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Sam-Laney

Dr. Sam Laney

Senior Scientist
Biology Department

 

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Contact Information:
Work: 508-289-3647
slaney@whoi.edu

Mailing Address:
Redfield Laboratory 1-38
266 Woods Hole Road, MS #34
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole, MA 02543

Research Interests

I'm an oceanographer and engineer who likes to work at the interface between oceanography and technology. My research is strongly interdisciplinary, and novel instrumentation & observational approaches play an important role in my laboratory and field studies. I have broad interests in phytoplankton ecology and especially how phytoplankton interact with the oceanic light environment. I'm especially drawn to ice-covered polar regions where little is known about the distributions and ecology of algae in and under sea ice, or how variability in the light environment affects under-ice ecosystems. A main theme in my current research is the development of new observational approaches to help us overcome historical roadblocks that keep us from better understanding polar ocean ecosystems.

In addition to my research program I am also Director of WHOI's new AVAST initiative. AVAST is a new institutional unit designed from the ground up to foster new ocean technology innovation at WHOI in "autonomous vehicle and sensor technologies" and in other fields of ocean science where technical innovation can open new doors in ocean research and understanding. As AVAST Director I report directly to WHOI's DDVPSE.

Education

Oregon State UniversityCollege of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences.  Corvallis, Oregon.  Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography (major) and Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (minor).  2006.

Oregon State UniversityCollege of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences.  Corvallis, Oregon.  M.S. in Biological Oceanography (major) and Physical Oceanography (minor).  2000.

Cornell UniversityCollege of Agriculture & Life Sciences and College of Engineering, Joint Program B.S. in Agricultural & Biological Engineering (now Biological and Environmental Engineering). Ithaca, New York.  1992.

Deep Springs College, Deep Springs, California. Program of Study. 1989.

Appointments

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Biology Department.  Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
Senior Scientist (2023-present)
Associate Scientist with Tenure (2017-2023)
Associate Scientist (2013-2017)
Assistant Scientist (2009-2013)
Postdoctoral Investigator (2008-2009)
Postdoctoral Scholar, WHOI Ocean Life Institute (2006-2008).

Deep Springs College, Deep Springs, California.
Visiting Professor (2011): Single Variable Calculus, Multivariable Calculus.
Visiting Professor (2007): Single Variable Calculus, Multivariable Calculus, Numerical Methods & Computer Modeling.

US Department of Energy, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York.
Research & Design Engineer (1992-1994): Oceanic & Atmospheric Sciences Division.