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
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.
