ECU scientists offer insight on Gulf oil spill

GREENVILLE, N.C.   (June 16, 2010)   —   Several East Carolina University faculty experts are available to discuss the Gulf of Mexico spill and its implications.
 
David Kimmel, PhD, assistant professor of biology
Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
252-328-9986
kimmeld@ecu.edu
Kimmel recently was awarded a National Science Foundation RAPID Grant to study the chemical and biological impact of the oil spill. Kimmel and collaborators will use data to determine if the spill has altered the distribution of plankton, which are important organisms that form the base of the food chain. Changes in plankton distribution can dramatically affect fisheries production.
 
Joseph Luczkovich, PhD, associate professor of biology
Institute for Coastal Science and Policy
252-328-9402
luczkovichj@ecu.edu
Luczkovich’s research centers on marine and fish ecology.

David Mallinson, PhD, associate professor of geological sciences
Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
252-328-1344
mallinsond@ecu.edu
Mallinson’s research focuses on coastal processes, geophysics, sedimentology and stratigraphy.
 
Susan McRae, PhD, assistant professor of biology
Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
252-328-6515
mcraes@ecu.edu
McRae studies migratory birds and can discuss the spill’s effect on birds in the Gulf of Mexico.
 
Siddhartha Mitra, PhD, assistant professor of geological sciences
Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
252-328-6611
mitras@ecu.edu
Mitra recently collected water and sediment from the N.C. coastline that will be analyzed for baseline levels of hydrocarbons and compared to samples from the Deepwater Horizon spill.
 
J.P. Walsh, PhD, assistant professor of geological sciences
Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
252-328-5431
walshj@ecu.edu
Walsh studies how materials from land are dispersed in the ocean. His research sheds light on the fate of pollutants and runoff and their impact on U.S. coastlines.