"The Department of Ocean, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences at Old DominionUniversity offers an undergraduate major in Geology and minors in Oceanographyand Geology. Undergraduate majors select one of four curriculum options that lead to the Bachelor of Science in Geology. Three graduateprograms are offered, the Master of Science, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Oceanography and the Master of Science in Geology. Dr. Larry Atkinson, Professor (Director of the Center for Coastal PhysicalOceanography) Dr. Atkinson received his B.S. in 1964 and M.S. in 1967 fromthe University of Washington, Seattle and his Ph.D. in 1972 from DalhousieUniversity, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Dr. Atkinson came to Old DominionUniversity in 1985 as a Smith Professor and in 1990 became the Director, Centerfor Coastal Physical Oceanography. His research interests are western boundarycurrent interaction with adjacent waters; descriptive physical oceanography;advective nutrient transport; coastal waters.
Dr. David Burdige, Professor (Graduate Program Director for Oceanography)Dr.Burdige received a B.A. from Swarthmore College in 1978, with a majorin Chemistry and minors in Physics and Mathematics. He received a Ph.D. inOceanography from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of Californiaat San Diego in 1983. He joined the faculty of Old Dominion University in 1985.His general research interests lie in the fields of chemical oceanographyand marine sediment biogeochemistry. Much of his work has involved studies ofearly diagenetic processes in marine and estuarine sediments and their resultingeffect on the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and trace metals such as iron,manganese and copper.
Dr. Gregory Cutter, Professor. Dr. Cutter received his B.A. inChemistry from the University of California, San Diego and his Ph.D. in Chemistry fromthe University of California, Santa Cruz. He joined the ODU faculty immediatelythereafter. His research interests include: processes affecting trace elementspeciation and distributions in natural waters and sediments; air-sea transportand exchange of gases and trace elements; paleoceanographic tracers; analyticalmethods for aquatic chemistry; and computer modeling of geochemical processes.
Dr. Dennis Darby,Professor.Dr. Darby received his B.S. in Geology(1966) and M.S. in Geology (1968) from the University of Pittsburgh and in 1971he received his Ph.D. in Geology and Oceanography from the Universityof Wisconsin at Madison. In 1974 he joined ODU. His research interest icicle-rafting in the Arctic Ocean and high latitude glaciations usingprobe analyses of detrital Fe-oxide grains. Similar analyses on the AtlanticShelf helped to establish the importance of the Hudson River as a sand source inthe recent past and is helping us understand the origin of valuable coastal Tiplacers.
Dr. Frederick Dobbs, AssociateProfessor.Dr. Dobbs received his A.B.(Biology, 1976) from Franklin and Marshall College, his M.S. (Zoology, 1981)from the University of Connecticut, and his Ph.D. (Oceanography, 1987)from Florida State University. Dr. Dobbs joined the faculty in 1993. His presentresearch topics in microbial ecology include bacteria plankton in the ChesapeakeBay, sedimentary microorganisms in coastal environments, bacteria and viruses inships ‰ ballast water, and groundwater microbiology.
Dr. William Dunstan, Professor, EminentScholar.Dr. Dunstan receivedhis B.S. from Yale University and his M.S. from Florida State University. In 1969he was awarded his Ph.D. from Florida Sate University. Dr. Dunstan came to OldDominion University in 1980 as the Chair and Professor of Oceanography. Hisresearch interests are physiological ecology of marine plants; phytoplankton andchemical cycles; estuarine primary production.
Dr. Chester Grosch, Professor, EminentScholar.Dr. Grosch has beenat Old Dominion University since 1973 when he was appointed a Samuel L. & Fay M. Slover Professor of Oceanography; since 1982 he has also had ajoint appointment as a Professor of Computer Science. In 1956 he earned the M.E. (Engineering), in 1959 the M.S. (Applied Mathematics) and in 1967 the Ph.D.(Physics-Fluid Dynamics) degrees, all from Stevens Institute of Technology. Hisresearch is in theoretical and computational (and occasionally experimental)fluid dynamics. His current research includes: blending disparate oceanographicdata using normal modes algorithms; continental runoff and effects on the NorthAtlantic Ocean Subtropical Mode Water; disturbance dynamics in transitional andturbulent flows and simulation of mixing enhancement in supersonic jets.
Dr. Eileen Hofmann,Professor.Dr. Hofmann received her B.S. in Biology(1974) from Chestnut Hill College. She received her M.S. inPhysical Oceanography (1976) and her Ph.D. in Marine Science and Engineering (1980)from North Carolina State University. Dr. Hofmann joined Old Dominion University in1989. Her research interests are physical-biological interactionsand descriptive physical oceanography.
Dr. Kevin Johannesson, AssistantProfessor.Dr. Johannesson receivedhis B.S., in Geology in 1985 from University of New Hampshire. In 1988 he wasawarded his M.S. in Geology and Geophysics from Boston College. He received hisPh.D. in Hydrology/Hydrogeology from University of Nevada in 1993. Dr.Johannesson came to Old Dominion University July 1998. His researchinterests are the chemistry of natural waters, use of trace elements asgroundwater tracers, and low temperature aqueous geochemistry.
Dr. Ronald Johnson, AssociateProfessor.Dr. Johnson received his B.S.in Civil Engineering (1962), M.S. Civil Engineering with Physical OceanographyMinor (1963) and his Ph.D. in Physical Oceanography with CivilEngineering/Mathematics-Statistics Minors (1972) all from Oregon StateUniversity. Dr. Johnson joined Old Dominion University in 1968 as an AssistantProfessor of Oceanography.
Dr. John Klinck, Professor. Dr. Klinck earned a BS in Physics atClemson University, an MS in Physics at University of North Carolina and a Ph.D.in Marine Science at North Carolina State University. He came to Old DominionUniversity in 1989 as an Associate Professor. In 1996 he was promoted toProfessor. His current research interests are theory and numerical modeling ofbiological and physical processes in the ocean. Specific projects includecirculation in the Scotia Sea, the Ross Sea, and the west Antarctic Peninsulacontinental shelf; flow dynamics near submarine canyons; growth, reproductionand diseases in oysters and other bivalves and their larvae; and circulation inestuaries and their exchange with coastal ocean.
Ms. Terri Mathews,Instructor.Ms. Mathews received her B.S. ingeology from the College of William and Mary in 1978. In 1983 she was awarded her MSin Geophysical Science from Old Dominion University. Ms. Mathews came to OldDominion University in 1995 and teaches historical geology, earth science,environmental geology, meteorology and soils courses.
Dr. John McConaugha, AssociateProfessor.Dr. McConaugha receivedhis B.S. in Biology from University of Miami in 1970. In 1977 he was awarded hisPh.D. in Biology from the University of Southern California. Dr. McConaugha cameto Old Dominion University in 1980. His research interest are fisheriesoceanography, larval transport, invertebrate development and physiology.
Dr. Ali Nowroozi,Professor.Dr. Nowroozi received a M.S. inPetroleum Engineering in 1959 from University of Tehran, Iran and another M.S.in Geophysics in 1962 from the University of California, Berkeley. In 1965 hewas awarded his Ph.D. in Geophysics from the University of California, Berkeley. Dr.Nowroozi came to Old Dominion University in 1982 as a Professor inthe Department of Geophysical Sciences. His research interests are explorationgeophysics and its application to find energy resources, solving environmentaland geotechnical problems, geological hazards, seismic risk, magnetic, seismicand electrical methods.
Dr. George Oertel, Professor (Director of Barrier Island Program)Dr.Oertels'degrees in geology include a Bachelor of Science from Ohio State University (1966), a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy fromthe University of Iowa (1968,1971). He came to Old Dominion University in 1978with research experience in tidal inlets and beach dynamics. He is currentlydirector of the Coastal Bay and Barrier Island Program and co-director of the Programfor Remote Sensing and Coastal Environmental Analysis at Old DominionUniversity.Ê His research interests are in ecological relationships of coastal andnear shore environments.
Dr. Thomas Royer, Professor, Eminent Scholar. Dr. Royer received hisA.B. in 1963 from Albion College. He was awarded his MS in Physical Oceanography(1966) and Ph.D. in Physical Oceanography (1969) from Texas A&MUniversity. Dr. Royer came to Old Dominion University in 1996 as a Professor andEminent Scholar. His research interests are deep ocean and coastal hydrographyand currents, long time series measurements, and air-seainteractions.
Dr. Joseph Rule, Professor (Associate Dean of the College of Sciences)Dr.Rule received his B.A. in Agriculture (1967) and his M.S. in Agronomy (1970)from the University of Tennessee. In 1972 he received his Ph.D. in Agronomyfrom the University of Missouri. Dr. Rule came to ODU in 1976 in GeologicalSciences.Ê His research interests are geology and soils, primarily in the areasof geochemistry of trace metals in rocks, soils, sediments, waters and organismsin the environment; soil chemistry and mineralogy, soil-plant relationships andtrace metal cycling, forms in soils, and behavior in environment; techniques andmethods to detect and evaluate environmental contamination, includinghealth-based risk assessment; hazardous waste migration in soils and groundwater; use of herbaceous plants as phytomonitors and phytoremediators of soils.
Dr. James Sanders, Professor (Chair of Department)Dr. Sandersreceived his B.S. from Duke University in Zoology in 1973. He received his M.S. in 1975and Ph.D. in 1978 from the University of North Carolina in Marine Sciences. Dr.Sanders came to Old Dominion University in 1999 as the Chair of theDepartment.Ê His research interests are trace element biogeochemistry; physiologicalecology of phytoplankton; dynamics of phytoplankton species composition andspecies succession; interactions with anthropogenic compounds.
Dr. Randall Spencer, Professor (Graduate Program Director for Geology)Dr.Spencer joined Old Dominion University in 1966. He received his Bachelorof Science degree in Geology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1960,his Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Geology from theUniversity of Kansas in 1962 and 1968, respectively. His current researchinterests are salt marsh foraminifera.
Dr. Donald Swift, Professor, Eminent Scholar.Dr. Swift received hisA.B. in 1957 from Dartmouth College. In 1961 he received his M.A. from JohnHopkins University and in 1964 was awarded his Ph.D. from the University ofNorth Carolina, Chapel Hill. Dr. Swift came to Old Dominion University in 1968.His research interests are sediment accumulation rates; stratigraphic numericalmodeling being undertaken at event and sequence scales.
Dr. ArnoldoValle-Levinson, Assistant Professor.Dr.Valle-Levinson received his B.S. from Universidad Autonoma de Baja California in 1985. Hewas awarded his M.S. (1988) and Ph.D. (1992) from SUNY at Sony Brook. Dr.Valle-Levinson came to Old Dominion University in 1993. His researchinterests are observations and numerical modeling of estuarine and coastal hydrodynamicprocesses; estuary-ocean exchange; competition between buoyancy and mixing.
Dr. RichardWhittecar, Associate Professor (Assistant Chair ofthe Department) Dr. Whittecar received his B.S. from University of NorthCarolina, Chapel Hill in 1974. He was awarded his M.S. (1976) and Ph.D. (1979)from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Dr. Whittecar came to OldDominion University in 1979 as an Assistant Professor in the Department ofGeophysical Sciences. His research interests are sedimentation and stratigraphy;evolution of large coastal dunes, northeastern North Carolina and southeasternVirginia; hydrology and geomorphology of non tidal wetlands.
Dr. George Wong,Professor.Dr. Wong holds a Bachelor ofScience degree in Chemistry from the CaliforniaState University, Los Angeles, a Master of Science degree in Oceanography-Marine Geochemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Doctorof Philosophy degree in Oceanography-Marine Geochemistry jointly granted by theWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology. He joined Old Dominion University in 1976. His current researchinterests are on marine trace element geochemistry, marine redox chemistry,biological-chemical interactions in aquatic systems, oceanography of East Asianmarginal seas and marine radio geochemistry.
Research Faculty and Postdoctoral Associates
Dr. Jens Bischof, Research AssistantProfessor.Dr. Bischof receivedhis B.S. (in Germany: Pre-diploma) in 1980 at the Christian Albrechts Universityin Kiel. He was awarded his M.S. (1983) and Ph.D. (1990) at the ChristianAlbrechts University in Kiel. Dr. Bischof came to Old Dominion University in 1992.His research specialty is the identification of past iceberg and sea ice drifttracks through analysis of the composition of ice rafted debris (IRD).
Dr. Glenn Cota, Research AssociateProfessor.Dr. Cota came to ODU in1995 as a Research Associate Professor. He received his Ph.D. inOceanography from Dalhousie University and his B.Sc. degree in Biological Sciences fromSimon Fraser University. Dr. Cota is a biological oceanographer with interests inbio-optics, remote sensing, and phytoplankton physiological ecology.
Dr. Martina Doblin, Post Doctoral ResearchAssociate.Dr. Doblinreceived her B.Sc. in 1992 from Monash University, Melbourne Australia. In 1998 shewas awarded her Ph.D. from University of Tasmania. Dr. Doblin came to OldDominionÊ University (1998) as a Post-Doctoral Research under the direction of Dr.Gregory Cutter. Her research interests are in speciation and biogeochemical cyclingof trace elements; mechanisms underlying the development of harmful algal blooms(HAB); heterotrophic nutrition and physiological ecology of dinoflagellates;physiological and biochemical effects of HAB toxins, ballast water introductionsand their impacts on aquatic ecosystems.
Dr. Lisa Drake, Post Doctoral ResearchAssociate.Dr. Drake earneda Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from Ohio State University (1987), aMasters Degree in Oceanography from Old Dominion University (1991), and a Ph.D. in Oceanography from Old Dominion University (1997). In 1998, shejoined the staff of the Department of Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences as aPost-Doctoral Research Associate. Her current research includes marine microbialecology, ecology of ballast water, and interactions between seagrass andtheir epiphytes.
Dr. Maria Green, Post Doctoral ResearchAssociate.Dr.Green received her B.Sc. in 1980 from Universidad Autonoma de Baja California.In 1987 she was awarded her MS from Universidad Nacional Automoma de Mexico.Her Ph.D. was from Universite Bordeaux I, France in 1995. Dr. Green came to OldDominion University in 1999 as a Postdoctoral fellow under the guidance of Dr.Donald Swift.
Dr. Cathy Lascara, Research AssistantProfessor.Dr. Lascara receivedher B.S. from Florida Institute of Technology in Marine Biology (1978). In 1982she received her MS in Fisheries Oceanography from the College of William andMary. She was awarded her Ph.D. in 1996 from Old Dominion University in PhysicalOceanography. She joined the department in 1996 as a Research AssistantProfessor at the Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography. He current researchinterests are interdisciplinary studies and numerical modeling of marineecosystems, integration of advanced computing technologies with oceanographicapplications.
Ms. Liz Smith, Research Assistant Professor. Ms. Smith received her B.S.in Marine Science from the University of South Carolina in 1982. She wasawarded a M.S. in Physical Oceanography in 1987 from the Florida State University. Ms.Smith came to Old Dominion University in 1993. Her area of interest isremote sensing; educational applications of oceanographic and atmosphericsatellite data.
Dr. Glen Wheless, Research Assistant Professor. Dr. Wheless receivedhis B.S. from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1978. He was awarded his M.S. (1987) andPh.D. (1990) from Old Dominion University. Dr. Wheless remained at ODU at theCenter for Coastal Physical Oceanography, first as a Postdoctoral ResearchAssociate supported by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, thenas a Research Assistant Professor (1998). Dr. Wheless leads the VirtualEnvironment Laboratory at CCPO and is one of the first oceanographers tovisualize oceanographic processes using virtual reality. His research interestsare numerical modeling of coastal processes, advanced scientific visualizationand high bandwidth networking.
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