Research Affiliates

Kristi Fazioli
Research Scientist,
Charted Marine Consultants

Contact number: 281-224-4348
Email: Kfazioli@chartedmarine.com

Kristi Fazioli is a co-principal investigator with the Galveston Bay Dolphin Research Program and a Research Scientist with Charted Marine Consulting. Her research and professional experiences span over 25 years of field methodology and data management and analysis techniques focused primarily in marine mammal population, behavior, and conservation biology. In addition to Galveston Bay, she has worked with a variety of projects in places ranging from Sarasota, Florida, to Kwajalein Atoll. Kristi holds an M.S. in marine science from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a B.S. in marine biology from Texas A&M University at Galveston.

George Guillen
Professor,
Science and Engineering

Contact number: 281-283-3949
Email: guillen@uhcl.edu

Dr. Guillen is a professor of environmental science and biology. He received his B.S. in Marine Biology from Texas A&M at Galveston, M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University and his Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Texas School of Public Health. He is an AFS Certified Fisheries Scientist and an ESA Certified Ecologist. He is also actively involved in professional services, including serving as the Chair of the Galveston Bay Estuary Program (GBEP) Monitoring and Research Advisory Committee, a member of the Trinity and San Jacinto Rivers and Galveston Bay Basin and Bay Expert Science Team (BBEST) – Environmental Flows Committee, a Member of the Brazos River (BBEST) – Environmental Flows Committee, and a member of the Pollution Committee of the Southern Division of the AFS.

Michael LaMontagne
Associate Professor,
Science and Engineering

Contact number: 281-283-3754
Email: LaMontagne@UHCL.edu

Dr. LaMontagne completed his undergraduate degree in microbiology at the University of Massachusetts and his doctoral degree in biology at Boston University. His Ph.D. thesis work was directed by Professor Ivan Valiela and focused on quantifying nitrogen cycling by microbial communities in coastal sediments. LaMontagne developed a direct method of measuring denitrification and a metagenomic method to quantify the abundance of bacteria that mediate this process. LaMontagne continued to develop metagenomic methods in postdoctoral work at Michigan State University and the University of California Santa Barbara. In industry, LaMontagne led the Environmental Testing Group at US Genomics, where they developed an automated biothreat detection system, and directed research at Agricen Sciences, where they developed microbial products for agriculture. Currently, LaMontagne is an associate professor at the University of Houston-Clear Lake and the Chief Science Officer for Endobiome. At UHCL, LaMontagne's program focuses on applying metagenomic and proteomic techniques to assessing the health of aquatic systems. This program is supported by the NSF, EPA and NASA.

MICHAEL LAMONTAGNE FACULTY BIO

Jenny Oakley
Senior Water Resources Scientist,
Houston-Galveston Area Council

Contact number: 281-283-3949
Email: guillen@uhcl.edu

Dr. Jenny Oakley collaborates with EIH's Research Program as a Research Affiliate and Co-PI on projects related to American eel, microplastics, and oysters. She lead EIH’s Research Program for 16 years and served as EIH’s Associate Director of Research Programs for five years. Dr. Oakley earned her Ph.D. in marine biology from Texas A&M University and currently works for the Houston-Galveston Area Council as a Senior Water Resources Scientist. Her research interests include aquatic ecosystem science, modeling, and conservation. She has an OUPV "captains" license and enjoys fishing offshore for pelagic fishes.

Omah Williams-Duncan
Associate Professor,
Education

Contact number: 281-283-3547
Email: Duncano@uhcl.edu

Omah Williams-Duncan has worked in STEM education for over 20 years. She has held positions as a middle school science teacher, district curriculum writer, education service center education specialist, program coordinator, professional developer, and education consultant. Her doctoral work at Texas A&M University, College of Education, Curriculum & Instruction Department, focused on multicultural education with an emphasis in science education. Currently, she is an associate professor in the College of Education, Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) Department at University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL). Most semesters, she teaches science methods and exploring the teaching profession to pre-service elementary teachers. Her research interests include K-12 student and pre- or in-service teacher engagement in STEM, cross-cultural teacher mentoring, multicultural science education, and science teacher preparation. She also directs the UHCL C&I STEM doctorate program and teaches one of its core courses, Advanced Instructional Strategies in STEM.

Omah M. Williams-Duncan Faculty Bio