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Resume (Research)

Check out my full CV, complete with my outreach experience, current projects, and conference presentations here!

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Joseph E. Townsend

4113 Estate Fortuna Mill

St. Thomas, USVI, 00802

Phone: 704-340-2168

Email: joetown94@gmail.com

Website: www.joseph-townsend.com

EDUCATION

University of the Virgin Islands (August 2017-December 2019)

Masters of Marine and Environmental Science

GPA: 4.0

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2012 – 2016)

Biology (B.A.), Communications (B.A.), minor studies in Marine Science

GPA: 3.3

Sea Education Association (March 2015-June 2015), Class C-259

Semester of coursework as a part of the Marine Biodiversity and Conservation Program

GPA: 3.84

 

Current GRE Scores: Quantitative Reasoning: 160 (76th percentile), Verbal Reasoning: 162 (90th percentile), Analytical Writing: 4.5 (86th percentile)

MANUSCRIPTS AND PUBLICATIONS

Aichelman, H. E.; Townsend, J.; Courtney, T.; Baumann, J.; Castillo, K. D. “Heterotrophy mitigates temperate coral Occulina arbuscula response to temperature stress”. Ecology and Evolution 4 August 2016.

Baumann, J.; Townsend, J.; Courtney, T.; Aichelman, H. E.; Davies, S. W.; Castillo, K. D. “Temperate regimes impact coral assemblages along environmental gradients on lagoonal reefs in Belize”. PLoS ONE 11(9): e016298.

Brandt, M. E.; Ennis, R.; Meiling, S.; Townsend, J.; Cobleigh, K.; Glahn, A.; Quetel, J.; Brandtneris, V. W.; Henderson, L. M.; Smith, T.B. “The emergence and initial impact of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) in the United States Virgin Islands”. Accepted to Frontiers in Marine Science, June 2021

Townsend, J.; Rosenau, N.; Minton, M.E.; Miller, A. W.; Everett, R., Henderson, L. M., Brandt, M.E. Investigating correlations between ballast water activities and introductions of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease in the US Virgin Islands. In Preparation for submission to Frontiers in Marine Science, August 2022

Townsend, J.; Brandt, M.; Mukherjee, S.; Medina, M.; Smith, T. B. “Lesion recovery of two deep-generalist corals from shallow to mesophotic depths”. Submitted for review to Coral Reefs, July 2022

AWARDS/HONORS

May 2020        SEAS ALLIANCE Coral Disease Fellowship

Funding to work full-time as Territorial Coral Disease Response Coordinator for the US Virgin Islands.

May 2017            SEAS Your Tomorrow: Bridge to the PhD

$7,000 awarded jointly by University of the Virgin Islands and Pennsylvania State University conduct research at PSU

Sept 2015           Increasing Diversity and Enhancing Academia (IDEA) Academic Internship

$2,700 awarded to conduct tank experiment on coral stress response using live corals from Belize

June 2015           Increasing Diversity and Enhancing Academia (IDEA) Summer 2015 Internship

$6,000 awarded in order to conduct research in the Castillo laboratory as a full-time researcher

June 2014           Increasing Diversity and Enhancing Academia (IDEA) Summer 2014 Internship

$6,000 awarded in order to conduct research in the Castillo laboratory as a full-time researcher

Nov 2011            Eagle Scout

Highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America

CERTIFICATIONS

  • 150-ft. Scientific Diver- American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS)
  • Technical Diving International (TDI) Certified decompression and enriched air diver
  • Red Cross First Aid, Emergency Oxygen, and CPR/AED for the professional rescuer
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office
  • USCG Master Captain (50GT)

TECHNICAL SKILLS

  • Lab-based Skills- Live coral care in closed circuit aquaria, DNA Amplification with PCR of animal, algal, and bacteria DNA, PAM Fluorometry and Spectrophotometry, 3D Digital Scanning and reconstruction, Analytical quantification of dissolved nutrients
  • Field-based Skills- Caribbean coral identification (AGRRA), Caribbean fish, algae, sponge, and other invertebrate survey and identification, Sea Turtle hand-capture, tagging, and release, Biopsy collection for genetic and isotopic analysis, Neuston net sampling, Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD) deployment
  • Computer/Software based Skills-R Statistical analysis, Analysis of sequence data using MEGA and Geneious, Phylogenetic, Population Connectivity and Metabarcoding analyses, Advanced image and film capture and editing using Adobe Creative Suite/Final Cut Pro/Avid, ArcGIS
  • Proficient repair and maintenance abilities with advanced media technology

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

January 2019-March 2020 Research Technician- UVI Department of Marine Science

Supervisor: Dr. Marilyn Brandt

Supervision and management of spatial distribution research for the recent emerged Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) and implementation of coral disease treatments. Verification and survey of the revitalized Acropora Monitoring Program in the USVI. Additional as-needed work in miscellaneous marine research projects ranging from urchin and coral restoration to marine sponge assessment. Statistics tutor for Masters of Marine and Environmental Sciences students.

August 2017-December 2019 Research Assistant – UVI Department of Marine Science

Advisors: Dr. Tyler Smith, Dr. Marilyn Brandt

Data organization and management for the Territorial Coral Reef Monitoring Project (TCRMP), Analysis of data following hurricanes Irma and Maria. Conducted coral field surveys and data collection at annual locations, and regular collection of fish and algae for study of Ciguatera Fish Poisoning. Assistance with additional fieldwork in miscellaneous marine research projects ranging from urchin and coral restoration to marine sponge assessment. Additional as-needed work on the SCTLD-outbreak in St. Thomas.

Aug 2018-May 2019 Sea Turtle Intern – UVI Center for Marine and Environmental Studies

Advisor: Dr. Paul Jobsis

Management, organization, and data collection associated with UVI’s sea turtle catch-and-release tagging program. Responsible for organizing personnel, data management and analysis, proper and effective sea turtle handling and tagging during both the day and at night, organization of outreach events, and maintenance of UVI’s sea turtle club.

Jun 2014-May 2016 Increasing Diversity Enhancing Academia (IDEA) Student Researcher – UNC Marine Sciences Department

Advisor: Dr. Karl Castillo

Responsible for daily maintenance of tank system, data collection and analysis of two tank-based coral physiology experiments and one field-based coral ecology study in Belize. Summarized in peer-reviewed journal articles published in Ecology and Evolution and PLoS One.