Vandersea is an environmental scientist for NCCOS at the Beaufort Laboratory, Beaufort, North Carolina. In a nutshell, the work he does could be described as using molecular tools to conduct environmental forensics. Vandersea’s research efforts have been concentrated on the development of molecular assays as tools for studying the ecology and physiology of harmful algal species and fish pathogens. The molecular assays are used to investigate HAB species ecology and to develop predictive models and forecasts. Currently, he is studying microalgae that produce toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning, a disease caused by consuming contaminated shellfish.
2002-present: Environmental Scientist, NOAA / NOS Beaufort Laboratory
2000-2002: ORISE Fellowship, NOAA / NOS Beaufort Laboratory
1998-2000: Research Specialist, Med University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.