Two new scientists have come on board as SeaDoc Science Advisors. Since our inception, this important group has help prioritize and guide our scientific investigations.

We’d like to extend a big welcome to Billie Swalla (Director, UW Friday Harbor Labs) and Jim West (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)!

Billie Swalla is the Director of the University of Washington’s Friday Harbor Laboratories, and joins the Science Advisors to bring the expertise of the Labs to the table. Swalla is an expert in the evolution of chordates (species with a central nervous system on their back sides and internal organs on the front side - like humans) and has been working at UW since 1999.

Jim West is an expert in toxics and fishes who works as a senior research scientist at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. He has published papers on such topics as toxic hydrocarbons in Pacific herring, differences in rockfish growth between ocean and inland waters, and persistent organic pollutants in marine plankton, among many others.

We extend a most heartfelt thank you to retiring Science Advisors Wayne Palsson (NOAA Fisheries) and Ken Sebens (past director of UW Friday Harbor Labs) for your many years of insight and guidance. Our program is stronger thanks to your work!