Michael Jones
Ft. Pierce,FL
Summary
Accomplished research professional with over fifteen years of experience in collecting and managing research data to support long-term monitoring initiatives. Adept in field settings, small boat and scientific diving operations. Excels in administrative functions, including budget management, procurement, and contract oversight in compliance with federal regulations. Proven ability to coordinate diverse teams of scientists, fellows, students, and volunteers, driving successful research initiatives. Known for effective communication and outreach efforts, engaging with diverse audiences from the general public to the scientific community.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Program Coordinator, CCRE Program
Smithsonian Marine Station
02.2009 - Current
- Fifteen years of experience collecting and maintaining research data in support of long term monitoring efforts, with expertise in variety of protocols and methodologies: 1) performs annual surveys for CCRE Reef Assessment Program (2009- present), underwater visual census of fish and corals at 24 transects between 15' - 60' deep; 2) serves important role in annual SI MarineGEO field data collection (2016- present), implements variety of protocols for reef and seagrass monitoring and environmental data collection; 3) extensive experience with coral colony health assessments related to coral disease outbreaks; 4) has participated in scientific expeditions to Belize, Honduras, Myanmar, and Australia conducting field research and scientific diving operations in remote locations
- Extensive experience with data entry, data QA/QC, data analysis, database maintenance and archiving; Maintains large database of both quantitative and qualitative imagery; Experience with variety of ecological and environmental monitoring protocols for coral reefs, seagrasses, and mangrove habitats; capable of species-level identification of Caribbean & Atlantic coral, fish, and motile invertebrate fauna
- Extensive experience with small boat operations in nearshore and offshore environments as well scientific diving operations -Performs several administrative functions, including budget management, travel coordination, purchasing, and accounting involving federal and trust CCRE and SMS funds
- Acts as unit procurement officer and serves as COTR for several PO's and contracts related to scientific operations
- Extensive experience developing requests for proposals as well as contracts and scopes of work under the auspices of federal procurement policies, procedures, and regulations -Effectively works with diverse array of teams of scientists, visitors, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and volunteers to accomplish unit goals
- Has taken leading roles in coordinating research efforts, such as the MarineGEO annual field campaign, which required not only coordinating personnel, organizing travel, and supply purchases but also developing field schedule to ensure research goals were met
- Programs variety outreach efforts in both Belize and United States, has solid track record of communications with the public, from school aged children to adults; Effectively communicates with partners in Belize, including government officials as well as colleagues within country -Compiles, edits, and publishes annual report of research activity at Carrie Bow Cay Field Station in Belize
Station Manager, Detail Appointment
Smithsonian Marine Station
02.2019 - Current
- Oversees arrangements for visiting scientists, including preparation of laboratories, equipment, vehicles and boats needed for research; provides site and facility orientation to new arrivals; contributes extensive knowledge of local field and collection sites to ensure successful research visits
- Coordinates activities related to maintenance of facilities and equipment for research programs of resident and visiting scientists at Smithsonian Marien Station
- Coordinates upkeep, repair and preventive maintenance of Smithsonian Marine Station physical plant (including laboratories, offices, boats and vehicles) and associated equipment, independently initiating and overseeing work of outside contractors and staff for this purpose
- Coordinates schedule for boat operations, maintenance of vessels and associated equipment and field gear
Benthic Ecology Lab Research Technician
Smithsonian Marine Station
09.2005 - 01.2009
- Collected soft-bottom benthic macroinvertebrate and sediment core samples at 22 stations in support of long-term ecological monitoring of the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie Estuary.
- Collected environmental data and water quality parameters at permanent monitoring stations
- Extracted, sorted, and identified diverse array of invertebrate fauna
- Utilized wide variety of laboratory and biological techniques including microscopy, microphotography, sediment analysis, etc.
- Established and maintained extensive voucher collection of invertebrate species in the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie Estuary
- Established and maintained robust library of taxonomic literature pertinent to invertebrate groups collected in sampling protocols
- Entered data and maintained extensive online database of species records and environmental data
- Worked with team to create new database platform and conducted large database migration
- Extracted large time series datasets by navigating government agency hydrology databases, providing insightful context for dynamics of invertebrate community structure and change over time.
- Provided critical input on scientific publications and annual reports
- Presented results to funding agencies and colleagues
- Participated in outreach events, open houses, public tours
Education
Bachelor's Degree - Biology
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, MI09.2001
Skills
- 18 years of experience in marine research and ecological monitoring
- Expertise in marine field operations, scientific diving and small boat operations
- Experienced with government procurement and contracting procedures
- Extensive experience with marine field station operations and visiting scientist programs
Affiliations
- Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean - Institutional member representative
- Indian River Lagoon Science Festival - Steering committee member
Job Related Training
- USCG licensed captain, 2009
- Scientific Diver Training, 2010
- PADI SCUBA Instructor Training, 2012
- Contracting Officer's Technical Representative: 2020
- Simplified Acquisitions (procurement training): 2010, 2016, 2023
- Purchase Card Training: 2017, 2020
- Wilderness First Aid, 2023
- US Sailing Offshore Safety at Sea, 2023
Availability
Permanent, Full-time
Publications
- First Record of Coralline Lethal Orange Disease on the Reefs of Belize, Aeby, G., Jones, S., Houk, J., & Paul, V., Bulletin of Marine Science, 99, 3, July 2023, 377-378, https://doi.org/10.5343/bms.2022.0065
- Blinded by the bright: How species-poor habitats contribute to regional biodiversity across a tropical seascape, Harper, L. M., Lefcheck, J. S., Whippo, R., Jones, M. S., Foltz, Z., & Duffy, J. E., Diversity and Distributions, 28, 11, 2022, 2272-2285, https://doi.org/10.1111/DDI.13632
- Patterns of Consumption Across a Caribbean Seascape: Roles of Habitat and Consumer Species Composition Through Time, Ritter, C. J., Harper, L. M., Lefcheck, J. S., Paul, V. J., Whippo, R., Jones, S., Ogburn, M. B., & Duffy, J. E., Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 2021, 742907, https://doi.org/10.3389/FMARS.2021.742907/BIBTEX
- A doubling of stony coral cover on shallow forereefs at Carrie Bow Cay, Belize from 2014 to 2019, de Pablo, L. X., Lefcheck, J. S., Harper, L., Paul, V. J., Jones, S., Whippo, R., Seemann, J., Kline, D. I., & Duffy, J. E., Scientific Reports, 11, 1, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-96799-2
- High resolution spatiotemporal patterns of seawater temperatures across the Belize Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, Helmuth, B., Leichter, J. J., Rotjan, R. D., Castillo, K. D., Fieseler, C., Jones, S., & Choi, F., Scientific Data, 7, 1, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-020-00733-6
- Pathogenesis of a Tissue Loss Disease Affecting Multiple Species of Corals Along the Florida Reef Tract, Aeby, G. S., Ushijima, B., Campbell, J. E., Jones, S., Williams, G. J., Meyer, J. L., Häse, C., & Paul, V. J., Frontiers in Marine Science, 6, 2019, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00678
Timeline
Station Manager, Detail Appointment
Smithsonian Marine Station
02.2019 - Current
Program Coordinator, CCRE Program
Smithsonian Marine Station
02.2009 - Current
Benthic Ecology Lab Research Technician
Smithsonian Marine Station
09.2005 - 01.2009
Bachelor's Degree - Biology
Northern Michigan University