Moss Landing Marine Laboratories Director Named

In his role as faculty advisor of the MLML Vertebrate Ecology Lab, Jim Harvey conducts research on marine turtles, birds and mammals.

Media contact: Brynn Hooton, 831-771-4464

MOSS LANDING, CALIF. – After a national search, James Harvey was named director of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories. Harvey was selected for the position by a search committee comprised of CSU administration, MLML faculty members, and members of the Monterey Bay scientific community.

Established in 1966, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories is the marine lab and graduate program in marine science for a consortium of seven California State University campuses, with overall management provided by SJSU. Today MLML has eight full-time faculty and nearly 100 graduate students enrolled in the program, with resources including a marine research library, 13 research vessels from 12 to 135 feet in length, and a fully-equipped diving program.  Harvey will oversee the MLML education and research programs, and serves as a member of the Executive Committee of MLML’s Governing Board of consortium campuses.

“I am humbled by the trust that others have placed in me and excited by the opportunity to serve MLML, San Jose State University, the consortium and the CSU,” said Harvey.  “This is a special place and I am honored to become director.”

Harvey has a long relationship with Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, first arriving as a graduate student in 1974.  After receiving a master’s of science in marine biology from MLML and SJSU, and a doctoral degree from Oregon State University, he returned to MLML as an instructor in 1989.  Harvey subsequently joined the faculty and earned full professorship by 2002, a position he held until recently when he assumed the role of interim director.

In his role as faculty advisor of the MLML Vertebrate Ecology Lab, Harvey conducts research on marine turtles, birds and mammals.  He is a founding member of Beach COMBERS, a local program that trains volunteers to survey beaches for marine birds and mammals on a monthly basis.  In addition, Harvey’s lab is a member of the U.S. Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, helping sick and injured marine mammals and sea turtles found in Monterey County, and recovering dead animals to collect data and investigate the cause of death. He has advised over 70 graduate students during his tenure at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.

“He’s ideally suited for the job and I’m looking forward to working with him,” said Christopher Scholin, president and chief executive officer of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and member of the MLML director search committee.  “Jim comes to the position with a great deal of experience and vision for the lab’s future.”

Harvey is an active member of the scientific community, serving as chair of the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve Research Advisory Panel, advisor to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Research Activity Panel, scientific advisor for The Marine Mammal Center, and member of the San Jose State University Research Foundation Board of Directors.

Learn more information about MLML and James Harvey.