USFRF Board Members
Steven A. Murawski
Steven A. Murawski, Ph.D.
Director and Principal Investigator
Center for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technologies (COMIT)
Steven A. Murawski, Ph.D. is the Downtown Partnership/Peter Betzer Endowed Chair of Biological Oceanography at the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science. He is a fishery biologist and marine ecologist involved in understanding the impacts of human activities on the sustainability of ocean ecosystems. Dr. Murawski currently serves as Director and Principal Investigator for the Center for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technologies (COMIT), a cooperative agreement between the NOAA Office of Coast Survey and the University of South Florida to develop technologies to map undersea ocean and coastal regions. He also serves as Principal Investigator of the Tampa Bay Surveillance project, a five year program to evaluate contaminants of emerging concern in Bay fishes, sediments and waste waters. His research interests are varied and center around the theme of acquiring actionable science to influence public policy and help achieve sustainable marine ecosystems.
Dr. Murawski formerly served Chief Scientist of the National Marine Fisheries Service and has a long record of achievement in providing scientific information necessary for sustainable use of living marine resources. He is the recipient of the American Fisheries Society’s Award of Excellence, the Department of Commerce Gold Medal, the Senior Executive Service Meritorious Rank Award, four NOAA Bronze medals and is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, among many other professional awards. His Ph.D. was awarded in 1984 from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst.