Elizabeth D. Tobin
University of Alaska, Fairbanks • College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
17101 Point Lena Loop Road, Juneau, AK 99801 • (907)-796-5455 • [email protected]
EDUCATION:
University of Washington, School of Oceanography, Seattle, WA
Ph.D. Oceanography, 2014
M.S. Oceanography, 2009
University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
B.S. Aquatic Biology, 2005
Graduated with High Honors; Distinction in the Major
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
2014−present Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries and
Ocean Sciences, Juneau, AK. Host: Dr. Ginny Eckert.
2014−2015
Program Coordinator, Marine Ecosystem Sustainability in the Arctic and Subarctic
Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Juneau, AK.
2012−2014
Graduate Fellowship, IGERT Program on Ocean Change, University of Washington,
Seattle, WA.
2010−2012
Research Assistant, University of Washington, School of Oceanography, Seattle, WA
Supervisors: Dr. Daniel Grünbaum and Dr. Rose Ann Cattolico.
2008−2010
Graduate Fellowship, GK-12 Ocean and Coastal Integrated Science (OACIS),
University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
2007−2008
Biologist, Nautilus Environmental, Tacoma, WA.
2006−2007
Research Assistant, University of Washington, School of Oceanography, Seattle, WA
Supervisor: Dr. Daniel Grünbaum.
2004−2005
Research Assistant, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
Supervisor: Dr. Sarah Lester.
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
My research centers on the themes of phytoplankton and marine benthic ecology, and crossdisciplinary approaches. The main focus of my work involves analyses of benthic and pelagic population
distributions of marine dinoflagellates, regulating mechanisms of phytoplankton bloom dynamics and
distributions of algal biotoxins in the marine environment. My current project applies a social-ecological
systems approach to address the ecology of toxic Alexandrium sp. harmful algal blooms (HABs) and their
sociocultural impacts on shellfish harvest communities in Southeast Alaska. This work involves
integration of local and traditional knowledge and ecological research to investigate spatial and temporal
patterns of paralytic shellfish toxins produced by Alexandrium sp. that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning
(PSP). I also pursue research on the development of in situ sensors for improved detection and
quantification of marine plankton; climate change impacts on bloom dynamics of HAB species; pathways
of algal biotoxins in marine food webs; and impacts of algal biotoxins on finfish and shellfish resources.
E.D. Tobin – Vitae
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PUBLICATIONS:
Coyle, O., Grünbaum, D., Tobin, E.D., and MacGregor, C. (2016) A real-time remote sensor for the
enumeration of the harmful alga Heterosigma akashiwo and other marine protists. In Review.
Hauser, D., Tobin, E.D., Feifel, K., Shah, V. and Pietri, D. (2015) Disciplinary reporting affects the
interpretation of climate change impacts in global oceans. Global Change Biology.10.1111/gcb.12978.
Tobin, E.D., Grünbaum, D., Patterson, J. and Cattolico, R.A. (2013) Behavioral and physiological
changes during benthic-pelagic transition in the harmful alga, Heterosigma akashiwo: Potential for
rapid bloom formation. PLOS One 8(10): e76663.
Tobin, E.D., Grünbaum, D. and Cattolico, R.A. (2011) Pelagic-benthic transition of the harmful alga,
Heterosigma akashiwo: Changes in swimming and their implications for benthic distributions.
Harmful Algae 10(6): 619-628.
Tobin, E.D. and Horner, R.A. (2011) Germination characteristics of Alexandrium catenella cysts from
surface sediments in Quartermaster Harbor, Puget Sound, Washington, USA. Harmful Algae 10(1):
216–223.
Lester, S.E., Tobin E.D., and Behrens, M.D. (2007) Disease dynamics and the potential role of thermal
stress in the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Can. J. Fish. Aquati. Sci. 64: 314-323.
GRANTS AND AWARDS:
Sitka Tribe of Alaska, Subcontract Bureau of Indian Affairs ($10,421)
2015
National Science Foundation, Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability Fellow
($384,516)
2014
National Science Foundation, IGERT Program on Ocean Change Graduate Traineeship
(2 years of tuition & stipend support)
2012
American Society of Limnology and Oceanography,
Outstanding Student Presentation Ocean Sciences Meeting.
2012
The Link Foundation, Ocean Engineering and Instrumentation Fellowship ($28,500)
2011
Phycological Society of America
Bold Award: Best Graduate Student Paper.
2010
National Science Foundation, GK-12: Ocean and Coastal Integrated Science (OACIS)
Program (2 years of tuition & stipend support).
2008
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Instructor: Marine Ecosystems (MSL 652), College of Fisheries and Ocean Science, University of Alaska
Fairbanks (Fall 2016).
Lecturer: Biological Oceanography (OCN 535), School of Oceanography, University of Washington
(Fall 2013).
Field Instructor: Garfield High School Marine Science Field School, Maui, HI (Spring 2009 & 2011).
NSF Teaching Fellow: Marine Science, Garfield High School and UW in the High School (OCN 101),
Seattle, WA (2008-2010).
Teaching Assistant: Best Teaching Practices in the High School Classroom, School of Oceanography,
University of Washington (Fall 2009).
E.D. Tobin – Vitae
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PROFESSIONAL TRAINING:
Research and Management
Biological Oceanography, Ocean and Coastal Processes,
Oceanography of Estuarine Systems, Marine Ecosystems,
Intertidal and Benthic Ecology, Ocean Instrumentation/Sensing, SocialEcological Systems, Human Dimensions, Small Vessel Operator and
Coastal Navigation (AMSEA), Algal & Larval Culturing, Microscopy,
Immunoassays (ELISA), Science-Management Integration, Science, Law
and Policy,
Quantitative and Mapping
Biostatistics, Populations Dynamics, Multivariate Methods, MATLAB,
R Programming, SPSS, ArcGIS
Communications
Communicating Science to the Media (COMPASS workshop),
Communicating Ocean Sciences (COSEE course), Communicating
Science to the Public and Press, Grant Writing
Los Angeles Times Op-Ed: In Science, Words Matter. April, 02. 2012
SELECT PRESENTATIONS:
Tobin, E.D., Crumpton, C., Wallace, C., and Eckert, G. (2017) “Identifying environmental drivers of
Alexandrium harmful algal blooms in Southeast Alaska.” Alaska Marine Science Symposium.
Anchorage, AK.
Tobin, E.D., Eckert, G. and Wallace, C. (2016) “Linking traditional knowledge and ecological studies to
improve understanding of paralytic shellfish poisoning and enhance sustainability of shellfish harvest in
Southeast Alaska.” PICES North Pacific Marine Science Organization Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA.
Tobin, E.D. (2016) “Climate change and shellfish resources in Southeast Alaska” Southeast
Environmental Conference. Ketchikan, AK.
Tobin, E.D. (2015 & 2016) “Sampling consistency” and “Dinoflagellate cyst beds: what they are and
why they are important” Southeast Alaska Tribal Toxins Workshop. Sitka, AK.
Tobin, E.D. (2014) “Enhancing sustainability of shellfish harvest in Southeast Alaska: Addressing
Alexandrium blooms and their sociocultural impacts.” Southeast Environmental Conference. Juneau, AK.
Tobin, E.D. (2013) “Improving harmful algal bloom prediction in the Salish Sea” Seattle Aquarium,
Seattle, WA.
Tobin, E.D, Grünbaum G. and Cattalico R.A. (2012) “Benthic-pelagic transitions in the harmful alga,
Heterosigma akashiwo: Assessing the influence of swimming behaviors on growth and bloom formation.”
15th International Conference on Harmful Algae, Changwon, South Korea.
Tobin, E.D, Grünbaum G. and Cattalico R.A. (2012) “Quantification of transitional swimming behaviors
in the harmful alga, Heterosigma akashiwo, and their implications for pelagic and benthic distributions.”
ASLO/AGU Ocean Sciences Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT.
Tobin, E.D. and Grünbaum G. (2011) “An optical remote sensor for detection and prediction of
Heterosigma akashiwo Harmful Algal Blooms.” Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference, Vancouver, BC, CA.
Tobin, E.D, Grünbaum G. and Cattalico R.A. (2011) “Motility during pelagic-benthic life-stage
transitions for the harmful alga, Heterosigma akashiwo and the implications for bloom dynamics.”
Phycological Society of America Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA .
E.D. Tobin – Vitae
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STUDENT MENTORING:
College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, UAF, Juneau, AK (2015 – present)
 Trained two UAS Marine Biology students as research assistants. Students gained skills in
phytoplankton and shellfish field sampling and identification; CTD sensor deployment and data
processing; microscopy; water quality analysis; sediment processing; ELISA techniques and data
management.
School of Oceanography and Department of Biology, UW, Seattle, WA (2010 – 2014)
 Mentored three Oceanography undergraduates on projects focused on the physiology and ecology
of harmful marine algae. Students gained skills in algal culture maintenance, data collection from
controlled laboratory experiments, field sampling methods and data analysis.
 Mentored a Biology undergraduate on her senior research project focused on algal life cycles and
lipid production presented at the 2012 UW Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.
 Offer on-going support by providing letters of recommendation for graduate school, international
study abroad and job applications.
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE:
Grant Management, University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (current)
 Day-to-day management of 3 year NSF-funded research program, including purchasing,
budgeting, data collection, database management, annual reporting to granting agency and
supervision of two research assistants.
Steering Committee Member, Developing a Harmful Algal Bloom Action Plan for Alaska, Anchorage,
AK (December 2016)
 Assisted with planning and organization of a two-day Alaska Sea Grant workshop for developing
an action plan for harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring, event response, outreach and research
in Alaska. Committee activities included: monthly planning meetings, recruitment of workshop
speakers, preparation of break-out session topics/questions and facilitation of break-out session
discussion groups.
Program Coordinator, Marine Ecosystem Sustainability in the Arctic and Subarctic Program, University
of Alaska Fairbanks (Fall 2014 – Summer 2015)
 Coordinated programmatic activities, including student travel and research grants and a science
film workshop. Reconciled program budget. Assisted MESAS principal investigator with
preparation of annual and final reports to granting agency.
Steering Committee Member, IGERT Program on Ocean Change Seminar Series, University of
Washington (Winter 2013)
 Planned and organized a 10 week “Topics in Ocean Change” winter seminar series. Recruited
expert speakers from across the nation. Assisted with speaker travel coordination. Sought out
local sponsors for food and beverage donations.
SELECT PUBLIC OUTREACH:
Workshop Presenter/Organizer: Southeast Alaska Tribal Toxins Workshop, Sitka, AK (2015 & 2016)
 Education and trained tribal partners of the SEATT network on harmful algal blooms, sediment
and water sampling methods, and phytoplankton identification.
Community Presentation: “Safe and sustainable shellfish harvest”, Centennial Hall, Juneau, AK (2015)
 Organized a public presentation on the causes and impacts of paralytic shellfish poisoning in
Southeast Alaska and safer subsistence/recreational shellfish harvest practices.
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Speaker/Educator: “The Puget Sound Seashore Ecosystem” Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalists (2013)
 Provided advanced training for veteran Beach Naturalists on intertidal biological interactions.
Science Judge: Washington Regional Ocean Sciences Bowl, Seattle, WA. (2008-2011)
Ship-based Marine Science Educator: Ocean Inquiry Project, Seattle, WA (2007-2011)
 Educated diverse community members about the Puget Sound marine ecosystem, and planned nocost fieldtrips for high school students underrepresented in STEM careers.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO)
International Society for the Study of Harmful Algae (ISSHA)
Phycological Society of America (PSA)
American Fisheries Society (AFS)
North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES)