image: This is Heidi N. Sosik. view more
Credit: Heidi N. Sosik
The Oceanography Society (TOS) congratulates Dr. Heidi M. Sosik (Senior Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) on her selection as as a Fellow of The Oceanography Society. The citation on Dr. Sosik's certificate recognizes her for outstanding contributions to phytoplankton ecology, sensor development and graduate and undergraduate ocean science education. Dr. Sosik will be formally recognized on February 13, 2018, during a ceremony at the Ocean Sciences Meeting in Portland, Oregon.
In his nominating letter for Dr. Sosik, Dr. James Yoder writes "She is not only an excellent researcher, teacher and mentor, but also is a co-inventor/developer of the Imaging FlowCytobot, an instrument that added an important new capability for the in situ study of marine microbes in aquatic environments and the coastal ocean in particular." In one notable example, in 2008 scientists from Texas A&M University deployed this instrument and provided early warning of harmful algal blooms (HABs) on the Texas coast. Local health agencies used this information to decide on which shellfish harvesting areas should be closed in order to prevent shellfish-related human illnesses.
Another supporting letter states, "Sosik is a biological oceanographer with a rare suite of talents. The scientific rigor of her work is unrivaled and the breadth of her work spanning all scales of biological organization and involving instrument development, laboratory experimentation, field studies, and theory, stems from a rare intellect that is equally at home in science and engineering. In Sosik we have the collective expertise usually realized only via teams of specialists. She is more than worthy of becoming a TOS Fellow."
Dr. Sosik received an S.B. in Civil Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1987, an S.M. in Civil Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1988, and a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of California, San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1993.
###
The TOS Fellows program recognizes individuals who have attained eminence in oceanography through their outstanding contributions to the field of oceanography or its applications during a substantial period of years. The next nomination deadline is October 31, 2018. To learn more about The Oceanography Society and the TOS Fellows program, visit: https://tos.org/tos-fellows.
The Oceanography Society (TOS) was founded in 1988 to advance oceanographic research, technology, and education, and to disseminate knowledge of oceanography and its application through research and education. TOS promotes the broad understanding of oceanography, facilitates consensus building across all the disciplines of the field, and informs the public about ocean research, innovative technology, and educational opportunities throughout the spectrum of oceanographic inquiry. TOS welcomes members from all nations. Any individual, business, or organization interested in ocean sciences is encouraged to join and to participate in the activities and benefits of the society.