CSX Corporation Professorship in Marine Science

"My expertise is in the area of finfish and shellfish diseases and immunity. This field is important to the successful farming of aquatic species as well as the restoration of native fisheries. The greatest roadblocks to fish culture are infectious diseases. Basic, scientific understanding of pathogens and hosts are translated into practical disease diagnostics, vaccines, and other therapeutics. Thus far, our research into disease and resistance has lead to commercialized disease diagnostic kits, as well as a vaccine technology that has been patented in the US, UK, and soon other nations. An important element of this work is that students apply their knowledge not only to scientifically important problems, but to those that impact the economy as well. This has led to students also becoming co-inventors of these new technologies. I currently have two doctoral students working on diseases of oysters and striped bass and have mentored 10 doctoral and 5 Masters students in the past. I am currently Co-Editor of the Journal of Aquatic Animal Health and on the editorial board of two other journals."

--Dr. Steven Kaattari, CSX Professor of Marine Science, Department of Environmental Sciences