Education

Doctor of Philosophy, Zoology, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, March 1998.

Dissertation Title: Induced Triploidy in Lepomis Sunfish and Assessment of Uses for Triploid Hybrid Sunfish Using a Risk/Benefit Model. (Committee Chair; Robert J. Sheehan).

Master of Science, Zoology, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, December 1991.

Thesis Title: Evaluation of a Crayfish Polyculture System for the Midwest using Young-of-the-Year Stocking and Pond Circulation. (Committee Chair; Robert J. Sheehan).

Bachelor of Science, Aquatic and Fisheries Biology, University of Southwestern Louisiana, May 1987. (Advisor; Mark Konikoff). (USL is now called University of Louisiana at Lafayette)

Research / Professional Experience

Associate Research Professor, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University, July 2009 to present. Responsibilities same as below. Supervisor
Megan Davis.

Assistant Research Professor, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University, December 2007 to July 2009. Responsibilities same as below. Supervisor Megan Davis.

Assistant Research Scientist, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, November 2006 to December 2007. Provide project management for the joint USDA-ARS/HBOI project of Sustainable Tank Aquaculture Recirculating Research (STARR), including supervision of three research technicians. Develop extramurally funded research program in coordination with STARR project objectives. Provide educational outreach through courses taught at IRCC, and technical workshops. Provide supervision for a staff of six researchers and technicians conducting research, and a staff of three facilities maintenance personnel maintaining eight research buildings. Supervisor Megan Davis.

Adjunct Instructor, Indian River State College, January 2006 to present. Prepare and deliver lectures and Laboratory exercises for courses entitled “Water Quality, System, and Operations,” “Principles of Finfish Aquaculture,” and “Introduction to Aquaculture.”

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center, Department of Zoology, SIUC, Carbondale Il, June 2002 to Present. Serve on graduate committees, and provided advice and assistance to fisheries graduate students working toward their M.S. or Ph.D. degrees.

Manager, Logan Hollow Fish Farm, Murphysboro IL, June 2001 to November 2006. Managed day to day operation, and long-term planning for a 180+ acre commercial aquaculture facility employing 7 full time and up to 3 seasonal employees. Activities including: fish husbandry (spawning, rearing, feeding, water quality management, harvest, production record keeping, nuisance aquatic plant control, and disease diagnosis for up to 12 different species of freshwater sportfish); transfer of pond management information (e.g., fisheries management, and aquatic plant control) to pond owners; and new-product research and development. Owner Peter Reiff.

Researcher III, Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center, SIUC, Carbondale Il, January 1999 to June 2003 (June 2001 to December 2001, and August 2002 to June 2003 20% of time; January 2001 to July 2002 1% of time), Managed day to day operation including critical decision making for two separate grant funded research projects: 1) Illinois Trophy Muskellunge Project; and 2) Habitat Assessment of Pallid Sturgeon in the Middle Mississippi River. In association with these grants; performed surgical implantation of PIT tags and ultrasonic transmitters, performed ultrasonic telemetry studies in the Mississippi river; Studied methods for producing broodstock of muskellunge that yield all-female progeny; maintained fish in culture and in the laboratory; prepared progress reports, annual and project completion reports for funding agencies. Assisted in preparation of project proposals submitted for funding to various state and federal funding agencies. Supervisor Robert Sheehan.

Researcher II, Cooperative Fisheries Research Laboratory, SIUC, Carbondale Il, September 1995 to December 1998, Managed day to day operation including critical decision making for four separate grant funded research projects: 1) Habitat assessment of pallid sturgeon in the Middle Mississippi River; 2) Tolerance of fishes to hydraulic displacement; 3) Determinations of the fate of fish displaced from low-velocity habitats at low temperatures; 4) Saint Johns Basin and New Madrid Floodway fisheries survey. In association with these grants; performed surgical implantation of PIT tags and ultrasonic transmitters, performed ultrasonic telemetry studies in the Mississippi river; maintained fish in culture and in the laboratory; developed protocols for determining fishes tolerance to hydraulic disturbance at low temperatures, and analyzed fishes behavior related to simulated riverine structures at low temperature; collected fish using trap nets, gill nets, seines, and electrofishing gear, identified and maintained database of fish collected to assess relative value of fish habitat in a stream system; prepared progress reports and project completion reports for funding agencies. Supervisor Robert Sheehan.

Researcher I, Cooperative Fisheries Research Laboratory, SIUC, Carbondale Il, August 1989 to September 1995, assisted in data gathering, computer data entry, statistical analyses, and report writing on five separate grant funded research projects and one privately funded project: 1) Habitat assessment of pallid sturgeon in the Middle Mississippi River; 2) Effects of winter barge navigation on riverine fishes; 3) Induced stress in stocked game fish; 4) Culture of sunfish as food fish; and 5) Production techniques for crayfish in the Midwest. In association with these grants; conducted water quality analysis, blood hematology, laboratory critical thermal maxima tests on fish, assessed techniques for anesthetization of fishes, performed protein electrophoresis on fish and crayfish, performed surgical implantation of magnetic tags and ultrasonic transmitters, performed ultrasonic telemetry studies in the Mississippi river, performed histological analysis of fish gonadal tissue, and performed flow-cytometric analysis on fish tissues; maintained fish and crustaceans in culture and in the laboratory; collected fish using trap nets and electrofishing gear; developed protocols for chromosomal manipulations in sunfish, monitored fish activity using magnetic activity detection system (uses surgically implanted magnets to detect movements of fish), designed and built a 2500 gallon water recirculation system, designed and built four river models for low temperature studies of riverine fish behavior. Assisted in writing progress reports and project completion reports for funding agencies. Supervisor Robert Sheehan.

Research Assistant, Cooperative Fisheries Research Laboratory, SIUC, Carbondale Il, August 1987 to August 1989, assisted in data gathering, data entry, statistical analyses, and report writing on two separate grant funded research projects: 1) Pathology and etiology of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich) at Little Grassy State Fish Hatchery; and 2) Winter habitat requirements and overwintering of riverine fishes. In association with these grants; conducted water quality analysis, sampled fish in large rivers, backwater lakes, and fish culture ponds, using trap nets, gill nets, and electrofishing, conducted macroscopic and microscopic examinations of fish for parasites, prepared histological slides of fish tissues, maintained fish in culture for experimentation, and tested therapeutic treatments for Ich on fish. Supervisor Robert Sheehan.

Toxicology Laboratory Technician, Weintritt Testing Laboratories, Lafayette La, December 1986 to August 1987, supervised two other technicians, conducted median lethal toxicity tests on oil field drilling fluids, monitored water quality, maintained a laboratory population of test organisms (Mysidopsis bahia), prepared test fluids from samples and formulations provided by drilling companies, collected data and conducted statistical analyses, wrote reports of results for clients. Supervisor Donald Weintritt.

Researcher, Crawfish Research and Demonstration Center, University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, Louisiana, January 1986 to May 1986. Conducted research on the relative attractiveness of manufactured and natural baits to crawfish. Conducted water quality analysis, collected catch data from commercial crayfish traps in a commercial size crawfish pond, conducted statistical analysis of data, provided written summary report of findings to supervisor, Rusty Gaudé.

Teaching

Adjunct Faculty, Indian River State College, Fort Pierce, FL., Spring 2007 - Present. Prepared and delivered lectures and labs for two courses, FAS2412 “Water Quality, Systems, and Operations” and FAS2020 “Principles of Finfish Aquaculture” for the college’s Aquaculture Certification program. Each course was taught one semester per year. Prepared and delivered two lectures per semester for FAS1010 “Introduction to Aquaculture,” a team taught course offered two semesters per year.

Lecturer, Aquaculture Center For Training Education and Demonstration (ACTED), Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute - FAU, December 2007 – Present. Prepared and delivered lectures, hands-on training, and demonstrations of marine aquaculture techniques and systems as part of a team providing workshops and short courses geared toward stakeholders interested in beginning in aquaculture, or expanding their knowledge of aquaculture.
Workshop Titles: Opportunities in Aquaculture, 2 days, offered three time per year. (provide two Lectures)
Fish Culture Techniques, 3 days, offered once per year. (Coordinate workshop and provide 9 of 15 lectures)

Substitute Lecturer, Department of Biology, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, Spring 2009. BIO1500 – Introduction to Aquaculture. Delivered Lecture for Dr. Junda Lin while on sick leave.

Guest Lecturer, Department of Zoology, SIUC, Carbondale, Il., Fall 1999. Zoology 426 – Comparative Endocrinology. Delivered lecture on vertebrate endocrinology.

Biology Instructor, John A. Logan College, Carterville, Il, Spring 1993. Prepared and delivered lectures on Invertebrate Zoology at the community college level. Prepared and administered tests on the lecture material.

Guest Lecturer, Department of Zoology, SIUC, Carbondale, Il, Fall 1992. Zoology 426 – Comparative Endocrinology. Delivered lecture on invertebrate endocrinology.

Teaching Assistant, Department of Zoology, SIUC, Carbondale, Il, Fall 1992. Zoology 426 – Comparative Endocrinology, Laboratory. Prepared lessons and lectures for laboratory sessions. Prepared and carried out laboratory exercises. Assisted professor in setting up and administering laboratory practicum.

Intern Mentoring

HBOI Link Foundation Summer Intern Program 2007.
John Majoris. Title: Effects of hyperoxia on juvenile and market size aquacultured Florida pompano, Trachinotus carolinus.

2008. Max Davis. Title: Particulate size distribution of solids removed by three different solids removal devices in a recirculating aquaculture system.

2009. Lindsay Harris. Title: Temporal solids removal of a static bed filter in a saltwater recirculating aquaculture system.

HBOI/USDA-ARS Intern

2007. Fernando Cavalin. Title: Evaluation of four commercial rotifer enrichment diets on larval quality of aquacultured Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus).

Graduate Committees

Active: M.S. 1 (SIUC), Ph.D. 1 (FAU)
Completed: M.S. 4 (SIUC), Ph.D. 2(SIUC)

Publications

Weirich, C.R., P.S. Wills, R.M. Baptiste, and M.A. Riche. in prep. Effect of culture density on production characteristics and body composition of market size cobia reared from juveniles in recirculating aquaculture systems.

Wills, P.S., and C.R. Weirich*. in prep. Comparative Efficacy of Isoeugenol (Aqui-Stm) and MS-222 as Anesthetics for Handling Florida Pompano at two salinities.

Sims, D.W., A.M. Kelly, and P.S. Wills. in submission. Effect of different feed habituation methods on survival and feed habituation success of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides under commercial production conditions. North American Journal of Aquaculture.

Weirich, C.R., P.S. Wills, R.M. Baptiste, P.N. Woodward, and M.A. Riche. 2010. Production Characteristics and Body Composition of Juvenile Cobia Fed Three Different Commercial Diets in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems. North American Journal of Aquaculture 72:43-49.

Pfeiffer, T.J., P.S. Wills. 2009. A Low-Head Saltwater Recirculating Aquaculture System Utilized for Juvenile Red Drum Production. International Journal of Recirculating Aquaculture. 10:1-24. (Invited paper)

Weirich, C.R., P.S. Wills, R.M. Baptiste, P.N. Woodward, and M.A. Riche. 2009. Production characteristics and body composition of Florida pompano reared to market size at two different densities in low-salinity recirculating aquaculture systems. North American Journal of Aquaculture 71:165-173.

Colombo, R.E., J.E., Garvey, and P.S. Wills. 2007. A guide to the embryonic development of the shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus), reared at a constant temperature. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 23:402-410

Colombo, R.E., J.E. Garvey, and P.S. Wills. 2007. Gonadal development of the shovelnose sturgeon and sex specific demographics in the middle Mississippi river. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 23:420-427.

Nuevo, M., R. J. Sheehan, P. S.Wills. 2004. Age and growth of the bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (Richardson 1845) in the middle Mississippi River. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 160:215-230.

Hurley, K.L., R.J. Sheehan, R.C. Heidinger, P.S. Wills, and B. Clevenstine. 2004. Habitat use by middle Mississippi river pallid sturgeon. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 133:1033-1041.

Colombo, R.E., P.S. Wills, and J.E Garvey. 2004. Use of ultrasound imaging to determine sex of shovelnose sturgeon. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 24:322-326.

Benjamin J. Reading, Paul S. Wills, Roy C. Heidinger & Edward J. Heist. 2003. Development of microsatellite markers for muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) and cross-species amplification in two other Esocids. Molecular Ecology Notes 3:447-449.
Wills, P.S., R.J. Sheehan, R.C. Heidinger, B.L. Sloss, and R. Clevenstein. 2002. Differentiation of pallid sturgeon and shovelnose sturgeon using an index based on meristics and morphometrics. Pages 249-258 in W. Van Winkle, P.J. Anders, D.H. Secor, and D.A. Dixon, editors. Biology, management and protection of North American sturgeon. American Fisheries Society, Symposium 28, Bethesda, Maryland.

Bodensteiner L.R., Robert J. Sheehan, Paul S. Wills, Alan M. Brandenburg, William M. Lewis. 2000. Flowing Water: an effective treatment for Ichthyophthiriasis. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health 12:209-219.

Wills, P.S., R.J. Sheehan, and S.K. Allen, Jr. 2000. Reduced Reproductive Capacity in Diploid and Triploid Hybrid Lepomis Sunfish. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 129:30-40.

Wills, P.S., R.J. Sheehan, R.C. Heidinger, B.M. Burr, and M. Nuevo. 1998. Range expansion for the golden topminnow, Fundulus chrysotus (Günther), and its rediscovery in Missouri. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 13:253-254.

Wills, P.S., J.M. Paret, and R.J. Sheehan. 1995. Pressure induced triploidy in hybrid Lepomis. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 25:507-511.

Bodensteiner, L.R., R.J. Sheehan, W.M. Lewis, P.S. Wills, and R.L. Herman. 1993. Effects of Repetitive Formalin Treatments on channel catfish juveniles. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health 5:59-63.

Pfeiffer, T., and P.S.Wills. 2010. Use of a Micro Programmable Logic Controller for Oxygen Minotoring and Control in Multiple Tanks of a Recirculating Aquaculture System. Pages 55-56 in Rakestraw, T.T., and L.S. Douglas, editors. Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Recirculating Aquaculture, Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State College, Roanoke, Virginia.

R. Baptiste, Pfeiffer, T., and P.S.Wills. 2010. Foam Fractionation Efficiency for Particulate Matter Removal from a Low Salinity, Lowhead Recirculating Aquaculture System Utilized for the Culture of Red Drum, Sciaenops ocellatus. Pages 128-130 in Rakestraw, T.T., and L.S. Douglas, editors. Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Recirculating Aquaculture, Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State College, Roanoke, Virginia.

Pfeiffer, T., and P.Wills. 2008. Low-head recirculating aquaculture system for juvenile red drum production. Pages 137-138 in Rakestraw, T.T., L.S. Douglas, L. Marsh, L. Granatta, and G.J. Flick, editors. Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Recirculating Aquaculture, Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State College, Roanoke, Virginia.

Sheehan, R.J., R.C. Heidinger, P.S. Wills, M.A. Schmidt, G.A. Conover, and K.L. Hurley. 1999. Guide to the pallid sturgeon shovelnose sturgeon character index (CI) and morphometric character index (mCI). SIUC Fisheries Bulletin No. 14. Fisheries Research Laboratory, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois.

Wills, P.S., R.J. Sheehan, and W.T. Davin. 1997. The white river crayfish, Procambarus acutus. in P. Brown, and J. Gunderson, editors. Culture Potential of Selected Crayfishes in the North Central Region. North Central Regional Aquaculture Center Technical Bulletin 112.

Sheehan, R.J., P.S. Wills, and W.T. Davin. 1991. Crayfish production: a promising enterprise for the Midwest. Pages 219-225 in D. Garling, ed. Proceedings of the 1991 North Central Aquaculture Conference. North Central Regional Aquaculture Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.

Tetzlaff, B.L., and P.S. Wills. 1991. Current trends in the culture of hybrid sunfish. Pages 214-218 in D. Garling, ed. Proceedings of the 1991 North Central Aquaculture Conference. North Central Regional Aquaculture Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.

P.S. Wills, R. Baptiste, C. Robinson, F. Maldonado. 2010. Development of Intensive Recirculating Aquaculture Technology to Produce Phase-III Red Drum: Final Report. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 322 pp.

P.S. Wills, M. Davis, R. Baptiste, C. Robinson, B.M. Davis. 2008. Implementing Florida’s New Saltwater Hatchery Network Initiative: Final Report. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 142 pp.

Heidinger, R.C., R.J. Sheehan, P.S.Wills, M. Schmidt, B. Reading, and A. Miller. 2003. Illinois trophy muskellunge project. F-141-R. Project Completion Report. Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 20 pp.

Sheehan, R.J., R.C. Heidinger, P.S. Wills, and N. Jackson. 2002. Middle Mississippi River pallid sturgeon habitat use project. Year 5 progress report. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 86 pp.

Sheehan, R.J., R.C. Heidinger, P.S. Wills, M. Nuevo, and M.A. Schmidt. 1998. St. Johns basin and New Madrid floodway fisheries survey: Final Report. Project completion report. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 138 pp.

Sheehan, R.J., and P.S. Wills, M.A. Schmidt, and J.M. Hennessey. 1998. Task 8.1: Determinations of the fate of fish displaced from low-velocity habitats at low temperatures. Project Completion Report. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 34 pp.

Sheehan, R.J., and P.S. Wills, M.A. Schmidt, and J.M. Hennessey. 1998. Task 8.3: Determinations of the tolerance of fish in low-velocity habitats to hydraulic disturbance at low temperatures. Project Completion Report. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 18 pp.

Sheehan, R.J., W.T. Davin, P.S. Wills, S. Shasteen, L. Allen, and G. Conover. 1992. Induced stress in stocked game fish. F-106-R. Project completion report. Illinois Department of Conservation. 216 pp.

Sheehan, R.J., W.M. Lewis, L.R. Bodensteiner, and P.S. Wills. 1989. Pathology and etiology of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis at Little Grassy Hatchery. F-75-R. Project completion report. Illinois Department of Conservation. 115 pp.

Weirich, C., and P. Wills. 2008. Production of cobia in recirculating systems: First year results of studies conducted by USDA-ARS and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute researchers show promise. Fish Farming News 15(2):

Weirich, C., and P. Wills. 2008. Producing cobia in recirculating systems. Florida Aquaculture 66:3.
Wills, P.S., and T. Pfieffer. 2007. Prototype design for juvenile red drum production. Fish Farming News 14(5):24.

Weirich, C.R., P.S. Wills, R.M. Baptiste, P. N. Woodward, and M.A. Riche. 2007. Production characteristics of Florida pompano reared to market size at two different densities in low salinity RAS. Fish Farming News 14(5): 22.

Wills, P.S., and M.A. Riche. 2007. Program update: USDA-ARS and HBOI joint sustainable marine aquaculture research program. Fish Farming News 14(3):26-28.

Wills, P.S., and P. Reiff. 2005. New Style of Truck Mounted Dissolved Oxygen Probe Boom. Hatchery International.

Presentations

Wills, P.S. Potential for the culture of crayfish and shrimp in Illinois. First annual meeting of the Illinois Aquaculture Industry Association, Springfield, Illinois, 1988.

Wills, P.S., R.J. Sheehan , L.R. Bodensteiner, and W.M. Lewis. Alternative Treatments for Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich) epizootics. 51st Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference and Annual Meeting of the North Central Division of the American Fisheries Society, Springfield, Illinois, December 3-6, 1989.

Sheehan, R.J., L.R. Bodensteiner, W.M. Lewis, D.E. Logsdon, P.S. Wills, and S.D. Scherck. Winter habitat requirements and overwintering of riverine fishes. 51st Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference and Annual Meeting of the North Central Division of the American Fisheries Society, Springfield, Illinois, December 3-6, 1989.

Bodensteiner, L.R., R.J. Sheehan, W.M. Lewis, D.E. Logsdon, and P.S. Wills. Sampling for determining fish habitat guilds in large rivers during the winter. 27th Annual Meeting of the Illinois Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, LaSalle, Illinois, February 28 to March 2, 1989.

Bodensteiner, L.R., R.J. Sheehan, W.M. Lewis, and P.S. Wills. Increased Water velocity as an alternative to chemicals for treating Ichthyophthirius multifiliis epizootics. Meeting, American Fisheries Society Fish Health Section and Midwest Fish Health Workshop, Bloomington, Minnesota, July 16-19, 1990.

Wills, P.S., R.J. Sheehan, and J.M. Paret. Induced triploidy in Lepomis sunfish and their hybrids. 53th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Des Moines, Iowa, November 30 to December 4, 1991.

Sheehan, R.J., P.S. Wills, and W.T. Davin. Crayfish production: a promising enterprise for the Midwest. Presented at the North Central Aquaculture Conference, Kalamazoo, Michigan March 18-21, 1991. (Invited)

Davin, W.T., P.S. Wills, and R.J. Sheehan. Potential for crayfish culture in Southern Illinois. 2nd Midwest Crayfish Conference, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, March 14, 1991. (Invited)

Davin, W.T., R.J. Sheehan, and P.S. Wills. Induced stress in stocked game fish. Presented at the 1992 Coolwater Fish Culture Workshop, Carbondale, IL., January 6-8, 1992. (Invited paper)

Davin, W.T., R.J. Sheehan, and P.S. Wills. Induced stress in stocked game fish. Presented at the Joint Meeting of the Illinois and Iowa Chapters of the American Fisheries Society, Waukegan, IL., February 10-13, 1992.

Davin, W.T., R.J. Sheehan, P.S. Wills, S. Shasteen. Does pretreatment with anesthetics reduce stress in stocked game fishes? Joint Meeting of the Illinois and Iowa Chapters of the American Fisheries Society, Bettendorf, Iowa, February 16-18, 1993.

Sheehan, R.J., L.M. Paret, P.S. Wills, and S.D. Scherck. Triploid induction and growth performance of Lepomis sunfish parental species, Hybrid, and triploid hybrids at five temperatures from 8μ C to 28μ C. 123rd Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society, Portland, Oregon, August 29 to September 2, 1993.

Hurley, K. L., R. J. Sheehan, R. C. Heidinger, P. S. Wills, M. A. Schmidt, and G. A. Conover. Pallid sturgeon habitat use in the Middle Mississippi River. Mid-Year MICRA Meeting, Saint Louis, Missouri, 1996.

R.J. Sheehan, R.C. Heidinger, P.S. Wills, and M. Schmidt. Middle Mississippi River pallid sturgeon habitat study: a preliminary report. Mississippi River Cooperative Research Association Biannual Meeting. Spirit Lake, IA., April 22-23, 1996, (Invited)

R.J. Sheehan, R.C. Heidinger, P.S. Wills, and M. Schmidt. Middle Mississippi River pallid sturgeon habitat study: a preliminary report. Upper Mississippi River Research Consortium Annual Meeting. La Cross, WI., April 25-26, 1996. (Invited)

Hurley, K.L., R.J. Sheehan, R.C. Heidinger, P.S. Wills, and M. Schmidt. 1996. Middle Mississippi River pallid sturgeon study: first year update. Mississippi River Cooperative Research Association Biannual Meeting. St. Louis, MO., October 31, 1996. (Invited)

Hurley, K. L., R. J. Sheehan, R. C. Heidinger, P. S. Wills, M. A. Schmidt, and G. A. Conover. Middle Mississippi River pallid sturgeon movements and habitat associations. 59th Annual Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1997.

Hurley, K. L., R. J. Sheehan, R. C. Heidinger, P. S. Wills, M. A. Schmidt, and G. A. Conover. Pallid sturgeon habitat associations and movements in the Middle Mississippi River. Mid-Year Technical Section Meeting, Lower Mississippi River Conservation Committee, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, 1997.

Hurley, K., R.J. Sheehan, R.C. Heidinger, P.S. Wills, M.A. Schmidt, and G.A. Conover. Habitat use by pallid sturgeon in the middle Mississippi river. Illinois Chapter of the American Fisheries Society 1997 Annual Meeting, Collinsville, Illinois, March 4-6, 1997.

Wills, P.S., S.K. Allen, Jr., and R.J. Sheehan. Sperm production, histology, and relative DNA content in gonadal tissues from diploid and triploid hybrid Lepomis sunfish. Illinois Chapter of the American Fisheries Society 1997 Annual Meeting, Collinsville, Illinois, March 4-6, 1997.

R.J. Sheehan, R.C. Heidinger, P.S. Wills, and M. Schmidt. Status of the pallid sturgeon in the Middle Mississippi River. Upper Mississippi River Research Consortium Annual Meeting. March 11, 1997. (Invited)

R.J. Sheehan, R.C. Heidinger, P.S. Wills, M. Schmidt, and Keith Hurley. Status of the pallid sturgeon in the Middle Mississippi River. Annual Meeting of the Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Research Association, Hot Springs, Arkansas, May 4-5 1997. (Invited).

Sheehan, R.J., R.C. Heidinger, P.S. Wills, K. Graham, M.A. Schmidt, and K.L. Hurley. Middle Mississippi River pallid sturgeon status, protection, and enhancement. Mid-year Fisheries Technical Section Meeting, Lower Mississippi River Conservation Committee Meeting, Cape Girardeau, MO, July 15-16, 1997. (Invited).

Wills, P.S., S.K. Allen, Jr., and R.J. Sheehan. Sperm production, histology, and relative DNA content in gonadal tissues from diploid and triploid hybrid Lepomis sunfish. American Fisheries Society 127th Annual Meeting, Monterey, California, August 24-28, 1997.

Hennessy, J.M., R.J. Sheehan, P.S. Wills, and M.A. Schmidt. Effects of increased navigation traffic on overwintering fish: fate of fish displaced from low-velocity habitats. 18th Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, San Francisco, CA, November 18, 1997.

Sheehan, R.J., J.M. Hennessy, J.M. Paret, and P.S. Wills. Selection of Sunfish Species. North Central Regional Aquaculture Conference. Columbia, Missouri, February 24-26, 1999 (Invited).

Nuevo, M.A, R.J. Sheehan, R.C. Heidinger, and P.S. Wills. St. Johns Basin and New Madrid Floodway Fisheries Survey. Illinois Chapter of the American Fisheries Society 1999 Annual Meeting, Utica, Illinois, February 23-25, 1999.

Wills, P.S., R.J. Sheehan, and Roy C. Heidinger. Differentiating Pallid Sturgeon, Shovelnose Sturgeon, and their Hybrids in the Middle Mississippi River Using a Character Index. 61st Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Chicago, Illinois, December 5-8, 1999.

Sheehan, R.J., R.C. Heidinger, P.S. Wills and B.L. Sloss. Management implications of pallid sturgeon research. Joint Meeting of the LMRCC and UMRCC, Cape Girardeau, MO. March 21-22, 2000 (Invited).

Sheehan, R.J., R.C. Heidinger, P.S. Wills and B.L. Sloss. Management implications of pallid sturgeon research. Biology Seminar Series, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO. May 2, 2000(Invited).

Wills, P.S., R.J. Sheehan, R.C. Heidinger, and B.L. Sloss. Differentiation of Pallid Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus and Shovelnose Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus using an index based on meristics and morphometrics. in Biology, Management and Protection of Sturgeon a Symposium. American Fisheries Society 130th Annual Meeting, St. Louis, Missouri, 20-24 August 2000.

Wills, P.S. Determination of sterility in triploid hybrid sunfish by examination of gonadal tissues. Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries. University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Pine Bluff, AR. November 29, 2000.

Wills, P.S. Induced Triploidy in Lepomis Sunfish and Assessment of Uses for Triploid Hybrid Sunfish Using a Risk/Benefit Model. Department of Biology. Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN. December 1, 2000.

Wills, P.S. Roles of induced sterility and gender control in Midwestern aquaculture. Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. January 24, 2001.

Wills, P.S. Robert J. Sheehan 1950-2002, A synopsis of his professional life and accomplishments. Illinois Chapter of the American Fisheries Society 41st Annual Meeting, Benton, IL. March 4-6, 2003 (Invited).

Spier, T., J.E. Garvey, R.C. Heidinger, R.J. Sheehan, P.S. Wills, and K. Hurley. Demographics and habitat usage of pallid sturgeon in the Middle Mississippi River. Illinois Chapter of the American Fisheries Society 41st Annual Meeting, Benton, IL. March 4-6, 2003.

Benjamin J. Reading, Paul S. Wills, Roy C. Heidinger & Edward J. Heist. Evidence for a polyfactorial sex determination system in muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) based on gynogenesis, amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis, and microsatellite derived recombination frequencies. Illinois Chapter of the American Fisheries Society 41st Annual Meeting, Benton, IL. March 4-6, 2003.

Eve C. Poynter, Ryan L. Lane, Anita M. Kelly, Christopher C. Kohler and Paul S. Wills. Triglyceride and their constituent fatty acid metabolism of sunshine bass Morone chrysops x M. saxatilis fed graded levels of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids during swimming activity. Aquaculture America 2005, New Orleans, Louisiana, January 17 - 20, 2005.

Wills, P.S. Elucidation of the genetic sex-determination mechanism in muskellunge and production of mono-sex fish stocks for aquaculture. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Fort Pierce, FL. September 2006.

Echols, R.F., Kelly, A.M., Green, C.C., Wills, P.S. The Role of Previous Experience with Piscivory and Exposure to Fish Predators on Survival of Walleye Sander vitreus Fingerlings. AFS Southern Division Annual Meeting. Memphis, Tennessee, February 7-11, 2007.

Wills, P.S., and T. Pfeiffer. Prototype Recirculating Aquaculture System Design for Juvenile Red Drum Production as Part of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Hatchery Network Initiative. 3rd International Sustainable Marine Fish Culture Conference. Fort Pierce, Florida, October 15-17, 2007.

Weirich, C.R., P.S. Wills, R.M. Baptiste, P.N. Woodward, and M.A. Riche. Production Characteristics of Florida Pompano Reared to Market Size at Two Different Densities in Low Salinity Recirculating Aquaculture Systems. 3rd International Sustainable Marine Fish Culture Conference. Fort Pierce, Florida, October 15-17, 2007.

Wills, P.S., and C.R. Weirich*. Comparative Efficacy of Aqui-Stm and MS-222 as Anesthetics for Handling Florida Pompano. Caribbean and Latin American Aquaculture 2007. San Juan, Puerto Rico, November 6-9, 2007.

Weirich, C.R., P.S. Wills, R.M. Baptiste, P.N. Woodward, and M.A. Riche. Production Characteristics of Florida Pompano Reared to Market Size at Two Different Densities in Low Salinity Recirculating Aquaculture Systems. Caribbean and Latin American Aquaculture 2007. San Juan, Puerto Rico, November 6-9, 2007.

Shawl A., J. Scarpa, S. Laramore, P. Wills and M. Davis. Aquaculture education programs at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. Aquaculture America 2008. Lake Buena Vista, Florida, February 9-12, 2008.

Weirich, C.R., P.S. Wills, R.M. Baptiste, P.N. Woodward, F.G. Cavalin, D.D. Benetti and M.A. Riche. Production characteristics of juvenile cobia fed three different commercial diets in recirculating aquaculture systems. Aquaculture America 2008. Lake Buena Vista, Florida, February 9-12, 2008.

Pfeiffer, T., and P. Wills. Low-head recirculating aquaculture systems for juvenile red drum production. 7th International Workshop on Recirculating Aquaculture. Roanoke, VA, July 25-27, 2008. 

Wills, P.S., T. Pfeiffer, and M.Davis. Use of recirculating aquaculture systems to increase production and quality of hatchery reared juvenile red drum for marine stock enhancement. 138th Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society. Ottawa, Canada. August 17-22, 2008 (invited).

Weirich, C.R., P.S. Wills*, R. Baptiste, and M. Riche. Production of juvenile and sub-adult cobia in recirculating aquaculture systems. 138th Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society. Ottawa, Canada. August 17-22, 2008 (invited).

M.B. Davis, T.J. Pfeiffer, and P.S. Wills. Particle size distribution and removal efficiency for three types of clarifiers in a warm-water, low-salinity, recirculating aquaculture system for juvenile red drum culture. Aquaculture America 2009. Seattle, Washington, February 15-18, 2009.

Pfeiffer, T.J., and P.S. Wills. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated with Direct Energy Inputs for a Warmwater Low-salinity Recirculating Aquaculture Systems. Aquaculture America 2009. Seattle, Washington, February 15-18, 2009.

Weirich, C.R., P.S. Wills, R.M. Baptiste, and M.A. Riche. Effect of culture density on production characteristics and body composition of market size cobia reared from juveniles in recirculating aquaculture systems. Aquaculture America 2009. Seattle, Washington, February 15-18, 2009.

Wills, P.S., T. Pfeiffer, R. Baptiste, C. Robinson, and M. Davis. Maximizing production densities in marine recirculating aquaculture to rear advanced juvenile red drum for stock enhancement. 139th Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society. Nashville, Tennessee August 30-September 3, 2009.

Wills, P.S., T. Pfeiffer, and M. Riche. Production of Florida pompano Trachinotus carolinus in low salinity systems. Aquaculture 2010. San Diego, Ca. March 1-5, 2010. (Invited)

Wills, P.S., T. Pfeiffer, C. Robinson, and R. Baptiste. Optimization of feed rates and rearing densities for production of advanced juvenile red drum in recirculating aquaculture systems for stock enhancement. Aquaculture 2010. San Diego, Ca. March 1-5, 2010. (Invited)

Pfeiffer, T., and P.S. Wills. An evaluation of a micro programmable logic controller for oxygen monitoring and control in tanks of a recirculating aquaculture system. Aquaculture 2010. San Diego, Ca. March 1-5, 2010.

Pfeiffer, T., P.S. Wills, and M. Riche. Design, loading, and water quality in recirculating systems for low salinity finfish species at the USDA ARS sustainable marine aquaculture systems facility (Fort Pierce, Florida). Aquaculture 2010. San Diego, Ca. March 1-5, 2010. (Invited)

Pfeiffer, T., and P.S.Wills. Use of a Micro Programmable Logic Controller for Oxygen Minotoring and Control in Multiple Tanks of a Recirculating Aquaculture System. Eighth International Conference on Recirculating Aquaculture, Roanoke, Virginia, August 20-22, 2010.

R. Baptiste, Pfeiffer, T., and P.S.Wills. Foam Fractionation Efficiency for Particulate Matter Removal from a Low Salinity, Lowhead Recirculating Aquaculture System Utilized for the Culture of Red Drum, Sciaenops ocellatus. Eighth International Conference on Recirculating Aquaculture, Roanoke, Virginia, August 20-22, 2010.

Riche, M.A., T.J. Pfeiffer, P.S. Wills, J.J. Amberg, and M.S. Sepulveda.  2010. Inland marine fish culture in low-salinity recirculating aquaculture systems.  The Present and Future of the Aquaculture Industry.  The 39th Scientific Symposium of the UJNR Aquaculture Panel, October 25-26, 2010. Kagoshima University, Japan.

(* indicates presenting author when not presented by primary author)

Posters

Colombo, R.E., J.E. Garvey, and P.S. Wills. 2004. A Guide to the embryologic development of the shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus). Annual meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Norman, OK, May 26-31, 2004.

Grants and Awards

Andrew J. Boehm Fellowship, Sport Fishing Tackle Manufacturers Association.
Title: Testing of a Risk/Benefits Assessment Protocol for Triploid Fishes. September 1993 through August 1994. Research Fellowship Award: $3200.00

Dissertation Research Award, Southern Illinois University, Award: Tuition and Monthly Stipend. (Awarded Twice)

Richard E. Blackwelder Award in Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Department of Zoology: Annual department-wide award presented for outstanding accomplishments in scholarship, research, teaching, publication, service, and/or leadership. Award: Choice of a Book

Pallid sturgeon microsatellite library. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998.
R.J. Sheehan, R.C. Heidinger, P.S. Wills, and B.L. Sloss. $10,000

Saint Johns Basin and New Madrid Floodway Fisheries Survey. Army
Corps of Engineers, Memphis District. July 1997-June 1998. Sheehan R.J.,
R.C. Heidinger, and P.S. Wills. $58,575

Effects of hydraulic displacement on river fishes. U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE), St. Louis District. July 1997-October 1997.
R.J. Sheehan and P.S. Wills. $18,000

Effects of winter navigation on fish. USACE. and the National Biological
Service. November 1995 through November 1996. R.J. Sheehan
and P.S. Wills. $38,760

Illinois Trophy Muskellunge Project. USFWS and Illinois DNR, Federal
Aid in Sportfish Restoration. 1999-2003. Heidinger, R.C., R.J. Sheehan,
and P.S. Wills. $500,000

Engineering and Production Strategies for Sustainable Marine Aquaculture. USDA- ARS. October 2007 to October 2012. Megan Davis and P. S. Wills. $450,000±/yr

Implementing Florida’s New Saltwater Hatchery Network Initiative. Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. August 2007- December
2008. P.S. Wills and Megan Davis. $500,000

Development of Intensive Recirculating Aquaculture Technology to
Produce Phase-III Red Drum. November 2008-December 2009.
P.S. Wills and Megan Davis. $250,000

Consulting/ Outreach

Ralston Purina International Inc., Saint Louis, MO., Determine characteristics of 1997
production of a Siberian strain of Artemia sp. including hatch rates, biometrics, and productivity under culture conditions.

Arctic Inc., Chicago, IL., Determine Hatch Rates for 1998 production of a Siberian strain of Artemia sp.

Mid-Continental Fisheries Inc., Johnston City, IL., Train workers on techniques for production of blue catfish, channel catfish, sunfish, and largemouth Bass. Provide disease diagnostic services, and troubleshoot problems with routine fish culture procedures for various FW species. The Illinois Trophy Muskellunge Project at SIUC. Presentation for the Shawnee Muskie Hunters 2001 annual banquet. March 25, 2001. Carbondale, Illinois.

Three Rivers Environmental Assessments, Murphysboro, IL., Wrote opinion on design of a production facility for non-game fishes to be stocked as part of a mitigation project on the West Branch Dupage River.

Professional American Fisheries Society
Affiliations World Aquaculture Society
United States Aquaculture Society
AFS - Fish Culture Section
Florida Aquaculture Association

Professional Development

Past-President, Southern Illinois University Subunit of the Illinois Chapter of AFS (SIUSIAFS).

Past-Editor, AFS Fisheries Management Section Newsletter.

Associate Editor, North American Journal of Aquaculture, AFS, 2010-present.

Peer Reviews Journal Articles: Transaction of the American Fisheries Society (3), North American Journal of Aquaculture (The Progressive Fish Culturist) (7), Journal Northwest Science (2), Aquaculture Research (1). Book Reviews: Tissue and Cell (1). Grant Proposals: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (2), North Central Regional Aquaculture Center (2)

Presentation Judge, 61st Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Chicago, Illinois, December 5-8, 1999.

Board Of Directors, Illinois Aquaculture Industry Association. 2004-2006

Member, Industry Advisory Council (IAC) of the North Central Regional Aquaculture Center (NCRAC). 2004 - 2006

Participant, Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force's Asian Carp Working Group to develop a National Asian Carp Management Plan. 2004.

Steering Committee Member, 3rd International Sustainable Marine Fish Culture Conference. Fort Pierce, Florida, October 15-17, 2007.

HBOI-FAU Representative for Florida Marine Fisheries Enhancement Initiative’s Marine Fish Production Workgroup. 2008 to present.

USAS/WAS Awards Committee, member, US Aquaculture Society. 2008 to present.

Board of Directors, Florida Aquaculture Association, 2009 to present.

Certifications / Continuing Education

U.S. Coast Guard certification in Boating Safety and Seamanship
NAUI, Openwater I, SCUBA Diver.
Fish Health and Condition Assessment Workshop, 27 July 1994, AFS, 7.5 CEU
American Heart Association CPR certification

Computer Skills

Advanced user of many office productivity software titles (e.g., MS-Office components).

• SAS (VM/CMS and PC).
• Former User/LAN Administrator/AIS liaison for SIU-Information Technologies to the Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center at SIU (SIU-FIAC).
• Provided PC Hardware/Software support and repair service for SIU-FIAC and SIU Department of Zoology.
• Former HTTP/FTP server administrator for SIUSIAFS web site.
• Constructed and maintain wired/wireless Ethernet network for Logan Hollow Fish Farm’s office.
• Developed POS (point of sale) system and programmed an integrated sales records database using MS-Access for Logan Hollow Fish Farm.
• Developed Excel spreadsheets for maintaining organization of orders received by Logan Hollow Fish Farm
• Assisted in web site development for Logan Hollow Fish Farm (www.loganhollow.com) published online March 2006.
• Designed, built, and programmed (in ladder logic) a PLC based oxygen monitoring and control system for Recirculating aquaculture systems at HBOI-FAU USDA-ARS research facility Fort Pierce, FL.

References

Available upon request