Bettina M. Sohst
Ocean Sciences
UCSC, E&MS building
Phone: (831) 459-2682
Email: blauhai@ucsc.edu
Personal Website:
http://www.tigerorchids.com
Experience
Currently: Assistant Specialist; Technician in Trace-Metal Chemistry/ Oceanography
University of California, Santa Cruz
Conducting Analytical Chemistry (Trace-Metals, Nutrients, Oxygen etc.) in seawater: Cruise
preparations, sampling, sample preparation, extraction, analysis and data processing.
Additional to tasks listed for “Specialist” occupations farther below:
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Autonomously plan and execute analysis of macro nutrients in seawater on a large scale using a three
channel flow-injection analyzer onboard ship as well as in the laboratory, including method
development.
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Plan, prepare for and execute seawater trace metal sampling on monthly sampling cruises on
Monterey Bay (CIMT project).
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Prepare, extract and digest seawater particulate samples for trace metal analysis on ICP-MS.
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Responsible for laboratory maintenance, laboratory organization and administration, and hazardous
waste coordination.
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Occasional cruise and laboratory help for other researchers and institutes (see below).
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Also currently: Marine Science Technician for the United States Antarctic Program/Raytheon
Polar Services: Shipboard Technical Support on Antarctic Research Cruises
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Autonomously plan and execute analysis of macro nutrients in seawater on a large scale using a five
channel flow-injection analyzer onboard ship, including method development, teaching of new users
and methods documentation.
Maintenance and troubleshooting of all USAP owned shipboard instruments (i.e. fluorometers,
salinometers, liquid nitrogen producing plant, oxygen analyzer, etc.).
Responsible for all hazardous waste (including radioactive waste) including all “cradle-to-grave”
documentation.
Instruction of all scientific personnel in instrument techniques, laboratory protocols, sample
shipments, radioactive safety etc.
Support for radioactive isotope usage on board ship. Responsible for tracking of all isotope material
and for waste coordination.
Responsible for safety in laboratories on board.
Help with instrument deployment out on sea as well as cargo handling, sample shipments and other
port call duties.
Previous positions:
Project Assistant, Technician and Field Team leader in Environmental Science/ Chemistry
Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, San Jose State University and California Fish & Game,
California
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Plan and execute field sampling for various analytes in water and sediment samples for a California
wide project.
Communicate with State Regional Water Quality Control Boards, Laboratory directors and with project
managers.
Conduct Methylmercury analysis, Chlorophyll a analysis and establish and execute further routine
laboratory measurements (i.e. Total Suspended Solids) including clean laboratory techniques.
Bettina M. Sohst
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Responsible for data management, for creating field-sampling reports, for establishing and
documenting Standard Operating Protocols (SOPs) and for field instrument maintenance.
Assist in database design.
Train new field- and laboratory personnel.
Attend state-wide project committee meetings.
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Research Specialist; Technician conducting research in Trace-Metal Chemistry/Oceanography
School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine
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Extract low-level seawater samples for trace metal analysis as well as prepare these samples for the
analysis. Analysis using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).
Responsible for data handling and interpretation, laboratory management, organization and
administration including the training of laboratory assisting personnel in trace-metal clean procedures
as well as radioactive isotope procedures. Order all necessary laboratory supplies and chemicals for
the cleaning and maintenance of all equipment used on cruises and for general laboratory
maintenance, i.e. instruments, supplies, equipment, etc.
Conduct metal bioassay manipulation experiments including the handling and application of
radioactive isotopes (beta-, gamma-emitters) as tracers as well as data collection for these
experiments using gamma- and liquid scintillation counters.
Use of carbon-14 (14C) and tritium (3H) tracers.
Prepare ultra pure reagents and coordinate hazardous and radioactive waste management.
Clean and prepare trace metal clean sampling equipment to be used on research cruises.
Set up and establish new laboratories/clean laboratories.
Train new personnel.
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Assistant Specialist; Technician conducting Trace-Metal Chemistry/ Oceanography
University of California, Santa Cruz
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Conduct Trace-Metal Chemistry in seawater: Sampling, sample preparation, extraction and analysis.
Implement Microwave Digestion methods for trace metal analysis.
Apply clean room protocols and trace-metal clean procedures.
Responsible for laboratory maintenance, laboratory organization and administration and hazardous
waste coordination.
Conduct Metal Bioassay Manipulation experiments.
Handle and apply radioactive isotopes (beta, gamma-emitters) as tracers.
Analyze metals using Voltammetric methods.
Occasionally apply Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy.
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Seagoing Technician position with the Ocean Data Facilities (ODF) of Scripps Institute of Oceanography,
UCSD on a temporary “as needed” basis
Participation in twenty oceanographic research cruises. Tasks on these cruises included, but
were not limited to:
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Autonomously plan and execute analysis of macro nutrients in seawater using a flow-injection
autoanalyzer, including method development, instruction and documentation.
Determine dissolved oxygen concentrations using a modified and partially automated Winkler
Titration method.
Conduct trace-metal clean Cross Flow Filtration (CFF) experiments on seawater samples and metal
bioassay manipulation experiments including incubation experiments using various radioactive metal
isotopes as tracers.
Sample, extract and prepare seawater samples for trace metal analysis.
Instrument maintenance.
Hazardous waste coordination in Antarctic waters.
Laboratory setup, maintenance and coordination as well as instruction of users.
Analyze cadmium and zinc concentrations in sea water using Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry Rotating Glassy Carbon Disk Electrode.
Collect various biological data on sea water samples (i.e. chlorophyll-, bacteria concentration);
plankton tows.
Bettina M. Sohst
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Deck operations, including deployment and recovery of large CTD rosettes, running hydraulic frames,
tag-lines etc.
Assist with routine data collection procedures (i.e. CTD, light casts, seawater sampling, nutrient
analysis, conventional filtrations) and with preparation and installation of portable vans and tracemetal clean surface seawater sampling system and equipment.
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Further Experience
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Certified Research Diver (Germany); worked for the Department of Marine Botany, Institute of Marine
Sciences, University Kiel - Germany: Baltic Sea shallow-water project (sediment sampling, transect
monitoring, photographic activities). At present 160 free water dives.
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Technical Assistant at the chemical-analytical laboratory of the “Mobil Oil AG” in Hamburg, Germany:
Autonomous activity within the product control department.
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Assistant Researcher at the Institute for Polar Ecology, University Kiel – Germany and at the
Department of Marine Botany, Institute of Marine Sciences, University Kiel – Germany.
Further Skills and Personal Interests
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Bilingual: German - English
Basic small boat handling experience
Orchid cultivation and habitat design
Photography
Running
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Martial Arts
Created and maintain website
(www.tigerorchids.com)
Diving, Snorkeling and Surfing
Mountain Biking
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Microsoft Word
Microsoft Excel
Assisted with database design
Computer Expertise
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Macromedia Dreamweaver
HTML
Adobe Photoshop
Microsoft Access
Experience on PC as well as some on
Macintosh
Education and Affiliations
Technische Universität Clausthal and Institute of Marine Sciences Kiel – Germany
Diploma in Chemistry – verified to be at least equivalent to Masters of Science (USA), 1993
American Orchid Society
Member, since 2000
Santa Cruz Orchid Society
Member, since 2001
Director, May 2002 through December 2003
Assistant Librarian, April 2002 through December 2003
American Judo and Jujitsu Federation
Member, 1996-2004
Bettina M. Sohst
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Awards and Publications
Johnson, K.S., K. Boyle, K. Bruland, K. Coale, C. Measures, J. Moffet, A. Aguilar-Islas, K. Barbeau, B.
Bergquist, A. Bowie, K. Buck, Y. Chai, Z. Chase, J. Cullen, T. Doi, V. Elrod, S. Fitzwater, M. Gordon, A.
King, P. Laan, L. Laglera-Baquer, W. Landing, M. Lohan, J. Mendez, A. Milna, H. Obata, L. Ossiander, J.
Plant, G. Sarthou, P. Sedwick, G.J. Smith, B. Sohst, S. Tanner, S. Van Den Berg, J. Wu, Developing
Standards for Dissolved Iron in Seawater, EOS 88 (11) 131-132, March 2007.
Lohan, M.C, K.N. Buck, A.M. Aguilar-Islas, B. Sohst, G.J. Smith, K.W. Bruland, Iron cycling within the
Columbia River plume: The role of tidal mixing and upwelling. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 70
(18): A369-A369 Suppl. S, AUG-SEP 2006.
Leblanc, K., C.E. Hare, P.W. Boyd, K.W. Bruland, B. Sohst, S. Pickmere, M.C. Lohan, K. Buck, M. Ellwood,
D.A. Hutchins. Fe and Zn effects on the Si cycle and diatom community structure in two contrasting high
and low-silicate HNLC areas. Deep-Sea Research Part I-Oceanographic Research Papers 52 (10): 18421864 OCT 2005.
Aguilar-Islas, A.M., M.P. Hurst, K.N. Buck, G.J. Smith, B. Sohst, M.C. Lohan, and
K.W. Bruland, Micro- and Macronutrients in the Bering Sea: Insight into iron-replete and iron-deplete
regimes, Progress in Oceanography, (accepted).
Highly Commended Certificate (HCC) awarded by the American Orchid Society (AOS)
for Psychopsis Mendenhall ‘Loki’, February 2003