Brief Curriculum Vitae (see PDF for full version)
Christopher M. Groff
EDUCATION
College of William and Mary Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS)
Ph.D. Marine Science (continuing)
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Ph.D. Marine Biology (2018-2021; candidacy 2020)
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences
M.S. (Thesis) Freshwater Science and Technology (Benthic Ecology)—August 2016
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
B.S. Biological Sciences, Conservation and Environmental Science—December 2012
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Graduate Research Assistant, January 2022-Present Patrick Coastal & Estuarine Ecology Lab, Biological Sciences Department, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Major Projects: Thresholds in Ecosystem Responses to Rainfall Gradients (TERRG) (Funding: National Science Foundation).
Graduate Research Assistant, August 2019-December2021 Hogan Fish Conservation Lab, Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Major Projects: Thresholds in Ecosystem Responses to Rainfall Gradients (TERRG) (Funding: National Science Foundation).
Graduate Research Assistant, June 2018-March 2019 Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Research Associate, January 2018-June 2018 Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Adjunct Instructor (Biology 120), August 2017-December 2017 Carroll University (Waukesha, WI)
Divemaster, December 2016-May 2017 Aqua Adventures Eco Divers, Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Research Technician III—Fisheries Ecology, June 2016-December 2016 Janssen Laboratory, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences
Major projects: Biological assessment for Milwaukee Harbor “Green Breakwall” artificial habitat installation (Funding: U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers), side-scan sonar harbor mapping (Funding: Milwaukee Harbor District), assistance to instructor in ichthyology course
Graduate Research Assistant, August 2013-May 2016 Kaster Benthic Ecology Laboratory, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences
Major Projects: Benthic habitat quality assessment in Green Bay, Lake Michigan in response to organic pollution with special regard to Hexagenia mayfly recolonization (thesis project; Funding: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation); investigation of relationship between giant freshwater microbialites, non-native dreissenid mussels, and cultural eutrophication due to tourism increases in Laguna Bacalar, Quintana Roo, MX (Independently applied for grant, coordinated/conducted research; Funding: PADI Foundation Research Grant); design and construction of automated aquaponic systems rearing Australian Redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) and cultivating produce (Funding: University of Wisconsin Catalyst Grant)
Wildlife Technician, April 2012-October 2012 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR)
Animal Research Technician—June 2012-October 2012 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Biological Science Aid, March 2011-May 2012 United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ARS)
VOLUNTEER/SYNERGISTIC ACTIVITIES
· Smithsonian Institute Tennenbaum Marine Observatories Network MarineGEO-Texas Bio Blitz, 2019
· University of Texas Marine Science Institute—Summer Science program, 2018
· Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies—Sink Your Shucks oyster shell recycling program, 2018
· Benthic Ecology Meeting Society—Presentation Judge, 2018
· PADI Project AWARE/Action for Isla Earth Day Ocean Cleanup—Diver, 2017
· Society for Freshwater Science—Student Moderator, 2015 Annual Conference
· National Ocean Science Bowl—Research Presenter, 2014-2015
· Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources—Wisconsin Unionid Mussel Survey (Cedar Creek, Grafton, WI), Grey Wolf Howling Survey (Sandhill State Wildlife Refuge, Babcock, WI), Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Sampling/Deer Harvest Registrar (Paddock Lake, WI), 2012
· Milwaukee Urban Ecology Center—Butlers Garter Snake Mark/Recapture Program, 2012
· Alliance for the Great Lakes—Adopt a Beach (Bradford Beach, Milwaukee, WI), 2010
PUBLICATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, & MEDIA
Groff, C. M., Kinard, S.K., Hogan, J. D., Whiles, M. R., Vander Zanden, H. B., Ulseth, A. J., Reese, B. K., Strickland, B. A., Carvallo, F., Jenkins, V., Solis, A. T., Groff, D. A., Frazier, C., Brown, C. L., and Patrick, C. J. Food webs under a changing climate: Do precipitation regime and top-down controls drive fish community composition and trophic structure in Texas coastal streams? Proceedings of the Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting—Grand Rapids, MI, May 2022.
Groff, C. M., Patrick, C. J., Kinard, S.K., Whiles, M. R., Vander Zanden, H.B., Ulseth, A. J., Reese, B. K., Strickland, B. A., Carvallo, F., Jenkins, V., Solis, A. T., Corbiere, D. A., Frazier, C., Brown, C. L., and Hogan, J. D. Food webs under a changing climate: Do precipitation regime and top-down controls drive community composition and trophic structure in Texas coastal streams? Proceedings of the Society for Freshwater Science Annual Conference—Virtual, May 2021
Groff, C. M., Kinard, S. K., Patrick, C. J., and Hogan, J. D. Species functional trait-environment interactions as potential drivers of fish community structure in Texas coastal streams. Proceedings of the Texas A&M University Marine Biology Interdisciplinary Program Annual Retreat—Galveston, TX, January 2020.
Kaster, J.L., C.M. Groff, J.V. Klump, D. Rupp, S. Iyer, A. Hansen, S. Barbour, and L. Hall. 2018. Evaluation of Lower Green Bay benthic fauna with emphasis on re-ecesis of Hexagenia mayfly nymphs. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 15:4C.
Groff, C.M. and Kaster, J.L. 2017. Survival, growth, and production of Hexagenia bilineata mayflies in fluidized sediment from lower Green Bay, Lake Michigan. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 43:1:102-107.
Groff, C.M. and Kaster, J.L.Dreissenid Mussels, Freshwater Microbialites, and Nutrient Enrichment in Mexico's Laguna Bacalar. Proceedings of the 59th Annual Conference on Great Lakes Research—Guelph, ON, May 2016
Groff, C.M. and Kaster, J.L. Potential Recolonization of Hexagenia mayflies to lower Green Bay, Lake Michigan. Proceedings of the Midwest Fisheries Commission Meeting—Cleveland, WI, March 2016
Groff, C.M. and Kaster, J.L. Potential for Re-colonization by Hexagenia Mayflies in Green Bay, Lake Michigan. Proceedings of the 58th Annual Conference on Great Lakes Research—Burlington, VT, May 2015
Groff, C.M. and Kaster, J.L. Potential for Re-colonization by Hexagenia Mayflies in Green Bay, Lake Michigan. Proceedings of the Society for Freshwater Science Annual Conference—Milwaukee, WI, May 2015
Groff, C.M. and Kaster, J. L. Re-colonization of the Hexagenia Mayfly to Lower Green Bay, Lake Michigan: Exploring New Methods to Aid in the Revitalization of an Anthropogenically Degraded Freshwater Ecosystem. Proceedings of the 57th Annual Conference on Great Lakes Research—Hamilton, ON, May 2014
Kaster, J. L., Groff, C. M. Re-establishment of Hexagenia Mayflies in Lower Green Bay, Lake Michigan. Proceedings of the Joint Aquatic Sciences (JASM) Conference—Portland, Or, May 2014
UWM Scientists Working to Reintroduce Mayflies into Green Bay (Dr. Jerry Kaster and Christopher Groff). WUWM Public Radio interview by Tom Luljak—July 24, 2014.
Groff, Chris and Kaster, Jerry. 'How Healthy is Green Bay? The Mayflies Know' UWM Press, 'Features-Research'. Ed Legge, December 4, 2013. uwm.edu/news/how-healthy-is-green-bay-the-mayflies-know
Kaster, J., Groff, C., Hall, L., Hansen, A. 2013. Potential for en masse re-establishment of the mayfly Hexagenia in lower Green Bay, Lake Michigan using limnoforming. REU Report. School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Shepherd, B.S., Rees, C.B., Groff, C., Goetz, F.W., Binkowski, F.P. Effects of Dietary Estrogen Treatment on Growth and Feed Intake in Yellow Perch (Percaflavescens). Proceedings of the 10th International Congress on the Biology of Fish. Madison, WI July 15-19 2012.
LaBuhn, S., C. Burrows, C. Groff, N. Neureuther, S. Schaal, and J. Volk. Chemistry and preliminary coliform microbial communities in Laguna Bacalar, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Proceedings of the International Stromatolite Symposium—Bacalar, Quintana Roo, MX, January 2012.
SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS, & AWARDS
· VIMS Foundation Fellowship, 2022-2023
· TAMUCC Marine Biology Program Research Assistantship, 2020-2021
· Andy Sheldon Fund—Society for Freshwater Science, 2020
· Student Scholarship—Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, 2019
· Graduate Scholarship—Coastal Conservation Association-Texas, 2018
· Richard A. Herbert Memorial Scholarship—American Water Resources Association, 2015
· Paul W. Rogers Scholarship—International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR), 2015
· Boesel-Sanderson Award—Society for Freshwater Science, 2015
· PADI Foundation Research Grant—Professional Association for Dive Instructors, 2015
· UWM School of Freshwater Sciences Student Scholarship, 2014 & 2015
· UWM Graduate School Student Travel Award, 2014
· Richard P. Howmiller Graduate Award—UW Milwaukee Dept. of Biological Sciences, 2014
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES & ORGANIZATIONS
· Society for Freshwater Science (SFS), 2015-2016, 2020-present
· American Association for Underwater Science (AAUS), 2018-present
· Divers’ Alert Network (DAN), 2018-2021
American Fisheries Society (AFS) Texas Chapter, 2018-2019
· Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Texas Chapter, 2018-2019
· Professional Association for Dive Instructors (PADI), 2017- 2018
· American Water Resources Association (AWRA), 2015-2016
· International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR), 2014-2016
CERTIFICATIONS
· AAUS Scientific Diver, June 2019
· PADI Nitrox/Enriched Air Diver, June 2018
· AAUS Scientific Diver in Training, April 2018
· DAN CPR & First Aid for Professional Divers, (renewed) February 2022
· PADI Divemaster, March 2017
· PADI Rescue Diver, January 2017
· PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, October 2016
· University of Wisconsin System Scientific Diver, July 2014
· PADI Open Water Diver, October 2012
· Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Chainsaw Safety Operator, July 2012