Academic Address:
Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation
and Florida International University
2911 NW 40th Place
Gainesville, Florida 32605
Phone: (201) 704-8065
Email: lkacz001@fiu.edu, solonnie@hotmail.com
Education
- Ph.D. 2009 Biology, Florida International University
- M.S. 2002 Environmental Science, Long Island University
- B.S. 1983 Biology, Montclair State University
Research & Work Experience
- 2010-2020 Professor of Biology, St. Johns River State College, Florida.
- 2006- 2014 Environmental Consultant and Project Director for HOVENSA LLC, an oil refinery in the U. S. Virgin Islands.
- 2004-2009 PhD research characterizing the pathologies of coral diseases
- 2002-2003 Fulbright Research Fellow. Investigated coral diseases of the Philippines
- 2000-2002 MS research on Caribbean coral diseases
- 1990- 2000 Lecturer and Curator at St. Croix Aquarium & Marine Education Center
- 1986-1990 Commercial fisherman. St. Croix, US Virgin Islands
Work Experience
Presently teaching courses at ITEC and managing oyster and algae demonstration sites. As a professor, taught Marine Biology and Environmental Science for 11 years. Was Project Manager for a 6-year study of the marine ecosystems of St. Croix, U.S.V.I., conducting environmental surveys of coral reefs, mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and fish communities. As a Fulbright Scholar, conducted a 1-year study of oral diseases of the Philippines.
Research Interests
My current research is focused on Tropical Mariculture. Other research interests include diseases of corals and anthropogenic impacts on coral reefs. My graduate and post-graduate research included not only studies of coral diseases on the reefs of the Virgin Islands, Florida Keys, and Philippines but also on the relationships between anthropogenic impacts and coral, seagrass, mangrove, and fish populations.
