Brian Dzwonkowski

Dr. Brian Dzwonkowski is an Associate Professor at the University of South Alabama's Stokes School of Marine & Environmental Sciences and a Senior Marine Scientist at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. He holds a Ph.D. (2009) and M.S. (2003) in Marine Studies from the University of Delaware, and a B.A. in Mathematics (1999) from The College of New Jersey.

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Marine Studies (Physical Oceanography), University of Delaware
  • M.S., Marine Studies (Oceanographic Remote Sensing), University of Delaware
  • B.A., Mathematics, The College of New Jersey

His research focuses on coastal physical oceanography, examining how tides, winds, and river discharge drive water movement and layering in coastal systems. He investigates interactions between physical processes and biogeochemical cycling, with emphasis on hypoxia, harmful algal blooms, and ecosystem vulnerability to climate change. His work integrates in situ data, satellite observations, and numerical models across spatiotemporal scales.

Recent publications highlight his expertise in hurricane-ocean interactions (e.g., J. Phys. Oceanogr., 2022), shelf hypoxia dynamics (e.g., J. Geophys. Res. Oceans, 2021), and estuarine-shelf exchange processes. Collaborative projects span topics like Vibrio ecology (2024), compound fluvial-marine flooding (2021), and coastal climate resilience.

Dr. Dzwonkowski mentors graduate and undergraduate students, including former Ph.D. advisees Steve Dykstra and Jeff Coogan. He contributes to coastal monitoring initiatives via the MyMobileBay.com platform and leads interdisciplinary studies on estuarine restoration (e.g., West Fowl River project).