Dr. Erik Cordes is a Full Professor and Chair of the Department of Biology. He received his M.S. from Moss Landing Marine Labs, his Ph.D. from Penn State University, and was a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard University. He has published over 100 papers on the ecology of the deep sea over the past 30 years, spent almost two years at sea on over 30 research cruises, and has made 47 dives in manned submersibles (including one to 6000 m depth). He is a self-described ocean explorer and ecological oceanographer who has led expeditions off of the east coast, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Costa Rica, and the Phoenix Islands. Dr. Cordes is among the Pool of Experts for the ongoing U.N. World Ocean Assessment, a member of the Steering Committee for Challenger 150, and on the Advisory Board of Earth Percent. He actively collaborates with professional communicators, visual artists, film-makers, and musicians to bring the deep sea to the widest audience possible.  

Some of his recent work can be found here:

http://sites.temple.edu/cordeslab