Christian Zimmerman to Lead Studies as New Director of the Alaska Science Center

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“We are very pleased and fortunate to have Dr. Zimmerman accept this position,” said USGS Alaska Regional Director Aimee Devaris. “His dedication and awareness of the unique challenges and opportunities that the Center faces will serve the staff well.”

Zimmerman has a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries with a minor in Geography from Humboldt State University and spent a year studying limnology at the University of Uppsala in Sweden. After earning a masters and doctorate degrees at Oregon State University he took a Post-doc at the University of Washington and the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center in Seattle, Washington.

“The Alaska Science Center is critical to the Department of Interior's mission in Alaska, providing objective and timely information to support management decisions regarding natural resources, natural hazards and ecosystems.  Dr. Zimmerman's experience leading multidisciplinary research and operational programs in Alaska have prepared him well for this new role.” said Devaris.

Zimmerman’s federal service began as a biological science technician at the Redwood National Park in California and he has also worked at the Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station in Oregon. Chris came to the Alaska Science Center in 2001 as a research fish biologist and was the team leader for the Fish and Aquatic Ecology Program from 2005 to 2014. Since 2014, Chris has led the Water, Ice and Landscapes Dynamics Office.

Shasby will remain with the Center working on a special assignment to coordinate the development of the next generation of satellite data products for Alaska. Shasby’s assignment working with the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science Center and NASA on mapping products will bring him full circle in his career in a way that will provide USGS and the state resource management agencies with a valuable legacy of useful and innovative information.