Bio

Thomas Noji

74 Magruder Road
Highlands, NJ  USA  07732
T: 202-482-6090

Thomas.Noji@noaa.gov

After completing his B.A. in the USA, Dr. Noji conducted his graduate studies in Germany and received his Ph.D. in biological oceanography at the University of Kiel in 1987.  Engaged as an oceanographic researcher at the University of Kiel in Germany and at the Institute of Marine Research in Bergen, Norway until 2001, he then moved back to the USA to work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. For the last eight years he has been the Director of NOAA’s James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory in Sandy Hook, NJ, and the Chief of the Ecosystems Processes Division of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center.  He leads four environmental research branches (Oceanography, Marine Chemistry, Behavioral Ecology and Coastal Ecology) located in Sandy Hook, NJ; Woods Hole, MA; and Narragansett, RI.  Dr. Noji is deeply involved in the development and implementation of an ecosystem approach to marine research and management both nationally and internationally. He is a member of NOAA committees and advisory groups addressing implementation of an ecosystem approach, cold-water corals, habitat science in support of fish stock assessment, and biodiversity.  Until recently he was the chair of the ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Seas) Marine Habitat Committee, which included expert groups addressing the role of biodiversity for the sustainability of ecosystem products and services. Dr. Noji serves on several other international, national and regional advisory committees and has held graduate courses at Rutgers University on marine ecosystems research. In the course of his career, his personal research has focused on oceanic plankton ecology; harmful algae blooms; benthic-pelagic coupling; oceanic carbon pumps; marine biogeochemical cycles; marine contaminant transport; essential fish habitat; habitat mapping and classification; and effects of broad-scale hydrographic changes on ecosystem processes.