Biographical Sketch:

Coming from a biological oceanography background, Shelley originally focused on field research efforts utilizing autonomous underwater vehicles to study and model coastal ocean phytoplankton distribution. In 2012 she transitioned her research focus from biological oceanography to algae biofuels and algae based wastewater treatment and has been working with Dr. Tryg Lundquist for the last 8 years. She was the project manager for Cal Poly on the DOE STTR2 project 2016 – 2018 “Algal Bioflocculation for solid-liquid separation” and is currently managing the California Energy Commission project titled “Improving Energy Efficiency and Performance of Wastewater Recycling”

Education and Training:

University of California, Santa Barbara (High Honors)  B.A. Biology, 1997
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Academic Distinction)  M.S. Biology, 2001

Professional Experience:

2005 – present, Senior Research Associate, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA    

2016 – present, Scientist, MicroBio Engineering Inc. San Luis Obispo, CA 

2002 - 2004, Research Associate, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA                  

Publications and Key Presentation:

Benemann, J., Blackwell, S., Poole, K., Lundquist, T. (2018). Solid-Liquid Separation for Algal Systems. Final Report prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy pp. 64.

Benemann, J., Blackwell, S., Lundquist, T. (2018) Hydrothermal Processing of Wastewater Solids – Final Report on Waste Processing Research.  Prepared for the Water Research Foundation. pp. 180.

Crowe, B., Kelley, J., Leader, S., Spierling, R., Hutton, M., Blackwell, S., Lundquist, T. (2017, June). Wastewater algal and bacterial solids as biofuel precursors: Variations in biochemical composition. Oral presentation. 7th annual meeting of the International Algal Biomass Biofuels & Bioproducts, Miami, FL.

Blackwell, S., M. Hutton, R. Spierling, M. Chang, J. Kraesch, C. Reiff, A. Hill, C. Boggess, H. Spence (2016).  Recycled Nutrients and Water in Wastewater-fed Algae Biofuel Systems, Final report prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy, pp. 120.

Blackwell, S.M., R. Spierling, M. Hutton, T. Lundquist, K. Poorey, T. Lane (2016). Dynamics in Algal Productivity and Bioflocculation in Wastewater Fed Raceway Ponds. Presented at Algae Biomass Summit, Phoenix, AZ

Hutton, M., S. Blackwell, E. Zardouzian, R.Spierling, T. Lundquist. (2016). Long term study of low cost harvesting by bioflocculation. Algae Biomass Summit, October 26, 2016, Phoenix, AZ. Conference Presentation.

Kelley, J., Rodrigues, M., Ripley, E., Woertz, I., Spierling R., Blackwell, S., Presley, L., Lundquist, T. 2014. Waste-Grown Algae Biofuel Feedstock Production. Final Report prepared for the California Energy Commission. pp.176

Moline, M. A., S. M. Blackwell, J. E. Case, S.H.D. Haddock, C. M. Herren, C. M. Orrico, E. Terrill. 2009. Bioluminescence to reveal structure and interaction of coastal planktonic communities. Deep-Sea Res. 56:232-245.

Blackwell, S.M., M. A. Moline, A. Schaffner, G. Chang. 2007. Sub-kilometer length scales of physical and biological parameters in coastal waters. Cont. Shelf Res. 28:215-226.