Associate Professor & Chair
Hurst Hall 105
voice 202.885.2181 | kiho@american.edu
Quick Links: CV | Kim Lab (under construction)
Dr. Kim is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Environmental Science at American University. He received his Ph.D. in 1996 at the University of Buffalo, studying the ecology of tropical coral reefs, and did his post-doctoral work at Cornell University, studying coral diseases. Dr. Kim is currently a member of the Ocean Studies Board (OSB) of the National Academies of Science (NAS). He has participated in working groups examining the ecology of diseases at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS), has worked with the British Council in promoting international networking for young scientists, and is currently an advisor to the Coral Disease Working Group of the World Bank. As Chair of the Department of Environmental Science at American University, Dr. Kim focuses on training undergraduate and graduate students to be clear and effective advocates for science in policy making.
Dr. Kim’s current research focuses on understanding the role of diseases in coral population ecology and the synergistic effects of environmental factors, such as nutrient pollution and ocean warming, in the decline of coral reefs. Projects on-going in my lab include:
- long-term monitoring of the impact of aspergillosis on sea fan corals in the Florida Keys.
- elucidating the role of microbial communities on coral surfaces in disease.
- examining the interaction between nutrient pollution and disease on corals reefs.
News:
- Dr. Kim was elected as a councillor to the International Society for Reef Studies.
- Dr. Kim was a co-author on a report published by the National Academies titled “Tackling Marine Debris in the 21st Century.” According to the report, current measures to prevent and reduce marine debris are inadequate, and the problem will likely worsen. Click here for the full report or a Brief.
- Dr. Kim co-chaired a session titled "Diseases on Coral Reefs" with Drew Harvell (Cornell) and Cathie Page (James Cook) at the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium in Fort Lauderdale, FL (July 8-11, 2008).
- Take a look a short video featuring Dr. Kim [click here], created during a panel presentation titled "Canary in a Coal Mine: What is Killing the Corals" at the Marian Koshland Museum of the National Academy of Sciences. The video also features Drs. Ove Hoeugh-Guldburg and Tundi Agardy.
Recent Publications (click here for a complete CV):
- Baker DM, MacAvoy SE, Kim K (2007). Relationship between water quality, δ15N, and aspergillosis of Caribbean sea fan corals. Marine Ecology-Progress Series 343: 123-130
- Ward JR, Kim K, Harvell CD (2007) Temperature affects coral disease resistance and pathogen growth. Marine Ecology-Progress Series 329:115-121.