Virginia Estuarine & Coastal Observing System

The Research Team

Dr. Kenneth Moore (moore@vims.edu, 804-684-7384) is the principle investigator on this project and supervises all activities associated with this project. This includes fieldwork, data management and report writing. He is responsible for all stages of the analysis of samples, resolving problems that may arise, and for data review, oversight and submission of data. Dr. Moore is also the Director of Research at CBNERRVA and Chairman of the Department of Biological Sciences. He holds a B.S. degree in Biology from The Pennsylvania State University, a M.S. degree in Marine Science from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. degree in Marine, Environmental and Estuarine Science from the University of Maryland.

The Co-PI, Dr. William Reay (wreay@vims.edu, 804-684-7119), supervises the activities associated with the continuous, fixed station monitoring including protocol development, station setup, fieldwork, and data management. Dr. Reay is also the Director of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia (CBNERRVA). Dr. Reay holds a B.S. degree in Biology from George Mason University, a M.A. degree in Marine Science from the College of William and Mary and a Ph.D. in Biology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Mrs. Betty Neikirk (betty@vims.edu, 804-684-7400) is a Marine Scientist Supervisor at VIMS and holds a B.S in Biology from Randolph-Macon College and a M.S. in Marine Science from the College of William and Mary. She oversees the field programs, has responsibility for data analysis, coordinates and schedules all field operations, as well as participates in the field operations.

Mr. David Parrish (parrishd@vims.edu, 804-684-7835) is a GIS Analyst at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and holds a B.S. in Integrated Science and Technology from James Madison University and an M.S. in Natural Resource Management from Central Washington University. He conducts the spatial and statistical analysis to evaluate water quality criteria attainment in Virginia waters and generate spatial imagery for the VECOS website. Mr. Parrish provides GIS support to the program and manages the VECOS database and website.

Mrs. Joy D. Austin (justjoy@vims.edu, 804-684-7307) is a Laboratory Supervisor at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. She is currently in charge of the day-to-day activities of the water quality and fixed station monitoring at CBNERRVA and is familiar with all aspects of CBNERRVA monitoring. She is responsible for overseeing the continuous station monitoring activities including activities such as sonde calibration, QA/QC of data and data management, sampling coordination, purchases of equipment and supplies. She coordinates fixed station activities with Mrs. Betty Neikirk

Mr. David Wilcox (dwilcox@vims.edu, 804-684-7088) is a GIS specialist at VIMS and holds a B.S. in Mathematics from Virginia Tech University and a M.S in Geography from Ohio State University. He supports the GIS data analysis of the high frequency spatial data and assists in protocol development for assessing water quality criteria using the data generated by this program.

Mr. Jim Goins (goins@vims.edu, 804-684-7559) is a Field Manager at VIMS. He helps conduct the field sampling activities associated with this project including; DATAFLOW mapping, water quality verification sampling and fixed station sampling and participates in other monitoring programs as needed. He oversees the maintenance of CBNERRVA vehicles and vessels, has extensive small vessel handling experience, and holds USCG Basic Seamanship & Safety and VIMS small vessel certification

Mr. Steve Snyder (snyder@vims.edu, 804-684-7442) is a Laboratory and Research Specialist I at VIMS who holds an Associates Degree in Applied Science from Thomas Nelson Community College. He participates in the field and laboratory work related to all aspects of the shallow water monitoring including the DATAFLOW mapping operations, water quality verification sampling and the calibration of the instruments. He also has extensive small vessel handling experience and holds USCG basic Seamanship & Safety and VIMS small vessel certification

Mrs. Erin Shields (eshields@vims.edu, 804-684-7702) is a Marine Scientist at VIMS and holds a B.S. in Biology from Connecticut College and an M.S. in Marine Science from VIMS. Erin assists in field and lab work associated with the shallow water monitoring project. Erin is also involved in research related to various aspects of submerged aquatic vegetation ecology and restoration. Currently, her focus is on researching the role of interspecific competition as well as environmental site conditions on the restoration of low salinity SAV in the Chesapeake Bay.

Ms. Alynda Miller (alynda@vims.edu, 804-684-7576) is a Laboratory and Research Specialist at VIMS. She has a B.S. in Biology from the Millersville University of Pennsylvania. She participates in the continuous monitoring program including water quality verification sampling and instrument calibration.
Ms. Amber Knowles (alynda@vims.edu, 804-684-7576) is a Laboratory and Research Specialist 1 at VIMS. She has a B.S. in Biology from Mary Washington College. Ms. Knowles works with the continuous monitoring program. In the laboratory she works primarily with 6600 EDS and V2 EDS YSI sondes, preparing these instruments for field deployment and troubleshooting issues that occur with the sondes. She helps process samples that come in from the field and occasionally provides support for the field program. Ms. Knowles is involved with general laboratory maintenance and field and equipment purchasing. She also provides some data support for ancillary data that is collected in the field and data entry in the program’s database.
Mr. David Rutan (drutan@vims.edu,804-684-7087) is a Laboratory and Research Specialist I at VIMS who holds a in B.S. in Environmental and Forest Biology from the State University of New York. Mr. Rutan plays a key role in the field effort associated with the DATAFLOW and Continuous Monitoring Programs. He also has small vessel handling experience and holds US Coast Guard Basic Seamanship & Safety and VIMS small vessel certification.

Mr. Voight Hogge (voight@vims.edu, 804-684-7087) is a Laboratory and Research Specialist I at VIMS. He has extensive boating experience as well as knowledge of local water ways. He will be working as a boat captain assisting with the field effort associated with the DATAFLOW and Continuous Monitoring Programs. Mr. Hogge will also be doing routine boat maintenance. He holds a US Coast Guard Basic Seasmanship & Safety and VIMS small vessel certification.

Mr. Paul Gerdes(arete@vims.edu, 804-684-7087) is the Nunally Ichthyology Collection Manager at VIMS. He has extensive boating experience, a USCG Captain license, is a member of the VIMS Dive Team, and has knowledge of local water ways. Mr. Gerdes has worked at VIMS for 30 years and his duties with CBNERRS include data collection through field support in various water monitoring programs. He has a B.A. in Philosophy from the College of William & Mary and a M.A. in Humanities from Old Dominion University. He holds a US Coast Guard Basic Seasmanship & Safety and VIMS small vessel certification.

All of the above personnel are located at VIMS, P.O. Box 1346, Gloucester Point, VA 23062.

	Dr. Kenneth Moore (moore@vims.edu, 804-684-7384) is the principle investigator on this project and supervises all activities associated with this project. This includes fieldwork, data management and report writing. He is responsible for all stages of the analysis of samples, resolving problems that may arise, and for data review, oversight and submission of data. Dr. Moore is also the Director of Research at CBNERRVA and Chairman of the Department of Biological Sciences. He holds a B.S. degree in Biology from The Pennsylvania State University, a M.S. degree in Marine Science from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. degree in Marine, Environmental and Estuarine Science from the University of Maryland.
	The Co-PI, Dr. William Reay (wreay@vims.edu, 804-684-7119), supervises the activities associated with the continuous, fixed station monitoring including protocol development, station setup, fieldwork, and data management. Dr. Reay is also the Director of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia (CBNERRVA). Dr. Reay holds a B.S. degree in Biology from George Mason University, a M.A. degree in Marine Science from the College of William and Mary and a Ph.D. in Biology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
	Mrs. Betty Neikirk (betty@vims.edu, 804-684-7400) is a Marine Scientist Supervisor at VIMS and holds a B.S in Biology from Randolph-Macon College and a M.S. in Marine Science from the College of William and Mary. She oversees the field programs, has responsibility for data analysis, coordinates and schedules all field operations, as well as participates in the field operations.
	Mr. David Parrish (parrishd@vims.edu, 804-684-7835) is a GIS Analyst at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and holds a B.S. in Integrated Science and Technology from James Madison University and an M.S. in Natural Resource Management from Central Washington University. He conducts the spatial and statistical analysis to evaluate water quality criteria attainment in Virginia waters and generate spatial imagery for the VECOS website. Mr. Parrish provides GIS support to the program and manages the VECOS database and website.
	Mrs. Joy D. Austin (justjoy@vims.edu, 804-684-7307) is a Laboratory Supervisor at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. She is currently in charge of the day-to-day activities of the water quality and fixed station monitoring at CBNERRVA and is familiar with all aspects of CBNERRVA monitoring. She is responsible for overseeing the continuous station monitoring activities including activities such as sonde calibration, QA/QC of data and data management, sampling coordination, purchases of equipment and supplies. She coordinates fixed station activities with Mrs. Betty Neikirk
	Mr. David Wilcox (dwilcox@vims.edu, 804-684-7088) is a GIS specialist at VIMS and holds a B.S. in Mathematics from Virginia Tech University and a M.S in Geography from Ohio State University. He supports the GIS data analysis of the high frequency spatial data and assists in protocol development for assessing water quality criteria using the data generated by this program.
	Mr. Jim Goins (goins@vims.edu, 804-684-7559) is a Field Manager at VIMS. He helps conduct the field sampling activities associated with this project including; DATAFLOW mapping, water quality verification sampling and fixed station sampling and participates in other monitoring programs as needed. He oversees the maintenance of CBNERRVA vehicles and vessels, has extensive small vessel handling experience, and holds USCG Basic Seamanship & Safety and VIMS small vessel certification
	Mr. Steve Snyder (snyder@vims.edu, 804-684-7442) is a Laboratory and Research Specialist I at VIMS who holds an Associates Degree in Applied Science from Thomas Nelson Community College. He participates in the field and laboratory work related to all aspects of the shallow water monitoring including the DATAFLOW mapping operations, water quality verification sampling and the calibration of the instruments. He also has extensive small vessel handling experience and holds USCG basic Seamanship & Safety and VIMS small vessel certification
	Mrs. Erin Shields (eshields@vims.edu, 804-684-7702) is a Marine Scientist at VIMS and holds a B.S. in Biology from Connecticut College and an M.S. in Marine Science from VIMS. Erin assists in field and lab work associated with the shallow water monitoring project. Erin is also involved in research related to various aspects of submerged aquatic vegetation ecology and restoration. Currently, her focus is on researching the role of interspecific competition as well as environmental site conditions on the restoration of low salinity SAV in the Chesapeake Bay.
	Ms. Alynda Miller (alynda@vims.edu, 804-684-7576) is a Laboratory and Research Specialist at VIMS. She has a B.S. in Biology from the Millersville University of Pennsylvania. She participates in the continuous monitoring program including water quality verification sampling and instrument calibration.
	Ms. Amber Knowles (alynda@vims.edu, 804-684-7576) is a Laboratory and Research Specialist 1 at VIMS. She has a B.S. in Biology from Mary Washington College. Ms. Knowles works with the continuous monitoring program. In the laboratory she works primarily with 6600 EDS and V2 EDS YSI sondes, preparing these instruments for field deployment and troubleshooting issues that occur with the sondes. She helps process samples that come in from the field and occasionally provides support for the field program. Ms. Knowles is involved with general laboratory maintenance and field and equipment purchasing. She also provides some data support for ancillary data that is collected in the field and data entry in the program’s database.
	Mr. David Rutan (drutan@vims.edu,804-684-7087) is a Laboratory and Research Specialist I at VIMS who holds a in B.S. in Environmental and Forest Biology from the State University of New York. Mr. Rutan plays a key role in the field effort associated with the DATAFLOW and Continuous Monitoring Programs. He also has small vessel handling experience and holds US Coast Guard Basic Seamanship & Safety and VIMS small vessel certification.
	Mr. Voight Hogge (voight@vims.edu, 804-684-7087) is a Laboratory and Research Specialist I at VIMS. He has extensive boating experience as well as knowledge of local water ways. He will be working as a boat captain assisting with the field effort associated with the DATAFLOW and Continuous Monitoring Programs. Mr. Hogge will also be doing routine boat maintenance. He holds a US Coast Guard Basic Seasmanship & Safety and VIMS small vessel certification.
	Mr. Paul Gerdes(arete@vims.edu, 804-684-7087) is the Nunally Ichthyology Collection Manager at VIMS. He has extensive boating experience, a USCG Captain license, is a member of the VIMS Dive Team, and has knowledge of local water ways. Mr. Gerdes has worked at VIMS for 30 years and his duties with CBNERRS include data collection through field support in various water monitoring programs. He has a B.A. in Philosophy from the College of William & Mary and a M.A. in Humanities from Old Dominion University. He holds a US Coast Guard Basic Seasmanship & Safety and VIMS small vessel certification.

The Research Team

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