Scientists at BioAnalysts, Inc., have extensive experience in research and project management. Working on projects from complex scientific studies to major design and construction jobs, BioAnalysts manages research teams and technical staff. In all studies, BioAnalysts uses the most advanced and accurate testing methods available. Their strongest featuSnorkelre is the experience and academic strength of key personnel.

The people in our firm have a diverse background in areas of expertise to serve our clients on fisheries related issues. BioAnalysts also regularly subcontracts with and maintains relationships with other professionals to complement our expertise in fisheries and aquatic science.

 

Tracy Hillman, Ph.D., CEO    [RÉSUMÉ]

Dr. Hillman is an Ecological Society of America board-certified senior ecologist and has been with BioAnalysts since 1991. He has studied the effects of land-use activities such as forestry, grazing, mining, and hydroelectric development on streams and fish resources. He has authored more than 100 reports, including biological assessments, hatchery evaluations, recovery plans, experimental and statistical design, and technical reports for habitat conservation plans. Dr. Hillman has several years of experience designing, implementing, and managing projects in fisheries and aquatic ecology.

 

Albert Giorgi, Ph.D.    [RÉSUMÉ]

Dr. Giorgi has been conducting fisheries research in the Pacific Northwest salmonid resources since 1979. From 1979-1990 he was employed by NOAA as a research scientist. His early research focused on marine fish early life history. From 1982 on, he has specialized in salmon ecology, specifically regarding fish passage issues, migratory behavior, salmon survival studies, and biological effects of hydroelectric dams, and water management. His research includes the use of radio telemetry, acoustic tags, and PIT-tag technologies. In 1990 he entered the private sector as a consultant. In addition to his research activities, he acts as a technical analyst and advisor to public agencies and private parties. He regularly teams with structural and hydraulic engineers in the design and evaluation of fishways and fish bypass systems.

 

Gary Johnson, M.S., B.A.  [RÉSUMÉ]

Mr. Johnson has over 40 years of experience managing research projects related to the environmental effects of hydroelectric energy production. Mr. Johnson was the technical manager for hydroacoustic monitoring and evaluation studies during the development of the surface flow bypass system at the Wells Dam from 1983 – 1992. He served as manager of the Technical Services Division at BioSonics, Inc. before moving to the Bonneville Power Administration as a fisheries biologist. At BPA, Mr. Johnson worked to integrate needs for safe fish passage with hydroelectric generation. This led to Mr. Johnson being hired at PNNL to manage fish passage evaluations and bioengineering projects on the Columbia and Snake rivers. He continued this type of work for BioAnalysts, Inc. before returning to PNNL to work on estuarine and fish passage studies. At PNNL, Mr. Johnson managed projects related to research, monitoring, and evaluation in the lower Columbia River and estuary, as well as research for the Department of Energy’s Water Power Program. Since 2009, Mr. Johnson has facilitated the Expert Regional Technical Group for ecosystem restoration in the Columbia River estuary. In 2020, Mr. Johnson retired from PNNL and went to work part-time for BioAnalysts, Inc.

 

Mark Miller, B.S., President   [RÉSUMÉ]

Mr. Miller is a fisheries biologist that has studied many aspects of salmonid ecology in the Pacific Northwest since he started with BioAnalysts in 1992. His research includes passage behavior and movement of juvenile and adult salmonids, habitat assessments, hatchery evaluations, and baseline environmental inventories. His research includes the use of biotelemetry methods, GPS, underwater observations, surgical and gastric tag implantation, and habitat survey methods.

 

John Stevenson, B.S., CFO   [RÉSUMÉ]

Mr. Stevenson, a fisheries biologist with BioAnalysts since 1994, has a strong background in biotelemetry research and passage behavior of salmonids. He studied juvenile approach behavior and survival during a multi-year study in the mid-Columbia River. His biotelemetry research includes studies that monitored fish passage and migration of adult Chinook, steelhead, bull trout, and lamprey as well as juvenile passage of Chinook, steelhead, and sockeye salmon. Prior to working with BioAnalysts, he gained experience in regional salmon passage issues while working for the Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee.

 

Denny Snyder, B.S.    [RÉSUMÉ]

Mr. Snyder, a fisheries biologist, has worked with BioAnalysts since 1999 and is experienced in aspects of fisheries and habitat research. His expertise is in biotelemetry, including the setup and monitoring of telemetry systems, fish and habitat surveys, and adult passage and juvenile survival studies. Mr. Snyder has several years of experience implementing and supervising field studies for BioAnalysts.

 

Kellee Murphy

Mrs. Murphy, with a paralegal and office management background, has been working with BioAnalysts as our business administrator for since 2004. She is responsible for the business accounting, contracting and budget management. As she is versed in contracting requirements, her experience includes State, Federal and County government agencies as well as private entities.

 

Nathan Murphy

Mr. Murphy has a background in technology, graphic design and research. He manages BioAnalysts’ extensive fisheries library, performs research functions, and produces report maps utilizing ArcGIS. With a broad skill set, Mr. Murphy has also engaged in field work and lead implementation of new technology since he joined the BioAnalysts team in 2014.

 

Janine Castro, Ph.D., R.G.

Dr. Castro provides national and international training and consulting on stream restoration, river science, geomorphology, aquatic habitat restoration, and public speaking for scientists. She is co-founder and Technical Director of Portland State University’s River Restoration Professional Certificate Program and is a member of the Columbia Estuary Ecosystem Restoration Program’s Expert Regional Technical Group, which reviews ecosystem restoration actions in the floodplain of the lower Columbia River and estuary. Janine recently retired from Federal service where she worked as a geomorphologist and supervisory scientist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for 24 years and spent the preceding 10 years working for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Janine is one of the five founding members of River Restoration Northwest and the co-founder of Science Talk.

 

Patty Dornbusch, M.R.C.P., B.A.

Ms. Dornbusch has over 30 years’ experience in natural resource management, with particular expertise in Pacific salmon biology, habitat, and management. She is skilled in bridging science and policy, communicating complex topics clearly, and managing large projects. She coordinated the development of Endangered Species Act recovery plans for salmon and steelhead; has drafted complex planning documents, biological opinions, and litigation materials; and led NOAA’s implementation of the tributary habitat mitigation program for the Columbia River hydropower system. She also has extensive experience building partnerships and working in collaboration with co-managers and stakeholders to advance conservation goals.

 

Kristen R. Jule, Ph.D., MSc., B.A.

Dr. Jule is a fish and wildlife biologist with over 20 years of conservation experience across a wide range of habitats and species. She has studied the effects of captivity on reintroduced wildlife and worked on hatcheries, fish passage, habitat and ecosystem restoration, predation management, as well as research, monitoring and evaluation. Previously, Dr Jule held the position of Director of Research for the Pacific Whale Foundation in Hawaii where she developed, implemented and managed studies to research and monitor marine mammals, Hawaiian reef fish and coral reef ecology. Dr. Jule served more than a decade with the Bonneville Power Administration, where she provided policy and technical oversight on conservation and supplemental hatchery programs. She also worked on numerous hatchery Endangered Species Act consultations, and supervised a diverse policy and subject matter expert team managing issues relevant to conserving salmon and steelhead.

 

Timmie Mandish, B.S.

Ms. Mandish has decades of experience in the natural resources field of fisheries, including: 10 years with the Natural Resources Conservation Service providing guidance and oversight on aquatic conservation on agricultural lands; more than 6 years of experience overseeing restoration, research, and hatchery programs for the Bonneville Power Administration; and 8 years of experience with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service coordinating restoration and conservation on private lands. Her work in restoration included promoting conservation options through partnerships with agencies and organizations with diverse goals. Ms. Mandish’s talents and knowledge include developing science-based prioritization strategies for restoration programs, teaching, technical writing, public outreach and familiarity with environmental regulations such as the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and the Clean Water Act.

 

George Pess, Ph.D., M.F.S., A.B.

Dr. Pess has worked in fisheries science and stream ecology since 1993. During his 27 years with NOAA’s  Northwest Fisheries Science Center, he managed a $3.2M research program relating stream and watershed restoration strategies and actions to the biological and physical response of salmonid populations in the Pacific Northwest for the recovery of listed salmonids. Dr. Pess regularly teaches, presents, and develops projects related to his research. He serves as an affiliate professor at the University of Washington and has developed multi-decade working relationships with federal, state, and local agencies, first-nations, NGOs, and academia. Dr. Pess has contributed to over 220 peer-reviewed journal articles since 1994.

 

Chuck Peven. M.S.

Mr. Peven has over 40 years of experience working with salmon and other species within the Pacific Northwest. His background deals extensively with fish ecology and behavior, effects of hydropower, hatcheries, habitat restoration, and research, monitoring, and evaluation (RM&E). He has vast experience in developing salmon and steelhead recovery plans and Endangered Species Act (ESA) related documents, biological assessments (BA), and biological opinions (BiOp). In addition, Mr. Peven has developed National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents, including environmental assessments (EA) and environmental impact statements (EIS).

 

Colin Thorne, Ph.D., BSc, FRGS

Dr. Thorne is the Emeritus Chair of Physical Geography at the University of Nottingham, UK. He has studied rivers and biogeomorphology in watersheds ranging from headwater streams to the World’s largest rivers, including work on 6 continents. His numerous publications are widely read and have been cited >21,500 times, his h-index is 76, and his i10-index is 187. He has always considered the practical utility of his research and has advised many local and national governments on river science, sustainable urban water management and flood resilience. He has acted as an expert witness in cases heard at the UK Crown Court, the International Court of Justice in The Hague, and U.S. Court of Federal Claims. His research has been recognized through award of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Collingwood Prize and the Royal Geographical Society’s Back Award. Currently, he is a co-Investigator on the U.K.’s national research consortium on the ‘Economics of Biodiversity’ and advises the Bonneville Power Administration on restoration of tributaries throughout the Columbia River.