NICOLAS EVENSEN Department of Biological Sciences Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA 23529 USA
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Community ecology of corals and benthic competitors
Disturbance and recovery dynamics of coral reefs
The effects of climate change on coral reefs
Coral reproduction, early life history, and population dynamics
Coral reef assisted recovery and restoration
CURRENT POSITION 2019-Present Postdoctoral research associate - Lead postdoctoral researcher on an NSF-funded project, studying the thermal tolerance of reef-building corals. Old Dominion University, VA.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS 2015-2019 The University of Queensland, Australia, Ph.D. in Biological Sciences. Thesis: Bottlenecks of coral recruitment on degraded reefs supervised by Professor P.J. Mumby 2012-2015 California State University, Northridge, USA, M.S. (Distinction) in Biology. Thesis: The effects of ocean acidification on species interactions among scleractinian corals supervised by Professor P.J. Edmunds 2008-2011 University of Newcastle, UK, B.S. (Hons) in Marine Biology.
RESEARCH & TEACHING EXPERIENCE 2016-2018 Tutor/Demonstrator, The University of Queensland Marine Ecology and Conservation (BIOL3215), Marine Biology Field Studies (MARS2005), Stanford and University of California International Programs 2014 Teaching Assistant,California State University, Northridge Biology 106L, Biological Principles 2012-2013 Graduate research assistant,California State University, Northridge Data mining, image analysis & database management with Dr. Peter J. Edmunds 2011-2012 Research Intern, Radioecology Lab, International Atomic Energy Agency Microscopy work, analysis & identification of particles produced by plankton in relation to carbon flux in the oceans with Dr. Juan-Carlos Miquel
SCIENTIFIC SKILLS & EXPERIENCE Fieldwork – 8 years of research experience around the Indo-Pacific (Palau, French Polynesia, Great Barrier Reef, Djibouti) and Red Sea (Eilat, Saudi Arabia), with >200hrs of research dives and >500hrs of overall diving experience. Extensive experience driving small vessels around coral reefs and conducting field work in remote locations. Experience with pneumatic power-tools (coral coring) and using hammers, chisels, and other similar tools (to build/fix objects to reefs) underwater Experimental – Aquarium experiments (thermal stress, ocean acidification, coral settlement), coral spawning and larval rearing, large-scale underwater manipulation (caging/nutrient enrichment studies), bacterial assays, and sample collections for genetic, genomic, and nutrient analysis Laboratory – seawater carbonate chemistry analysis and manipulation, coral and symbiont physiology (Diving-PAM, Imaging-PAM, Symbiodium counts, protein assays, Chl pigment analysis, photosynthesis, respiration, and calcification using TA anomaly and buoyant weight techniques) Statistical – Univariate and multivariate statistical modelling (R, Primer with perMANOVA). demographic modelling (MATLAB)
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS Evensen NR, Fine M, Perna G, Voolstra CR, Barshis DJ. Can acute thermal exposures be used to determine the response of corals to chronic thermal stress events? The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences 50th Anniversary, 2019, Eilat, Israel. Evensen NR, Doropoulos C, Morrow KM, Motti CA, Mumby PJ. Inhibition of coral settlement at multiple spatial scales by a pervasive algal competitor. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting 2018, New Orleans, LA. Evensen NR, Bozec Y-M, Edmunds PJ, Mumby PJ. Quantifying the effects of ocean acidification on the recovery of coral communities. 13th International Coral Reef Symposium, 2016, Honolulu, HI. Evensen NR, Edmunds PJ. The effects of ocean acidification on competitive interactions among corals in a simulated coral community. Western Society of Naturalists 2014 Annual Meeting, Tacoma, WA. Evensen NR, Edmunds PJ. Altered competitive interactions between corals in a high pCO2 environment. Western Society of Naturalists 2013 Annual Meeting, Oxnard, CA. Miquel JC, Martín J, Gasser B, Tolosa I, Evensen NR, Fiorini S. Carbon Fluxes and Sources of Organic Matter in Late Summer in the Southern Beaufort Sea. International Polar Year Conference 2012 “From Knowledge to Action”. Montréal, Canada.
GRANT & AWARDS 2015-2019 University of Queensland Research Scholarship (UQRS) ($69,500) 2015 2nd place at CSUN Annual Student Research Symposium ($125) 2014 California State University, Thesis support Grant ($1000) 2014 2nd place at CSUN Annual Student Research Symposium ($125) 2014 California State University, Associated Students Research Funding ($2000)
OUTREACH 2015 Education officer Musée Océanographique de Monaco, Monaco Raising awareness and educating children and adults about marine conservation
2013-2014 Community outreach Atitia Center & Gump Field Station, Moorea Educational visits for local Polynesian school groups
STUDENT SUPERVISION 2018Max Robinson, Undergraduate research project 2016 Thea Bradford, Undergraduate research project
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS International Coral Reef Society (2013-2020) Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (2020) Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (2015-2019) Ecological Society of America (2018) Australian Coral Reef Society (2015-2016) Ecological Society of Australia (2015-2016) Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales (2015-2016) Western Society of Naturalists (2012-2015)
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS PADI Open Water SCUBA Instructor AAUS scientific diver Nitrox diver First Aid, Advanced Resuscitation, and CPR Outboard engine boat licence (from Monaco, Palau and Australia) Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency (Australia)
LANGUAGES English: writing, reading, speaking French: writing, reading, speaking Italian: conversational, some writing & reading