Assistant Research Scientist at University of Maryland Center for Environmental ScienceA
Washington D.C. Metro Area
- Current
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- Assistant Research Scientist at University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
- Past
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- Marine Research Specialist at University of Rhode Island
- Field Research Coordinator at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- Education
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- University of Washington
- University of Washington
- University of New Hampshire
- Connections
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55
connections
- Industry
- Higher Education
- Websites
Jamie Pierson’s Summary
I am a biological oceanographer, specializing in zooplankton ecology in estuaries and coastal regions. My particular interest is in how zooplankton individuals and populations function within an ecosystem. Much of my work has focused on marine copepods, in the context of the entire pelagic food web.
Zooplankton are food for commercially important fish species, consumers of primary and secondary production, cyclers of nutrients and particles, and can be used as tracers in the ocean.
Behavior reflects both the internal physiology of organisms and the external environmental conditions in which an organism resides. Thus, studying behavior allows me to address the question of how zooplankton individuals and populations function within an ecosystem. However, plankton live in a dilute and dynamic environment, and it is not always possible to unambiguously infer whether behavior or environmental conditions are driving the observed distributions, because it is difficult to reliably sample microscopic individuals at appropriate scales. For these reasons, I have been combining various sampling, observation, and experimental techniques to tackle questions in zooplankton ecology.
In my current research, I am incorporating data collected over large spatial or long temporal scales to data on zooplankton individuals. These data are gathered using a variety of methods, ranging from high-tech acoustic and optical instruments to traditional net samples and laboratory experiments. In addition, I am using numerical models to test hypotheses about the behavior of the organisms in ways that are relevant to in situ data. In the end, this work can be put into the context of the entire ecosystem, to gain a better understanding of the ecological function of pelagic systems.
Jamie Pierson’s Specialties:
Lab techniques in plankton ecology:
• Taxonomic identification of zooplankton, particularly copepods
• Gut fluorescence of marine plankton
• Zooplankton grazing experiments
Field techniques in plankton ecology:
• CTD operation
• MOCNESS net operation
• Egg production experiments
• Zooplankton grazing experiments
• Microzooplankton dilution experiments
Ecosystem modeling using MATLAB:
• Individual based modeling
• Foraging modeling
• Network analysis
Jamie Pierson’s Experience
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Assistant Research Scientist
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
(Research industry)
July 2006 — Present (3 years 1 month)
Post-doctoral position in zooplankton ecology. I am currently working on two NSF funded projects and two NOAA funded projects.
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Marine Research Specialist
University of Rhode Island
(Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry)
1997 — 2000 (3 years)
Field and lab research technician
Microscopy
Database management -
Field Research Coordinator
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(Non-Profit; 501-1000 employees; Research industry)
June 1996 — June 1998 (2 years 1 month)
Jointly held position with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the University of New Hampshire.
Part time position for a pilot project funded by NOAA to explore the use of fishing vessels for oceanographic data collection. This pilot program became FleetLink.
Jamie Pierson’s Education
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University of Washington
PhD , Oceanography , 2000 — 2006
Dissertation Title:
Copepod - diatom interactions in the sea: paradigm or paradox? -
University of Washington
MS , Oceanography , 2000 — 2003
Thesis title:
Reduced reproductive success of Calanus pacificus during a spring bloom in Dabob Bay, WA -
University of New Hampshire
BS , Biology: Marine and Freshwater , 1992 — 1996
Graduated Cum Laude
Additional Information
Jamie Pierson’s Websites:
Jamie Pierson’s Interests:
fishing, music, hiking, family time
Jamie Pierson’s Groups:
ASLO, CERF, AGU
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University of Washington Alumni Group -
UNH Alumni Association
Jamie Pierson’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- job inquiries
- expertise requests
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
