Nicholas Fisher
Last month, the State University of New York Board of Trustees named MSRC’ s Nicholas Fisher a Distinguished Professor – the highest honor accorded a member of the professorate. The rank of Distinguished Professor acknowledges those individuals who have achieved international prominence through significant contributions to their field of study. Fisher joins three other MSRC faculty as Distinguished Professors – Bob Aller, Bob Cess, and Cindy Lee.
Fisher’s research examines “patterns of contaminant-biota interactions, including contaminant bioaccumulation and mechanisms of toxic action. Most of this work addresses metals and metalloids in marine systems and is relevant to coastal zone management, risk assessments, and related public health issues. It is also relevant to understanding biogeochemical cycles and fluxes of trace elements in marine systems.” He has authored or co-authored almost 190 publications in this area of research and maintains an active lab that contributes, on average, 8 or 9 publications annually. When asked to describe the accomplishment he is most proud of, Fisher unhesitatingly said, “Being a mentor for graduate students.” In his 18 years at MSRC, Fisher has graduated 9 Ph.D. students, 2 M.S. students, and he is currently advising 4 Ph.D. students. His students have gone on to academic or research positions everywhere from New York to Hong Kong.
Fisher completed his Ph.D. in 1974 at Stony Brook University in the Department of Ecology and Evolution and went on to a post-doc in the Chemistry Department at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Before joining the faculty at MSRC in 1988, Fisher’s research led him to positions at the Ministry for Conservation in Melbourne, Australia, the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency laboratory in Monaco, and Brookhaven National Laboratory here on Long Island.
MSRC’ s Dean and Director, David Conover, who initiated Fisher’s Distinguished Professor nomination said, “MSRC is very pleased that the Trustees of SUNY have bestowed upon Nick Fisher this well-deserved career achievement.”
