• Ph.D. Environmental Science, University of Maryland College Park, 2002
• M.S. Institute of Oceanography, Chinese Academy of Sciences Oceanography, 1994
• M.S. Computer Science, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 2001
• B.S. Environmental Science, Shandong University, 1991

Specific Research Interests:

Biological oceanography; Coastal ecosystem processes and dynamics; Eutrophication and harmful algae blooms.  Dr. Chunlei Fan's research interests focus on the quantitative study of coastal ecological processes and dynamics. By using the integrated, multidisciplinary approach, Dr. Fan's research explores some key questions in the coastal ecosystem, such as: identify and quantify the linkages among climatic, hydrological and ecological components in the coastal ecosystems by using modeling approaches, and monitor and determine the ecosystem responses to the changing climate at different spatial and temporal scales. Specific research topics/projects:

•  Microplastics and other emerging containments in the coastal environments, and its potential environmental and public health risks.
• Impacts of nutrients Inputs and climate changes on plankton population dynamics in coastal waters
• Characterization of and water quality and eutrophication processes using hyperspectral remote sensing and GIS
• Characterization of the spatial and temporal distribution of jelly fish in the Chesapeake Bay by using acoustic technology
• Bio-remediation of highly eutrophic waters in coastal bays

PUBLICATIONS:

• Liu, M., Ge, S., Bhandari, S., Fan, C., Jiao, Y., Gai, C., ... & Liu, H. (2022). Genome
  characterization and comparative analysis among three swimming crab species.
  Frontiers in Marine Science, 9.
• Smith, C., C.Fan, N. Drichko, S. Pramanik (2021). The occurrence of microplastics
  in Chrysaora chesapeakei in the Patuxent River, Maryland. Marine Pollution Bulletin
  (MPB-D-21-02531) Sumbitted.
• C, Fan, K. Clark, N. Mclean, M. Bundy (2020). The impacts of recycled concrete
  aggregate on epifaunal community structure and eastern oyster recruitment:
  Implication of using RCA as bottom conditioning material for oyster restoration and
  aquaculture. Current Research in Environmental Sustainability 2
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2020.100012.
• Huo, Y., Q. Liu, F. Zhang, C. Li, Z. Tao, H. Bi, C. Fan, J. Zhang, and S. Sun, (2020).
  Biomass and estimated production, and feeding pressure on zooplankton
  chaetognaths in the Yellow Sea, China. Terr. Atmos. Ocean. Sci., 31, 61-75, doi:
  10.3319/TAO.2019.06.26.01
• Junting Song, Hongsheng Bi, Zhonghua Cai, Xuemin Cheng, Yonghong He, Mark C.
  Benfield, Chunlei Fan. (2020) Early warning of Noctiluca scintillans blooms using in-
  situ plankton imaging system: An example from Dapeng Bay, P.R. China. Ecological
  Indicators, Volume 112, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106123