMN brings to citizens, teachers and students. "This program is so valuable because it emphasizes the importance of marine education and research to a wide range of people. By linking field work to the classroom and then sending that information on to scientists, important data is collected, shared and then applied to learn more about the health of our oceans. I am very excited to be a part of such a beneficial program!"
Jeff Paternoster
Contact Information:
- Email: Jeff.Paternoster@noaa.gov
- Phone: 843-762-8657
- Fax: 843-762-8700
Jeff attended St. Ambrose University, located along the banks of the Mississippi River in Davenport, Iowa. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Environmental Biology and a 6-12 Science Teaching Endorsement. He has worked in public education for the past 10 years, where he has taught the life sciences to both middle school and high school students. Jeff's initial interest in phytoplankton and harmful algal blooms (HAB) came from participating in the original South Carolina Phytoplankton Monitoring Network (SCPMN) with his students at Whale Branch Middle School. After conducting the program with his middle school students, he transferred the program to the high school. Now as PMN outreach specialist, Jeff is ready to bring his teaching experiences and excitement about phytoplankton to the teachers and students of the PMN. "I have seen how phytoplankton and the PMN can get students excited about learning science. This is the perfect tool to get students interested and engaged in a real life science issue."
Elizabeth Symon
Contact Information:
- Email: Elizabeth.Symon@noaa.gov
- Phone: 843-762-8902
- Fax: 843-762-8737
Liz attended the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC where she received her B.S. in Marine Biology. Liz's interest in phytoplankton developed her senior year at CofC while conducting a research study on phytoplankton species composition and distribution along two parallel transects from the coast of Folly Beach, SC along the continental shelf out to the Gulf Stream via funding through CofC's Transects Program. It was during this program in which Liz was introduced to and mentored by Dr. Steve Morton and the power of the scanning electron microscope (SEM). After working with Dr. Morton and completing her phytoplankton research, Liz decided after graduation she would pursue her interest in phytoplankton and harmful algal blooms (HABs) by working for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources in the Algal Ecology Laboratory where she served as an algal microscopist for species identification for two years. Now a part of the Marine Biotoxins Program and PMN, Liz enthusiastically serves as Dr. Morton's SEM and culture technician with ever increasing interest in morphology and taxonomy as well as composition and distribution.
Kimberly Nowocin
Contact Information:
- Email: Kimberly.Nowocin@noaa.gov
- Phone: 843-762-8659
- Fax: 843-762-8700
Kimberly holds an associate of science degree in Computer Technology from Trident Technical College and a bachelors of science degree in Computer Science from the College of Charleston. Her primary duties include the developing and maintaining the web sites for the Marine Biotoxins Program and the Phytoplankton Monitoring Network Program. Kimberly also assists the program in other computer needs such as 3-D reconstruction and printing of posters. more >>
