Dr. Caroline Fortunato is a microbial ecologist and postdoctoral scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA. Her research focuses on the phylogenetic and functional diversity of microbial communities from gradient-driven ecosystems, including coastal oceans and the deep sea. Caroline received her Ph.D. in 2012 from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental … Continued
Josh is the morning shift supervisor for this cruise. A contractor with the ROPOS team since 2011, Josh has filled the roles of navigator, ROV pilot, and shift supervisor. With over 10 years of experience with a variety of ROV operations, Josh has piloted 5 different inspection class and 4 different work class ROV systems. … Continued
Peter is a Mechanical ROV Technician with Highland Technologies/Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility. He will provide technical support of the hydraulic and mechanical systems on ROPOS, and he will act as a pilot and manipulator operator. He will also provide integration support for mechanical aspects of the science equipment being installed on ROPOS. Peter has been … Continued
Julie Huber is a Senior Scientist in the Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Director of COBRA (Crustal Ocean Biosphere Research Accelerator). She studies microbial life in deep-sea crustal ocean habitats, including hydrothermal vents, seamounts, and volcanoes. These microbes provide critical ecosystem services such as primary production to … Continued
Andy Robertson is the video communications specialist with Ocean Networks Canada. During both legs of this expedition Andy will be producing informational videos, photographing daily activities, and facilitating ship to shore communications and social media outreach. As part of a larger documentary project, he will also be conducting in-depth interviews with researchers and crew to … Continued
Rénald Belley is a PhD candidate in Marine Biology at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and he is working with the Canadian Healthy Ocean Network. He is studying the small animals living within and on the muddy seafloor, from 100 to 2,500 meters below the surface of the ocean. He wants to … Continued
Karen Douglas is a GIS Specialist and part of the Ocean Networks Canada Data Stewardship and Operations Support Team. She is responsible for the provision of geospatial services for ONC including mapping; route planning; bathymetric data collection and processing; and geospatial data products; as well as for the maintenance of geospatial data in the database. Karen has … Continued
Françoise Gervais joined NEPTUNE Canada in 2011 as marine ecosystems and biodiversity specialist, helping to catalogue deep sea species. She has published NEPTUNE Canada’s first Marine Life Field Guide. After earning her master’s in environment and ecology from Laval University, Françoise worked on a variety of conservation projects prior to joining NEPTUNE Canada. Always willing … Continued
Jackson Chu is a Ph.D. student at the University of Victoria and a member of the Canadian Healthy Oceans Network (CHONe). He’s a marine biologist with a passion for learning about the unusual animals found at the bottom of the ocean. Jackson has primarily used remotely operated vehicles to study animal communities found in the coastal … Continued
Keith is the General Manager of the ROPOS team. During this cruise he will be overseeing the ROPOS crew as the operational supervisor, as well as acting as a pilot and manipulator operator. Keith began working with research submersibles in 1981, by piloting manned submersibles to depths of 2000 metres. Over the years, Keith’s work … Continued
