Dr. Michael Parsons

Dr. Parsons is an Associate Professor of Marine Science at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and a faculty member of FGCU's Coastal Watershed Institute. He was a State of Louisiana Board of Regents Fellow and received his Ph.D. from Louisiana State University in 1996 in Biological Oceanography. Parsons has received over $1.7 million in grants and contracts from such agencies as the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency, and is the author of publications focusing on coastal eutrophication, harmful algae, cold core eddies, and estuarine ecology. He has mentored both undergraduate and graduate students and has taught courses in marine biology, oceanography, coastal eutrophication, microalgal culturing techniques, senior thesis, marine conservation, marine monitoring techniques, and experimental design. His current research interests include harmful microalgae (Pseudo-nitzschia spp., Gambierdiscus spp., and Karenia brevis), transfer of biotoxins into marine foodwebs, and the role of eutrophication in altering coastal foodwebs and promoting harmful algal blooms.

- Coastal Waters Consortium (CWC Consortium, Year 2-4 Consortia Grants (RFP-I), Role: Co-Principal Investigator, Task Co-Lead)