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Dr. Naomi Phillips

Post Doctoral Fellow

Post Doctoral Fellow, September 2001 - December 2003.

Research: Molecular systematic investigations in the brown algae (Phaeophyceae).

Research Background and Interests

I am interested in a variety of evolutionary and ecological issues within marine algal ecosystems. My Masters research examined causal factors limiting algal distribution in San Francisco Bay estuary. During my Doctoral training I continued my interest in algal distribution patterns, but shifted to evolutionary time scale. This research explored speciation patterns, genetic diversity and ocean basin patterns of biogeography in the tropical algal systems in the Pacific Basin. I continued this line of research in Suzanne Fredericq laboratory addressing systematic issues within East Isthmian species of the brown algal genus Sargassum, while determining biodiversity and community structure in off shore Hard bank algal communities in the Gulf of Mexico. In Gary Saunders lab I shifted from species level questions and worked on a project focused on resolving systematic relationships at the ordinal level within one of the largest groups of marine primary producers, brown algae with emphasis on the order, Fucales. This research was begun on a FCT Postdoctoral fellowship with Ester Serrao and completed on a NSF Postdoctoral fellowship. I am now in Charles Baer's laboratory working on a variety of evolutionary genetic projects using model (nematode) systems.

Education

1998. Ph.D. Botany (Evolutionary Biology). University of Hawaii, Botany Department. Dissertation: Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of Hawaiian Species of Sargassum. Dr. C. M. Smith, major professor.

1989. M.A. Biology (Marine). Sonoma State University . Thesis: The Function of Salinity and Temperature on the Distribution of Mastocarpus papillatus (Rhodophyta) in the San Francisco Bay . Dr. K. Kjeldson, major professor.

1985. BA Biology (Aquatic). Sonoma State University .

1982. College of Marin. (Biology).

Professional Experience

Present. Postdoctoral Fellow/Lab Manager, Charlie Baer Evolutionary Genetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-8525.

2001-2003. Postdoctoral Fellow, National Science Foundation International Program. Centre for Environmental and Molecular Algal Research, Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick , Fredericton , NB E3B 4P1 . Project: Phylogenetic analysis of the Phaeophyceae using rbcL and LSU sequence data.

2001. Portuguese FCT Postdoctoral Fellow. Center for Marine Sciences F.C.M.A, University of Algarve Gambelas Faro , Portugal . Project: Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of the Fucaceae . Supervisor: Dr. Ester Serrao.

1999-2001. Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette . Projects: I. Modern Baselines for Assessment of Global and Regional Impacts from Production, Transport and Use of Fossil Fuels: Characterization of Endemized Assemblages in the Northern Gulf of Mexico at Risk of Warming, Hypoxia and Habitat Perturbation. D.L. Felder, J. Neigel, S. Fredericq & N. Rabalais, Co-PI's. II . Assessing macro-algal biodiversity and biogeographic patterns in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico Hard Bank Communities. S. Fredericq, PI/PD & N. Phillips , RI .

1998. Educational Specialist for the Biology program at University of Hawaii.

1992-97. Research Assistant, Botany Dept. University of Hawaii , Honolulu , HI. Project: Molecular Characterization of Hawaiian Species in the Pan-Tropical genus Sargassum Office of Naval Research (Dr. C. M. Smith).

1990-92. Teaching Assistant, Botany Dept., University of Hawaii.

1986-89. Research Assistant, Tiburon Center for Environmental Education, San Francisco State University at Tiburon, CA. Research: Macro-algal monitoring program, United States Geological Survey (Dr. M. Josselyn).

1986-89. Teaching Assistant, Sonoma State University.

1985. Teaching Assistant, Sonoma State University. Program: West Coast Energy Development.

1986. Aquatic Specialist. Contra Costa School District Environmental Studies Summer Program.

Publications

2004. Phillips, N., Smith, C. M., and Morden, C. W. Speciation patterns and colonization events in Hawaiian Sargassum (Phaeophyta, Fucales). Eur. J. Phycology (submitted).

2004. Phillips, N., Morden, C., Smith, C. M. Determination of the closet lineage and testing systematic concepts of Sargassum (Fucales, Phaeophyceae) with portions of the Rubisco Operon. Phycological Research (In press).

2001. Phillips, N., Morden, C., Smith, C. M. An effective DNA extraction protocol for brown algae. Phycological Research 49: (97-102).

2000. Fredericq S., N. Phillips & B. Gavio. Observations on the macroalgae inhabiting deep-water hard bank communities in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico . Gulf of Mexico Science 18(2): 12-28.

2000. Phillips, N. and S. Fredericq. Biogeographic and Phylogenetic Investigations of the Pan-Tropical Genus Sargassum (Fucales, Phaeophyceae) with Respect to Gulf of Mexico Species. Gulf of Mexico Science 18(2): 77-87.

2000. Holm, E.R., B.T. Nedved, N. Phillips, K.L. DeAngelis, M.G. Hadfield, and C.M. Smith. Temporal and spatial variation in the fouling of silicone coatings in Pearl Harbor , Hawaii . Biofouling 15:95-107.

1998. Phillips, N. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Hawaiian species of Sargassum . Ph.D. Dissertation. Botany Dept. University of Hawaii , Honolulu , HI .

1995. Phillips, N. Biogeography of Sargassum (Phaeophyta) in the Pacific Basin. In: I. A. Abbott. Taxonomy of Economic Seaweeds . Vol. 5. Pp. 107-44.

1989. Phillips, N. The function of salinity and temperature in the distribution of Mastocarpus papillatus in the San Francisco Bay . Masters Thesis, Sonoma State Univ., Rohnert Park CA .

Technical Reports

2001. Fredericq, S., N. Phillips, S.M. Lin, B. Gavio and F. Gurgel. List of the macroalgae collected during the annual monitoring cruise to the Texas Flower Garden Banks Marine Sanctuary (Texas A&M), pp. 65-71 in : Dokken, Q.R., I.R. MacDonald, J.W. Tunnell, Jr., C.R. Beaver, S. A. Childs, K. Withers & T.W.Bates. Long-term Monitoring of the East and West Flower Garden Banks, 1998-1999 . OCS Study MMS 2001-101, U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, New Orleans, Louisiana. 119 pp.

2000. Fredericq, S., N. Phillips, Showe-Mei Lin, B. Gavio and F. Gurgel. List of the macroalgae collected during the annual monitoring cruise to the Texas Flower Garden Banks Marine Sanctuary (Texas A&M) September 15-20, 1999.

1999. Fredericq, S. N. Phillips and B. Gavio. Preliminary list of the macroalgae collected during the Mineral Management Monitoring Cruise to Sonnier Bank June/July 1999.

1999. Phillips, N., S. Fredericq and B. Gavio. Preliminary characterization and species list of the macro-algae community collected during the June 1999 Stetson Bank, TX. Monitoring Cruise. Texas Flower Garden and Stetson Bank Sanctuary Program.

1989. Josselyn, M. and N. Phillips. Long term monitoring program: Regional element macro-algal component II. United States Geological Survey.

1988. Josselyn, M. and N. Phillips. Long term monitoring program: Regional element macro-algal component I. United States Geological Survey.