CAREER PROFILE
Oceanographer with experience in water quality and marine pollution monitoring studies, coastal management, sedimentology, aquaculture, management of marine protected areas and coral reef conservation projects. Skilled in operating a variety of analytical instruments and computer programs. Work experience in the field, laboratory and office. Consistently meet tight deadline schedules within dynamic environments. Equally effective working independently or as part of a team.
The University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS), Miami, FL, USA
2000-2003 – Research for Ph. D. Dissertation
Dissertation: “Distribution of Trace Metals in Seawater and Sediments from Florida Bay (Everglades)”
Advisors: Dr. Frank J. Millero (RSMAS, UM) and Dr. Albert Palanques (Catalonia Polytechnic University)
Catalonia Polytechnic University, College of Maritime Engineering, Barcelona, Spain
1995-1997 - Doctorate in Marine Science (obtained in January 2003).
Specializing in Chemical and Biological Oceanography
The University of Baja California, College of Marine Science, Ensenada, B. C., México.
1990-1994 – Bachelor of Oceanography, obtained with honours
Mexican National Award “Pedro Mercado Sanchez” obtained in the XIII National Congress of Oceanography (October 2002).
ICI Scholarship given by the Institute of Iberoamerican Cooperation (Government of Spain) (1995-1998).
First person in the class within the University to graduate, by receiving a certificate of Academic Merit, class of 1994.
Research Associate (2004-present)
Florida International University, Southeast Environmental Research Center. Miami, Florida.
Research Assistant (2000-2003)
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, The University of Miami. Florida, USA.
· Designed surveys, sampling sites and field methods; prepared the materials and equipment for scientific fieldwork and oceanographic cruises and collected samples.
Research Assistant (1996).
Department of Environmental Chemistry, Centre of Investigation and Development, CSIC. Barcelona, Spain.
Marine Science Instructor (1995).
Research Assistant (1993-1994)
The University of Baja California, College of Marine Science. Baja California, Mexico.
· Imparted scientific and technical information about ecology, technology and infrastructure in Aquaculture and Fishing projects at the 1st and 2nd workshop of the Fisherman of México/Ecuador (in Oaxaca July 1993 and Yucatán July 1994).
· Worked on restoration of the 3 coastal lagoons in Oaxaca (México) to opening their sealed mouths for augmenting the production of shrimp.
· Collected, processed and analyzed sediment samples to obtain information about current direction, size grain and mineralogical characteristics, among others.
· Assisted in the organization of the Second International Meeting “the Geology of Baja California Peninsula”.
Environmental Consultant (2003)
Surfrider Foundation, (Rincon) Puerto Rico Chapter.
· Created a comprehensive set of recommendations for the most effective management and protection of the natural resources of a Coral Reef Marine Reserve “Tres Palmas”.
· Identified policies, laws, agencies and processes to assist in the protection of the marine resources.
· Researched and compared different Management Plans from Latin America, Caribbean and United States to create the management plan for “Tres Palmas”.
· Performed outreach and Interviewed the local community, fishermen, scientists, environmental groups, tourism and government agencies to identify the activities in the Reserve, the needs of these groups, the research gaps, in order to recommend the best management practices.
· Coordinated different activities to resolve threats to the coral reefs including recommendations for zoning in the watershed, extensive research about the sediment effects on corals and a list of construction practices to reduce erosion and retain sediment onsite during and after construction.
· Developed and organized an environmental educational program for the schools of Rincon, which includes an ongoing series of presentations about coral reefs, marine habitat conservation, the impact of human activities on coastal resources and the importance of marine protected areas for the sustainability of fisheries resources and tourism activities.
· Assisted with Rincon Chapter activities, planned and advertised meetings and workshops, prepared mixed media presentations, wrote articles for local newspapers, etc.
Science Coordinator (1999).
“Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve”, Protected Natural Area of Quintana Roo, México.
Consultant (1995).
The Direction of Agricultural and Aquacultural Development of Morelos State Government. Morelos, Mexico.
Technical Consultant (1995).
AQUANOTRA, S.A. (consultancy group), Ecuador.
Completed a 40-hour Course in Marine Protected Areas, July 2003, at The Marine Research Institute, University of Mexico in Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Organized by The Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, The University of Miami (Marine Affair Division) and The University of Mexico (Marine Science Division).
Completed a 40-hour course of study in Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), June 2000, at Agilent Technologies-Hewlett Packard. Wilmington, Pennsylvania, USA.
Internship (5 months) in a shrimp larvae laboratory "Labocam" for training in techniques of larvae cultivation and laboratory management in Manglar Alto, Ecuador (1994-1995).
Visited for 3 to 4 days the following shrimp farms and laboratories in Ecuador, to compare their different cultivation techniques, production methods and technologies: San Pablo, Esmeraldas, Ecualab, Aqualab, Quirola group (Laqui-laye and Quimasaru), Probiomar, Larva Azul, Criesbio, Cride, Filomarino and Santa Lucia (1994-1995).
Internship (1 month) in a shrimp farm "Galuver" for training in industrial farming techniques of shrimp in Balao, Ecuador (1994).
Geological Oceanography research in the Gulf of Baja California, Mexico onboard “The R/V Roger Revelle” as part of the MARGINS project of Scripps Institution of Oceanography and The University of Baja California (April-May 2004).
Several cruises around South Florida and the Bahamas onboard “The R/V F.G. Walton Smith” as part of RSMAS, The University of Miami. Research on Chemical Oceanography with focus on trace metals (2000-2003).
Chemical and Physical Oceanography research in the Tropical Pacific IV and Pescar 7 project, onboard “The R/V Puma” as part of The Scientific Investigation and Higher Education Centre of Ensenada (CICESE), The University of Baja California and The University of México (UNAM) (August 1995).
Chemical and Physical Oceanography research in the Tropical Pacific III project, onboard “The R/V Francisco de Ulloa” as part of The Scientific Investigation and Higher Education Centre of Ensenada (CICESE) and the University of Baja California (Jan/Feb 1994).
Chemical and Biological Oceanography research onboard a Mexican Navy Vessel, in Todos Santos Bay, Baja California, Mexico (October 1993).
Chemical, Biological, Geological and Physical Oceanography research onboard a Mexican Navy Vessel, in Todos Santos Bay, Baja California, México (April 1992).
PUBLICATIONS
Caccia, V.G. and Millero, F.J. Metales Traza (Chapter 9). Book: Análisis de Agua de Mar. Editors: H. Bustos-Serrano and F.J. Millero. In preparation.
Caccia, V.G. and Boyer, J.N. 2006. A nutrient loading budget for Biscayne Bay, Florida. Submitted to Marine Pollution Bulletin.
Caccia, V.G. and Millero, F.J. 2006. The Distribution of Rare Earth Elements in Florida Bay Sediments. Submitted to Marine Chemistry.
Collado-Vides, L., Caccia, V.G., Boyer, J.N. and Fourqurean, J. 2006. Distribution and Trends in Macroalgal components of tropical seagrass communities in relation to water quality. Submitted to Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science.
Caccia, V.G. and Boyer, J.N. 2005. Spatial Patterning of Water Quality in Biscayne Bay, Florida as a Function of Land Use and Water Management. Marine Pollution Bulletin 50: 1416-1429.
Caccia, V.G. 2004. Heavy Metals (Chapter 6). In: El poder Curativo del Agua de Mar., A, Gracia and H, Bustos-Serrano (Eds.). Morales i Torres S.L. Barcelona, Spain. 238-250pp.
Caccia, V.G. and Millero, F.J., 2003. The Distribution and Seasonal Variation of Dissolved Trace Metals in Florida Bay and Adjencent Waters. Aquatic Geochemistry 9, 111-144.
Caccia, V.G., Millero, F.J. and Palanques, A. 2003. The Distribution of Trace Metals in Florida Bay Sediments. Marine Pollution Bulletin 46, 1420-1433.
Participated in ASLO “Ocean Science Meeting” (2006), Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; presenting “A nutrient loading budget for Biscayne Bay, Florida”. Co-author: J. N. Boyer.
Participated in ASLO “Aquatic Science Meeting” (2005), Salt Lake City, Utha, USA; presenting “Effect of land use and water management on water quality of Biscayne Bay, USA”. Co-author: J. N. Boyer.
Participated in The Joint Conference on the Science and Restoration of the Greater Everglades and Florida Bay Ecosystem (2003), Palm Harbor, Florida USA; presenting “The Distribution of Metals in Florida Bay Sediments”. Co-author: F. J. Millero.
Participated in The Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Public Workshop (2002), Miami, Florida, USA; presenting “Trace Metals in South Florida”.
Participated in The XIII National Congress of Oceanography (2002), Puerto Vallarta, México; presenting “The Distribution of Trace Metals in the Sediments from Florida Bay”. Co-authors: F. J. Millero, A. Palanques and H. Bustos-Serrano.
Participated in The Florida Bay Science Conference 2001, Key Largo, Florida USA; presenting “Trace Metals in Florida Bay”. Co-authors: F. J. Millero and X. Liu.
Participated in a Congress on “The sea and its problems”, of 40 hrs duration, from the 20th to the 24th of April 1998 at EXPO 98 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Participated in a seminar on "Environmental Problems of Coastal Zones" of 20 hrs duration, from the 15th to the 17th of July 1996, in San Roque, Spain in collaboration with The University of Cádiz and the Environmental Officer.
Presented a series of Marine Science lectures (totalling 30 hrs duration), from the 16th to the 20th of January 1995, at The Laica Eloy Alfaro University of Manabí, in Manta, Ecuador.
Presented a seminar on "Laboratory Techniques for Natural Science" (totalling 25 hrs duration), from the 3 rd to the 7th of October 1994, at The Bernardo Valdibieso Experimental college of Loja, Ecuador in collaboration with the National Museum of Natural Science in Quito, Ecuador.
Presented a poster at the International Marine Biology Symposium X (1994), titled "Continuous Flow System for pH and Temperature in Todos Santos Bay, Baja California, México."
Participation by invitation of the Secretary of Social Development (México) at the 1st and 2nd Congresses of the Fisherman of México/Ecuador (in Oaxaca July 1993 and Yucatán July 1994), to impart scientific and technical information about Ecology, Technology and infrastructure in Aquaculture and Fishing projects.
2nd. International Meeting about the Geology of Baja California Peninsula, México (1993); contributed to organization.
Spanish: Native
English: Advanced
Italian: Intermediate