TEAM
WHO WE ARE
The core team is based out of the CERC.OCEAN lab headed by Dr. Douglas Wallace, Professor in the Department of Oceanography at Dalhousie University, located in Halifax, Canada.
The team is a mixed bag of scientists, engineers, and technologists, all with one common interest -
developing and adapting existing technology for ocean research and exploration.
"Human pressures and dependency on the ocean are now global in scope, and extending deeper.
What happens in a very distant part of the ocean—or atmosphere, for that matter—can affect us in Canada very directly.
And at the same time, the waters and ecosystems off Canada play an enormously significant role
for the well-being and economies of Canada and the World."
Dr. Douglas Wallace, ROBOTS.FISH Principal Investigator
SCIENTISTS
DOUG WALLACE
Principal Investigator
EDUCATION
PhD (Oceanography) - Dalhousie University
BSc (Environmental Science) - University of East Anglia
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Currently, Doug is the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Ocean Science and Technology as well as a Professor in Chemical Oceanography at Dalhousie. He is also the Scientific Director of the Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response Network (MEOPAR). See here for a full list of his professional experience.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Doug's research is focused on the interface between the atmosphere and the ocean and the exchanges between the two media. Realizing that instrumentation is a key part of understanding this interface, Doug is also highly interested and invested in ocean technology (e.g. AUVs!).
ALLISON CHUA
Project Lead
EDUCATION
MASc (Metallurgical Engineering) - Dalhousie University
BEng (Mechanical Engineering) - Dalhousie University
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Before beginning her PhD, Allison was a Production Engineer at Irving Shipbuilding for two years. She has also worked in the oil and gas and biomedical engineering industries.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
ROBOTS.FISH forms the basis of Allison's PhD work, and thus is her main research interest. Broadly speaking, though, her interest is in addressing the challenge of taking useful measurements that can characterize oceanic events that change in three dimensions and over time.
TEALA CHAMBERS
ROV Science Lead
EDUCATION
BSc Hon (Ocean Sciences) - Dalhousie University
+ Minor (Indigenous Studies)
+ Certificate (Environmental Impact Assessment)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Both Teala’s undergraduate thesis and her time as a research assistant in the CERC.OCEAN lab has permitted her to learn about and work with ROVs. She has also organized and assisted in running ROV workshops for high school and university students.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Teala is currently doing an MSc in Oceanography at Dalhousie University, where her research involves the use of novel technology to explore the distribution of redox sensitive elements in a coastal anoxic basin. Beyond this work, she hopes to continue to explore her passions in marine biogeochemistry, tech, and science communication to support useful and accessible environmental research.
ENGINEERS & TECHNOLOGISTS
AARON MACNEILL
Electrical
Engineering Lead
EDUCATION
PhD (Electrical Engineering) - Dalhousie University
MASc (Electrical Engineering) - Dalhousie University
BEng (Electrical Engineering) - Dalhousie University
Certificate of Applied Science - Acadia University
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Currently, Aaron is working as an Electrical Engineer in Dalhousie's CERC.OCEAN lab. He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Dalhousie.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Aside from AUVs, Aaron's research interest is focused in ocean technology, including offshore power systems and embedded systems. He is currently focused on work with the SeaCycler project.
PIOTR KAWALEC
Mechanical
Engineering Lead
EDUCATION
BEng (Mechanical Engineering) - Dalhousie University
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Currently, Piotr is working as a Mechanical Engineer in Dalhousie's CERC.OCEAN lab. He comes to us from the Faculty of Engineering at Dalhousie.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Although he has far more experience in design work above rather than below the water's surface, Piotr has never met a mechanical system he couldn't resist re-designing. This includes the SeaCycler, which is currently his chief responsibility.
MIKE VINING
Electronics Lead
(Former)
EDUCATION
Dip. (Electrical and Electronics Engineering) - Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Mike worked on this project as a Research Assistant in Dalhousie's CERC.OCEAN lab. His past experience includes stints at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography (BIO), Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), and Rolls-Royce Marine. He is currently working at BIO (until we manage to steal him back again...)
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Mike's hands-on industry experience makes him the go-to person for pretty much every piece of oceanographic equipment in any lab. Working closely with Aaron, Mike was - and still is! - a key member of the SeaCycler team.
REFERENCES
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Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University. (2023). CERC.OCEAN. Retrieved from https://www.dal.ca/diff/cerc.html
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Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University. (2023). CERC.OCEAN: Doug Wallace. Retrieved from https://www.dal.ca/diff/cerc/people/staff/wallace.html
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Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University. (2023). CERC.OCEAN: SeaCycler. Retrieved from https://www.dal.ca/diff/cerc/research/SeaCycler.html
Last revised: February 27, 2023