Dr. Mario Tamburri is a Research Associate Professor at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory (CBL), University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.  His research interests are in understanding the mechanisms that regulate basic biological and
ecological processes.  Much of his work has examined how chemoreception (the sense of smell and taste) regulates larval settlement and feeding behaviors of organisms living in diverse habitats ranging from estuaries to the deep sea.  Some of his recent research has included groundbreaking studies on two critical environmental issues, carbon dioxide sequestration in the sea and ballast water transport of invasive species.  Dr. Tamburri also runs a real-time weather and water quality monitoring program in the Patuxent River, which is a fundamental part of the Cheseapeake Bay Observing System (CBOS) and the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARCOOS).  After serving as Chief Scientist for five years, Dr. Tamburri recently took on the role of Executive Director and CBL Partner Primary Investigator for the Alliance for Coastal Technologies (ACT).  Prior to joining CBL and ACT, Dr. Tamburri spent six years at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute where he used novel technologies to study the chemical ecology of deep-sea animals and worked with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to design, develop and implementation a comprehensive, integrated ecosystem monitoring programs (the Sanctuary Integrated Monitoring Network, SIMoN).