Academic Qualifications

Oct 2003 – Mar 2008:- PhD Marine Benthic Ecosystem Ecology.  Queen Mary, University of London.  Thesis entitled ‘Structure and flow of carbon to the western Irish Sea Nephrops norvegicus fishery: a stable isotope approach’. NERC funded studentship with CASE support from DARD (Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs) in Belfast, NI.

1998 – 2002:- BSc (Hons) Marine Biology (1st Class).  University of Plymouth.  Honors project: Impact of the Sea Empress oil spill on the macroinvertebrate communities of kelp holdfasts.

1999:- Marine Biology and Ecology summer course.  University Marine Biological Station Millport, Scotland, Voluntary participation to gain additional field and laboratory experience.

1997 – 1998:- Access to Science (Distinction).  Birkbeck College University of London,  Part time foundation course in Biology and Chemistry.

1991:- BA (Hons) Business Studies (1st Class).  Sheffield Hallam University.  Honors project: Environmental Auditing and Competitive Strategy.

Career Synopsis

August 2009 to present:- Marine Ecologist, Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd

February 2009 – August 2009:- Kingston University. Lecturer (part-time)
•    Undergraduate lecturer in Marine Ecology and Biology, Invertebrate Biology and Fisheries modules.  Teaching and lead on Marine Ecology field trip to Scotland.

March 2009 – August 2009:- Natural History Museum, Zoology Consultancy Faunal Analyst (part-time)
•    Marine benthic invertebrate sample picking, sorting and identification for consultancy projects in Zoology department.

July 2008 – August 2009:- Postdoctoral Research Assistant (part-time).  Queen Mary, University of London.  
•    Algal physiology research:  investigation of carbon acquisition methods in marine algae. Experimental and hypothesis driven research important to the understanding of the impact of ocean acidification on primary production in marine systems.

Oct 2003 – August 2009:- Lecturer and Teaching Assistant (part-time).  Queen Mary, University of London
•    For a range of undergraduate and MSc courses including Invertebrate identification field course, laboratory practical sessions in marine ecology and biology, microbiology, freshwater invertebrates and statistical techniques. Assisted supervision of undergraduate projects.

June 2002 - Aug 2003:- Research and Administrative Assistant to MBA Director.  Marine Biological Association (MBA)
Plymouth
•    Managed and coordinated preparation of international grant proposals, journal manuscripts and project reports. Liaised with internal academic staff and external project members regarding research project implementation and management. Fieldwork on a range of research projects: e.g. intertidal communities (MarClim project) and monitoring demersal fish populations. Presentation of marine exhibitions for ‘National Science Week’ to the public and school children.

Sept 2000 - Sept 2001:- Biology and Ecology Data Researcher.  Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN) Marine Biological Association
•    In-depth research on the biology, ecology and sensitivity to environmental change of marine species and habitats for publication on the Internet (http://www.marlin.ac.uk) to support marine environmental management and protection.

Jul - Sept 2000:- Spooner Student Bursary.  Marine Biological Association
•    MarLIN approach & biotope mapping to assess oil spill sensitivity

July - Sept 1999:- Information consultant to Hillingdon Hospital.  
•    Self Employed Consultant
•    Assisted hospital departments to improve data capture/reporting

1995 – 1998:-  Information & Contracts Manager.  The Hillingdon Hospital
•    Operational and strategic management of Information Department comprising five staff. Implemented and project managed major improvement to data capture and information provision to support hospital management and clinicians and to meet new governmental reporting requirements.

1991 – 1995:- University College London Hospitals
•    Information Officer  (Nov 1991-Aug 1992)
•    Senior Information Officer  (Sept 1992-Apr 1995)
•    Development of information and reporting systems.  Operational management of hospital activity reporting for business planning.

1989 – 1990:- Market Analyst  (1 year Business degree placement).  Gallaher Ltd  

Awards

Dec 2002:- Marine Biological Association
•    MBA Prize for best student in the 2002 Plymouth University BSc Marine Sciences year class.

July 2000:- Marine Biological Association
•    Spooner Student Bursary.  Project: Using the MarLIN approach to assess oil spill sensitivity.

1991:- Sheffield Hallam University  
•    Whitbread Prize for Corporate Strategy

Publications

Peer reviewed journals
Sims, D, Wearmouth, V., Southall, E., Hill, J.M. et al. 2006. Hunt warm, rest cool: bioenergetic strategy underlying diel vertical migration of a benthic shark. Journal of Animal Ecology, 75, 176–190.

Papers in preparation (target journals Marine Ecology Progress Series, Limnology & Oceanography)
Hill, J.M. Carbon flows through a benthic food web to the fishery for the commercially important
Nephrops norvegicus in the western Irish Sea.
Hill, J.M. Pelagic-benthic coupling in the western Irish Sea – a stable isotope approach.
Hill, J.M. Aspects of biology and ecology of Nephrops norvegicus revealed by stable isotope analysis.
Hill, J.M. Links between pelagic primary and secondary production in the western Irish Sea – insights from stable isotope analysis.

Contract Reports
Tyler-Walters, H., Marshall, C., Hiscock, K., Hill, J.M., Budd, G.C., Rayment, W.J. & Jackson, A., 2005.
Description, temporal variation, sensitivity and monitoring of important marine biotopes in Wales. Report to Cyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru / Countryside Council for Wales from the Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN). Marine Biological Association of the UK, Plymouth. [CCW Contract no. FC 73-023-255G].

Internet publications (peer reviewed where possible)
Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Available from http://www.marlin.ac.uk.  Biology & Ecology reviews and Sensitivity Assessments for ~ 50 marine species and benthic habitats. Examples include:
Hill, J.M., 2001. Polydora sp. tubes on upward-facing circalittoral soft rock.
Hill, J.M., 2002. Beggiatoa spp.on anoxic sublittoral mud.
Hill, J.M., 2004. Sea pens and burrowing megafauna in circalittoral soft mud.

Other Skills and Qualifications

Fieldwork experience
•    Seagoing research: member of scientific staff on ~15 research cruises in the Irish and Celtic Seas for periods of up to 2 weeks.
•    Subtidal surveys: use of SCUBA for transects/quadrats based assessment of species density at Lundy marine reserve, experience of radio-acoustic telemetry studying behavioural energetics of dogfish.
•    Intertidal research: monitoring of intertidal species for MarClim project, intertidal project and survey work with undergraduate students on field courses in Wales and Scotland.
•    Certificates: MCA Personal Survival Techniques (Basic Sea Survival) 2003; Seafarer Medical Certificate ENG1, July 2008; HSE First Aid at Work, 2005.

Sampling skills
•    Water and plankton: CTD (salinity, temperature and depth) and rosette water samplers, fluorometry at sea, high speed plankton nets (Gulf III) and zooplankton (bongo) nets
•    Sediment: Subtidal multi-corer, Van veen and Day grabs and Box corers for infauna and sediment analysis, intertidal/saltmarsh coring
•    Demersal fauna: use of beam and otter trawls to sample epifauna for PhD, trawls for monitoring of fish in English Channel (part of long term MBA data set).  
•    Habitat mapping: biotope mapping of Rum Bay, Plymouth Sound to test the MarLIN approach to assessing oil spill sensitivity.

Fauna and flora identification skills
•    Extensive experience of sorting and identification of marine fauna and flora including sedimentary invertebrates, phytoplankton, zooplankton.
•    Teaching marine invertebrate identification to undergraduate and MSc students for past 6 years. Experience of fish and fish larvae id.

Scuba diving/boat handling
•    HSE Part IV Scientific Diver.  BSAC & PADI qualified to Rescue Diver.
•    RYA 2 Powerboat.
•    Underwater stills photography (macro in particular).
•    Chair of University of Plymouth British Sub-Aqua Club 2001-2002.

Memberships
•    British Ecological Society member since 2004.
•    Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom - member since 1998.
•    Marine Conservation Society member since 1996.