{"id":1543,"date":"2021-09-12T17:58:21","date_gmt":"2021-09-12T21:58:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/?page_id=1543"},"modified":"2026-05-11T14:00:55","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T18:00:55","slug":"dr-paulinus-chigbu","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/faculty\/dr-paulinus-chigbu\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Paulinus Chigbu"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/101\/2026\/05\/TGD-headshotPaulinus-Chigbu-gray-050826-2021-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Paulinus Chigbu\" class=\"wp-image-6702\" style=\"width:378px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/101\/2026\/05\/TGD-headshotPaulinus-Chigbu-gray-050826-2021-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/101\/2026\/05\/TGD-headshotPaulinus-Chigbu-gray-050826-2021-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/101\/2026\/05\/TGD-headshotPaulinus-Chigbu-gray-050826-2021-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/101\/2026\/05\/TGD-headshotPaulinus-Chigbu-gray-050826-2021-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/101\/2026\/05\/TGD-headshotPaulinus-Chigbu-gray-050826-2021-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/101\/2026\/05\/TGD-headshotPaulinus-Chigbu-gray-050826-2021-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-header-secondary-bg-color-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CENTER DIRECTOR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Associate Dean for Research, Development and Graduate Education<\/em><br>&amp;&nbsp;<em>Professor of Marine Environmental (Fisheries) Science<\/em><br>School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences<br><strong>University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Phone: (410) 621-3034 | Email:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:%20pchigbu@umes.edu\">pchigbu@umes.edu<\/a>&nbsp;| Fax: (410) 651-7739<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/paesmem.net\/paesmemRecognition\/awardeeProfile\/877\">2018 PAESMEM Award<\/a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.umes.edu\/CREST\/Pages\/Director-s-Welcome\/\">CREST<\/a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.umes.edu\/reu\/\">REU<\/a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.umes.edu\/geosciences\/\">Geosciences<\/a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/101\/2025\/07\/C-V-2025-Chigbu-LMRCSC-WebsiteJul-21.doc\">Curriculum Vitae&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>University System of Maryland Wilson H. Elkins Professor of Marine Science &#8211; UMES (2019-2020).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>United States Presidential Award &#8211; Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (2018).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>University System of Maryland Board of Regents Excellence &#8211; Mentoring Faculty Award (2016)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>UMES Distinguished Service Award &#8211; Dedication toward advancing minorities in Marine Sciences (2016)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Director<\/strong>, NOAA-LMRCSC, UMES. January 2006 &#8211; Present<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Director<\/strong>, NSF-CREST: Center for the Study of Coastal Ecosystem Processes and Dynamics in the Mid-Atlantic Region. 2010 &#8211; Present.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Director<\/strong>, Coastal Ecology Teaching and Research Center (CETRC), University of Maryland Eastern Shore.&nbsp;2007-2008<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Education<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>University of Washington School of Fisheries, Seattle<\/strong>&nbsp;(1993)<br><em>Ph.D., Fisheries<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>University of Benin, Nigeria&nbsp;<\/strong>(1987)<br><em><em>M.S., Zoology (Hydrobiology)<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>University of Benin, Nigeria&nbsp;<\/strong>(1984)<br><em><em>B.S., Zoology (First Class Honors)<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Research Interests<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fish and zooplankton ecology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Crustacean biology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Trophic dynamics in marine and freshwater environments<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Selected Publications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Johnson, T*., Richards, G.P., Jacobs, J., Townsend, H., Almuhaideb, E., Meredith, J., Rosales, D., <strong>Chigbu, P<\/strong>., Dasilva, L.,and Parveen, S. (2025).&nbsp; Prevalence and pathogenic potential of <em>Shewanella <\/em>species found in oysters and seawater collected from the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland Coastal Bays. <em>Frontiers in Microbiology. <\/em>16:1502443. doi: 10.3389\/fmicb.2025.1502443.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Smalls, J*., Parveen, S., Jacobs, J., Townsend, H. and <strong>Chigbu, P<\/strong>. (2024). Evaluation of the Relationships between Physico-Chemical Factors and the Abundance of <em>Vibrio<\/em> spp. in Blue Crabs (<em>Callinectes sapidus<\/em>) and Seawater from the Maryland Coastal Bays. <em>Frontiers in Microbiology<\/em>, 15 October 2024; Sec. Food Microbiology, Volume 15 &#8211; 2024 |&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fmicb.2024.1459077\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fmicb.2024.1459077<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Richardson, C., <strong>Chigbu, P<\/strong>. and Ishaque, A. (2024).&nbsp; Spatial, temporal and interspecific differences in composition of stable isotopes in fishes in Maryland Coastal Bays.&nbsp; <em>Diversity<\/em>. 16, 331. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/d16060331\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/d16060331<\/a>. &nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whitehead, J.C., E.L. Mecray, E.D. Lane, L. Kerr, M.L. Finucane, D.R. Reidmiller,&nbsp;M.C. Bove, F.A. Montalto, S. O\u2019Rourke, D.A. Zarrilli,&nbsp;<strong>P. Chigbu<\/strong>, C.C. Thornbrugh,&nbsp;E.N. Curchitser, J.G. Hunter, and K. Law (2023): Ch. 21. Northeast.&nbsp;<em>In<\/em>: Fifth National&nbsp;Climate Assessment. Crimmins, A.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, B.C.&nbsp;Stewart, and T.K. Maycock, Eds. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.7930\/NCA5.2023.CH21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.7930\/NCA5.2023.CH21<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Chigbu, P<\/strong>., E.A. Babcock, D.M. Gibson, D. Hoskins-Brown, R. Jagus, J.A. Miller,&nbsp;M.A. Sexton, S.L. Smith, B. Stevens, D.J. Die, E. Schott, and V. Young. (2023).&nbsp;&nbsp;Preparing a diverse future workforce in marine and fisheries science: The NOAA&nbsp;Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center.&nbsp;<em>Oceanography&nbsp;<\/em>36(4):&nbsp;88\u201393,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5670\/oceanog.2024.139\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5670\/oceanog.2024.139<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adebola, T., Hart, D. &amp;&nbsp;<strong>Chigbu, P<\/strong>. (2022). Bathymetric trends in the body size, and diet of&nbsp;<em>Astropecten americanus<\/em>&nbsp;in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean.&nbsp;<em>Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science<\/em>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ecss.2022.107814\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ecss.2022.107814<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Da Silva, L.V., Ossai, S.,&nbsp;<strong>Chigbu, P<\/strong>. &amp; Parveen, S. (2021).&nbsp; Antimicrobial and genetic profiles of&nbsp;<em>Vibrio vulnificus<\/em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<em>Vibrio parahaemolyticus<\/em>&nbsp;isolated from Maryland Coastal Bays.&nbsp;<em>Frontiers in Microbiology<\/em>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fmicb.2021.676249\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fmicb.2021.676249<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Edje, B.* &amp;&nbsp;<strong>Chigbu, P<\/strong>. (2021). Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes of copepods in a tidal estuarine system in Maryland, USA.&nbsp;<em>Regional Studies in Marine Science<\/em>. Vol. 42,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.rsma.2021.101620\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.rsma.2021.101620<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Parveen, S., Jacobs, J., Ozbay, G., Chintapenta, K., Almuhaideb, E., Meredith, J., Ossai, S., Abbott, A., Grant, A., Brohawn, K.,&nbsp;<strong>Chigbu, P<\/strong>. &amp; Richards, G.P. (2020). Seasonal and geographical differences in total and pathogenic&nbsp;<em>Vibrio parahaemolyticus<\/em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<em>Vibrio vulnificus<\/em>&nbsp;levels in the Mid-Atlantic area as determined by several methods.&nbsp;&nbsp;<em>Applied and Environmental Microbiology<\/em>. 86(23):e01581-20. doi: 10.1128\/AEM.01581-20. &nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Oghenekaro, E.U.* &amp;&nbsp;<strong>Chigbu, P<\/strong>. (2019).&nbsp; Dynamics of mesozooplankton assemblage in relation to environmental factors in the Maryland Coastal Bays.&nbsp;<em>Water11<\/em>(10), 2133;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/w11102133\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/w11102133<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Chigbu, P<\/strong>., Malinis, L.*, Malagon, H.* &amp; Doctor, S. (2019). Influence of temperature on the occurrence and distribution of sand shrimp (<em>Crangon septemspinosa<\/em>) in mid-Atlantic Coastal Lagoons.&nbsp;<em>Journal of Crustacean Biology.&nbsp;<\/em>39(5): 586-593.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Morales-N\u00fa\u00f1ez, A.G.<sup>+<\/sup>&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<strong>Chigbu, P<\/strong>. (2019). Abundance, distribution and species composition of amphipods associated with macroalgae from shallow waters of the Maryland Coastal Bays (MCBs).&nbsp;<em>Marine Biodiversity<\/em>&nbsp;49(1): 175-191.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mayor, E.D.* &amp;&nbsp;<strong>Chigbu, P.<\/strong>&nbsp;(2018). Mysid shrimp dynamics in relation to abiotic and biotic factors in the coastal lagoons of Maryland, Mid-West Atlantic.&nbsp;&nbsp;<em>Marine Biology Research<\/em>. 14(3): 1-16.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Oseji, O.F.*,&nbsp;<strong>Chigbu, P<\/strong>., Oghenekaro, E., Waguespack, Y. &amp; Chen, N. (2018).&nbsp; Spatial and temporal patterns of phytoplankton composition and abundance in the Maryland Coastal Bays: the influence of freshwater discharge and anthropogenic activities.&nbsp;<em>Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science<\/em>&nbsp;207: 119-131.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Oghenekaro, E.U.*,&nbsp;<strong>Chigbu, P<\/strong>., Oseji, O.F. &amp; Tang, K.W. (2018). Seasonal factors influencing the abundance of copepods in the Maryland Coastal Bays.&nbsp;&nbsp;<em>Estuaries and&nbsp;Coasts<\/em>, 41(2): 495-506.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peters, R.* &amp;&nbsp;<strong>Chigbu, P<\/strong>. (2017).&nbsp; Spatial and temporal patterns of abundance of juvenile black sea bass (<em>Centropristis striata<\/em>) in Maryland Coastal Bays.&nbsp;<em>Fishery Bulletin<\/em>&nbsp;115: 504\u2013516.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kang, X.*, Xia, M., Pitula, J.S. &amp;&nbsp;<strong>Chigbu, P<\/strong>. (2017). Dynamics of water and salt exchange in Maryland Coastal Bays.&nbsp;&nbsp;<em>Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science<\/em>&nbsp;189: 1-16.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mayor, E.*,&nbsp;<strong>Chigbu, P<\/strong>., Pierson, J. &amp; Kennedy, V.S. (2017). Composition, abundance and life history of mysids (Crustacea: Mysidacea) in the coastal lagoons of Maryland, USA.&nbsp;&nbsp;<em>Estuaries and Coasts<\/em>&nbsp;40: 224\u2013234. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Biosketch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Dr. Paulinus Chigbu&nbsp;<\/strong>is University System of Maryland Wilson H. Elkins Professor of Marine Science at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). He has been Director of the NOAA LMRCSC since 2006. Since coming to UMES, he has established numerous programs for research and education in the marine sciences, which he also directs, including the National Science Foundation (NSF) CREST Center for the Integrated Study of Coastal Ecosystem Processes and Dynamics in the Mid-Atlantic Region (CREST-CISCEP) and the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates site in Marine and Estuarine Science. He is also Project Director of the geoscience bridge program funded by NSF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr Chigbu&#8217;s primary research interests are fisheries and zooplankton ecology, particularly the influence of variations in climatic factors on water quality and biota, and trophic dynamics in marine and freshwater environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/101\/2022\/10\/LMRCSC-Logo100.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3570\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/101\/2022\/10\/LMRCSC-Logo100.png 100w, https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/101\/2022\/10\/LMRCSC-Logo100-50x50.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center<br>University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Lead Institution)<br>(410) 651-7870<br>Award numbers: FY 2021 Award #NA21SEC4810005<br>Funding Agency:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.noaa.gov\/office-education\/epp-msi\">NOAA Educational Partnership Program (EPP\/MSI)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CENTER DIRECTOR Associate Dean for Research, Development and Graduate Education&amp;&nbsp;Professor of Marine Environmental (Fisheries) ScienceSchool of Agricultural and Natural SciencesUniversity of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Phone: (410) 621-3034 | Email:&nbsp;pchigbu@umes.edu&nbsp;| Fax: (410) 651-7739 2018 PAESMEM Award&nbsp;|&nbsp;CREST&nbsp;|&nbsp;REU&nbsp;|&nbsp;Geosciences&nbsp;|&nbsp;Curriculum Vitae&nbsp; Education University of Washington School of Fisheries, Seattle&nbsp;(1993)Ph.D., Fisheries University of Benin, Nigeria&nbsp;(1987)M.S., Zoology (Hydrobiology) University of Benin,&#8230;<span class=\"cpschool-read-more-link-holder\"><a class=\"btn btn-basic cpschool-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/faculty\/dr-paulinus-chigbu\/\">Read more <span class=\"sr-only\">Dr. Paulinus Chigbu<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1396,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"folder":[],"class_list":["post-1543","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1543","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1543"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1543\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1543"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/lmrcsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/folder?post=1543"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}