Sean Patrick Grace                                                 
Department of Biology
Southern Connecticut State University
501 Crescent Street
New Haven , Connecticut 06515
Tel.: (203) 392-6216
Fax: (203) 392-5364
e-mail: graces2@southernct.edu

Education

Philosophy of Doctorate (2004); Department of Biological Sciences,
University of Rhode Island
Major Advisor: Dr. Emily Carrington
Dissertation:   "Coral-Alga Interactions in Narragansett Bay "

Master of Science, Zoology (1996); Department of Biological Sciences,
University of Rhode Island
Major Advisor: Dr. Saran Twombly
Thesis:   "The Effects of Water Flow on the Temperate Coral Astrangia poculata "

Bachelor of Science, Biology (1991); University of Maryland , College Park , Maryland

Research interests

Environmental physiology of animals and plants; physical, chemical and biological factors affecting marine communities.

Teaching experience

January 2004 - Present. Assistant Professor, Certification Coordinator.   Department of Biology, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven , Connecticut .                

BIO100: General Zoology
BIO430: Marine Biology
BIO512: Marine Invertebrate Ecology
BIO561: Graduate Seminar Special Topics: Marine Biology

January 2001 - June 2004.   Instructor, tenure track .   Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Salve Regina University , Newport , Rhode Island .  

SCI101: Student-oriented Interdisciplinary Mathematics and Statistics
SCI104: Earth Science
SCI105: Integrated Science with Computers
SCI300: Environmental Sciences
BIO111/112: General Biology I and II
BIO140: Humans and the Environment
BIO200: Botany
BIO205/206: Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II
BIO260: Marine Biology
BIO310: Ecology
BIO471: Advanced Biology Seminar

June2002 - August 2002: Lead Instructor.   Cornell University , Shoals Marine Laboratory.   Tropical Marine Science, Akumal , Mexico .

Coral Biology and Coral Reef Algae

January 2001 - December 2003. Adjunct Instructor.   University of Rhode Island , Providence , Rhode Island .

BIO104B: General Animal Biology
BIO260: Ecology

September 2001 - May 2002. Adjunct Instructor .   Department of Biology, Roger Williams University , Bristol , Rhode Island .  

SCI100:   Core Science Laboratories

January 1995 - December 2000. Laboratory Coordinator/Teaching Assistant.   Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island , Kingston ,    Rhode Island .  

BIO104B: General Biology
BIO210/211: Human Anatomy I and II
BIO457: Marine Ecology
BIO418: Marine Botany
BIO465: Phycology

September 1996 - August 2003. Adjunct Instructor.   Bristol Community College .   Fall River , Massachusetts .  

BIO110: Human Reproduction
BIO220: Introduction to Nutrition
BIO100: Introductory Biology
BIO230: Physiology of Wellness
BIO109/110: Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II

January 1997 - May 1997. Instructor.   East/West Marine Biology Program, Northeastern University, Discovery Bay Marine Lab , Jamaica , West Indies .

Coral Biology and Coral Reef Ecology.

Professional/research experience

June 2001 - August 2001. Coral Reef Ecologist/Biologist .   American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).   Responsible for collection, analysis and dissemination of biodiversity data on Bahamanian coral reef communities (Summer 2000). Supervisor: Dr. Christopher B. Boyko

September 1996 - May 1997. Research Assistant. Department of Ecology and Evolution, Brown University , Providence , Rhode Island .   Responsible for set-up, collection and statistical analysis of sub-tidal field data. Supervisor: Dr. Jon Witman.

March 1992 - December 1994. Faculty Research Assistant. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland , Horn Point Environmental Lab,Cambridge , Maryland . Responsible for the set-up, data acquisition, and statistical analysis of underwater and long-term monitoring projects throughout the northeast coast of New England , Florida Keys and Jamaica . Supervisor: Dr. Kenneth P. Sebens

Grants

2004. Web-based guide to marine invertebrates. Curriculum Related Project Proposal Grant.         Southern Connecticut State University . $2,472.00

2004. Student oriented mathematics and statistics, learning strategies for environmental science majors. Salve Regina University . Eisenhower Professional Development    Program. Co-Directed with Dr. William Stout and Dr. Sandor Kadar .   $83,249

2001. Student oriented mathematics and statistics, learning strategies using calculator- and   microcomputer-based laboratories. Salve Regina University . Eisenhower Professional   Development Program. Co-Directed with Dr. William Stout and Dr. Sandor Kadar .    $64,178.

1999. Stanford University 's Hopkins Marine Station Summer Student Scholarship. Packard   Foundation, $2,500.   To cover expenses for Biomechanics and Ecological Physiology of Intertidal Communities course.

1999. Effects of water flow on Laminaria species: size, morphology and survival .                   Phycological Society of America Grants in Aid of Research, $800.

1999. Wilce Award for Best Student Poster Presentation .   Northeast Algal Symposium, $75.

1999. Natural Variation in Scleractinian Coral . Collection Study Grant, American Museum of Natural History , New York , $1000.

1998.   Semester off campus; learning and research opportunities for juniors and seniors. United States Department of Agriculture: Challenge Grant. Co-Authored with Dr.Conrad Recksiek. $69,000 (not funded).

2001, 2000, 1999, 1998.   Department of Biological Sciences Graduate Study Award,         University of Rhode Island . $600.

1997. Coral distributions on a temperate reef. Sigma-Xi Grants in Aid of Research, $600.

1996. Effects of water flow on the in situ growth and diet of the temperate coral Astrangia poculata (Scleractinia).   Lerner-Gray Grant for Marine Research, American Museum of Natural History , New York , $1033.

Research Presentations

Benthic Ecology Meeting .   Orlando, Florida, March 2002.   "Life history phases and the biomechanics of Chondrus crispus ". Co-authored with E. Carrington and T. Chopin.  

Benthic Ecology Meeting .   Durham , New Hampshire , March 2001. "Algal abrasion: one competitive mechanism affecting temperate algal-coral interactions".

Benthic Ecology Meeting .   Durham , New Hampshire , March 2001.   "Benthic habitats as proxies for other levels of biodiversity:   Preliminary results from taxonomic surveys in a Bahamanian Coral Reef Ecosystem". (Poster) Co-authored with D. R. Brumbaugh, P.A. Mikkelsen, C. B. Boyko, P. Barile, G. Hendler, B. Lapointe, C. Van Pattengill-Semmens, and B. X. Semmens.

Benthic Ecology Meeting .   Wilmington , North Carolina , March 2000.   "Temperate coral survivorship in algal dominated areas, does morphology matter"?  

Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology . Atlanta , Georgia , January 2000. " Laminaria saccharina in mussel beds, holding on for dear life". (Poster)

Northeast Algal Symposium . Plymouth , Massachusetts , April 1999.   " Laminaria saccharina in mussel beds, holding on for dear life".   (Poster)

Benthic Ecology Meeting . Baton Rouge , Louisiana , March 1999. "Coral/algal competition on a temperate reef".  

Benthic Ecology Meeting .   Melbourne , Florida , March 1998. "The effects of water flow on the in situ growth of the temperate coral Astrangia poculata" . (Poster)

Benthic Ecology Meeting . Portland , Maine , April 1997. "The effects of water flow on the laboratory and in situ feeding of the temperate coral Astrangia poculata" .  

Awards

1995. Bermuda Biological Station for Research Student Scholarship. Exxon Corporation, $1,500.   To cover expenses for Molecular Ecology of Marine Symbiosis course.

1999. Wilce Award for Best Student Poster.   $100.00. Northeast Algal Symposium Meeting, Plymouth , Massachusetts .

Invited seminars

Northeastern University, Marine Science Center , Nahant , Massachusetts , May 1999.   "Invertebrate/Alga Competition on a Temperate Reef".

Roger Williams University , Bristol , Rhode Island , April 2003.   "Coral-kelp competition on shallow subtidal reefs in Narragansett Bay " .

Publications

Witman, J.D., S. Genovese, S.P. Grace , F. Smith, and J. Bruno. (1997) Effects of the               North Cape oil spill on benthic fauna and flora communities on Nebraska Shoals. Technical report for ASA Environmental, Narragansett, Rhode Island .

Sebens, K. P., S. P. Grace , B. S. Helmuth, E. J. Maney Jr., and J. S. Miles. (1998) Water flow and prey capture by three scleractinian corals Madracis mirabilis , Montastrea    cavernosa , and Porites porites : in a field enclosure. Ma rine Biology. 131: 346-360.

Grace, S. P. (1999) Laminaria saccharina in mussel beds, holding on for dear life.   American Zoologist. 39 (5): 103A.

Carrington, E., S. P. Grace and T. Chopin. 2001.   Life history phase and the biomechanical       properties of the red alga Chondrus crispus (Rhodophyta).   Journal of Phycology 37: 699-704.

Publications in Review and Preparation

Grace, S. P. The effects of water flow on the feeding biology of the temperate scleractinian        coral Astrangia poculata .   Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology     (Submitted December 2002; in revision December 2004).

Grace S. P.   (in prep).The distribution and morphology of the temperate coral Astrangia                 poculata in Narragansett Bay . Coral Reefs.

Grace S. P. and E. Carrington (in prep). The effects of algal abrasion by Chondrus crispus       and Laminaria saccharina on temperate coral polyp activity and survivorship.   Marine         Biology.

Grace, S. P. and E. Carrington. (in prep).   Consequences of morphology and increasing water   flow on the competitive ability of the red alga Chondrus crispus . Journal of Phycology.

Sebens, K. P., J. Witman, and S. P. Grace (in prep). Experimental analysis of early      community development in deep rocky subtidal habitats in the Gulf of Maine , U.S.A.        Deep Sea Biology.

SERVICE ACTIVITIES

Spring 2004 - Present.   Biology Club - Faculty Advisor