FAU Announces First Faculty Member at Harbor Branch

FORT PIERCE, FL (June 21, 2005) - Florida Atlantic University recently welcomed Dr. Edward Proffitt as the first faculty member stationed at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (HBOI) campus in Fort Pierce. Proffitt, former chief of the Wetlands Ecology Branch for the National Wetlands Research Center (NWRC) in Lafayette, LA, comes to FAU with an extensive background in marine ecology and scientific leadership. His expertise plays an important role in the FAU/HBOI Marine Science Partnership that is currently expanding with the construction of a research and teaching facility at the HBOI campus.

Proffitt's research specialties include mangrove and salt marsh ecology and restoration, genetic ecology, effects of hurricanes on ecological systems and plant-animal interactions. While at the NWRC, which is part of the U.S. Geological Survey, Proffitt led the biology team that responded to Hurricane Mitch in Central America. There, Proffitt's team conducted studies of hurricane disturbance effects and recovery of mangroves, seagrasses, soft corals and shrimp populations.

"I saw this position at FAU as an opportunity to be a part of a rapidly growing marine science program in an area with a great number of unique natural resources and ecosystems," said Proffitt. "With projections indicating rapid population growth for the Treasure Coast region, more research is needed in order to assure the wise stewardship of our marine and estuarine environments."

FAU and Harbor Branch have been partners in marine education and research for more than a decade. "The new facility expands what has been in place for years. There are FAU students here right now in the Semester by the Sea program and graduate-level students are also here conducting research," said Proffitt. The Semester by the Sea program is a semester-long immersion into a unique variety of hands-on marine science courses. All courses are accredited by FAU and take advantage of Harbor Branch's unique resources and staff.

"Because of the great opportunities presented by this growing partnership and the exceptional nature of the Indian River Lagoon, this region will become even more of a focal point for marine and estuarine research than it currently is," said Proffitt.

Dr. Edward Proffitt, associate professor of biology in FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, may be contacted at 772-465-2400, ext. 569 or cproffit@fau.edu or eproffitt@hboi.edu.

Also note, Dr. Donna Devlin, a research scientist affiliated with the HBOI-FAU partnership, will be conducting a study of estuarine restoration in association with Proffitt and colleagues from the USGS. A second full-time FAU faculty member, Dr. Ed Orlando, is expected to arrive at HBOI in August.

-FAU-