Maureen K Purcell, Ph.D.
I have been a scientist with the USGS since 2005. I was a microbiologist and then the Fish Health Section Chief at the Western Fisheries Research Center, and am now the Deputy Center Director of the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center.
Prior to joining FRESC's management team, I led a team of scientists, technicians, post-doctoral researchers, graduate students and visiting scientists working to improve methods for the detection of fish pathogens, determine factors affecting the epidemiology of fish diseases, and develop novel control strategies for reducing losses among both hatchery-reared and wild fish.
Professional Experience
2022 - Present: Deputy Center Director, U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR
2017 - 2022: Chief, Fish Health Section, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
2014 - Present: Affiliate Associate Professor, Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
2008 - 2016: Research Microbiologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
2005 - 2008: Microbiologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
1999 - 2000: Contractor, NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fishery Science Center, Seattle, WA
1997 - 1999: Professional Research Assistant, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2005. Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
M.S. 1997. Zoology, University of Maine, Orono, ME
B.S. 1993. Zoology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Fisheries Society - Fish Health Section
European Association of Fish Pathologists
Associate Editor - Journal of Aquatic Animal Health
Editorial Board - Fish and Shellfish Immunology
Editorial Board - Journal of Virological Methods
Honors and Awards
2016 - Presidential Early Career Service Award for Scientists and Engineers
2012 - U.S. Geological Survey, Western States Diversity Award group award to Fish Health Section
2012 - American Fisheries Society, Most significant paper in Journal of Aquatic Animal Health
2009 - U.S. Geological Survey, Best Professional Paper in Biology by a New Scientist
2008 - American Fisheries Society, Most significant paper in Journal of Aquatic Animal Health
2004 - Faculty Merit Award, U.W. School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences
Science and Products
Development and validation of a quantitative PCR to detect Parvicapsula minibicornis and comparison to histologically ranked infection of juvenile Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), from the Klamath River, USA
Differential virulence mechanisms of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) include host entry and virus replication kinetics
Characterization of the interferon genes in homozygous rainbow trout reveals two novel genes, alternate splicing and differential regulation of duplicated genes
Differential survival of Ichthyophonus isolates indicates parasite adaptation to its host environment
A genomic view of the NOD-like receptor family in teleost fish: Identification of a novel NLR subfamily in zebrafish
Decreased mortality of lake michigan chinook salmon after bacterial kidney disease challenge: Evidence for pathogen-driven selection?
Fish rhabdovirus models for understanding the host response to DNA vaccines
Strand-specific, real-time RT-PCR assays for quantification of genomic and positive-sense RNAs of the fish rhabdovirus, Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus
Conservation of Toll-like receptor signaling pathways in teleost fish
Evolution of the CD4 family: teleost fish possess two divergent forms of CD4 in addition to lymphocyte activation gene-3
Comprehensive gene expression profiling following DNA vaccination of rainbow trout against infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus
The evolution of vertebrate Toll-like receptors
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Development and validation of a quantitative PCR to detect Parvicapsula minibicornis and comparison to histologically ranked infection of juvenile Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), from the Klamath River, USA
Differential virulence mechanisms of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) include host entry and virus replication kinetics
Characterization of the interferon genes in homozygous rainbow trout reveals two novel genes, alternate splicing and differential regulation of duplicated genes
Differential survival of Ichthyophonus isolates indicates parasite adaptation to its host environment
A genomic view of the NOD-like receptor family in teleost fish: Identification of a novel NLR subfamily in zebrafish
Decreased mortality of lake michigan chinook salmon after bacterial kidney disease challenge: Evidence for pathogen-driven selection?
Fish rhabdovirus models for understanding the host response to DNA vaccines
Strand-specific, real-time RT-PCR assays for quantification of genomic and positive-sense RNAs of the fish rhabdovirus, Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus
Conservation of Toll-like receptor signaling pathways in teleost fish
Evolution of the CD4 family: teleost fish possess two divergent forms of CD4 in addition to lymphocyte activation gene-3
Comprehensive gene expression profiling following DNA vaccination of rainbow trout against infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus
The evolution of vertebrate Toll-like receptors
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government