Steve Murawski

Steve Murawski is a Research Professor and St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership Peter R. Betzer Endowed Chair at the University of South Florida (USF) College of Marine Science. He serves as Director and Principal Investigator for the Center for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technologies (COMIT), a NOAA Office of Coast Survey cooperative agreement, and formerly directed the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative-funded Center for Integrated Analysis and Modeling of Gulf Ecosystems (C-IMAGE).

Dr. Murawski earned his Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in 1984. His research focuses on population dynamics of exploited marine species, anthropogenic stress impacts on ecosystems, and ecosystem modeling. Specializing in Fisheries Biology, Marine Ecology, Pollution Impacts, Ocean Mapping, and Undersea Technologies, he develops science-based approaches for marine resource sustainability.

His recent publications (2023-2025) reveal strong emphasis on Gulf of Mexico ecosystem dynamics, advanced bathymetric mapping techniques, and pollution impacts. Key trends include multiscale terrain modeling (e.g., MultiscaleDTM), genetic population analyses, oil spill effects, and contaminant studies (PFAS, PAHs), demonstrating integration of geospatial technology with ecological assessment.

Dr. Murawski's scientific recognition includes:

• Department of Commerce Gold Medal
• Senior Executive Service Meritorious Rank Award
• Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

As Principal Investigator for COMIT and former C-IMAGE Director, he secured multi-million-dollar funding from NOAA and GoMRI. His educational initiatives like Scientist at Sea enhance geoscience diversity through research-integrated training. Dr. Murawski formerly served as Chief Scientist of the National Marine Fisheries Service, providing foundational science for global fisheries management.

He leads COMIT's five focus areas: Uncrewed Systems, Enhanced Geodetic Observations, Applied Hydrography, Forecasting & Remote Sensing, and Coastal Network Development. His C-IMAGE consortium involved 18 institutions across 5 countries studying Deepwater Horizon impacts, producing 250+ publications and $36.6M in research.