Education:
Ph.D., University of Connecticut - 2007 (Oceanography)
B.S., University of Connecticut - 2000 (Coastal Studies)
Areas of Expertise:
Branco is interested in the dynamic interactions between physics, biology and chemistry in shallow aquatic environments. He has worked on the impacts of daily stratification and mixing on biogeochemical cycles in shallow lakes; the interactions between submerged canopies and hydrodynamics; and the coupling between sediments and the water column. His interests take him wherever there are interesting water quality or ecological issues associated with dynamic shallow waters.
Books and Publications
Vaudrey, J.M.P, J.N. Kremer, B.F. Branco and F.T. Short. "Eelgrass Recovery After Nutrient Enrichment Reversal." Aquatic Botany 93.4, November: 237-43. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2010.08.005. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2010
Branco, B.F. and T. Torgersen. "Diurnal Sediment Resuspension and Settling: Impact on the Coupled Physical and Biogeochemical Dynamics of Dissolved Oxygen and Carbon in a Shallow Water Body." Marine and Freshwater Research 60: 669-79. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2009
Branco, B.F. and T. Torgersen. "Predicting the Onset of Thermal Stratification in Shallow Inland Water Bodies." Aquatic Science doi:10.1007/s00027-009-8063-3. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2009
Torgersen, T. and B. Branco. "Carbon and Oxygen Fluxes from a Small Pond to the Atmosphere: Temporal Variability and the CO2/O2 Imbalance." Water Resources Research 44, W02417, doi:10.1029/2006WR005634. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2008
Torgersen, T. and B. Branco. "Carbon and Oxygen Dynamics of Shallow Aquatic Systems: Process Vectors and Bacterial Productivity." Journal of Geophysical Research 112, G03016, doi:10.1029/2007JG000401. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2007
Branco, B., T. Torgersen, J.R. Bean, G. Grenier and D. Arbige. "A New Water Column Profiler for Shallow Aquatic Systems." Limnology and Oceanography--Methods 3: 190-202. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2005
Torgersen, T., B. Branco and J. Bean. "Chemical Retention Processes in Ponds." Environmental Engineering Science 21.2: 149-56. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2004
Awards, Honors and Fellowships
Hudson River Fund, for "The Influence of Oyster Restoration on Nitrogen Cycling in the Hudson-Raritan Estuary." T. Hoellein, C. Zarnoch, B. Branco and D. Bruesewitz, co-principal investigators. $122,580; June 2011-June 2012. (Grants and Fellowships) 2011
PSC-CUNY Research Award, for "Diurnal Cycles of Sediment Resuspension in Prospect Park Lake." $3,407; July 2011 - June 2012. (Grants and Fellowships) 2011
Bridges Across Brooklyn Fellowship, Center for Teaching at Brooklyn College, for the development of a place-based curriculum for a geology Core Curriculum course. (Grants and Fellowships) 2010
National Science Foundation OEDG Planning Grant, for "Partnership for a Place-Based Geoscience Experience for Urban Students." B. Branco, principal investigator; J. Adams, R. Boger, E. Miele and W. Powell, co-principal investigators). $36,650; April 2010-March 2011. (Grants and Fellowships) 2010
Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums
"Linking Physical and Chemical Dynamics in Shallow Lakes." 21st Annual Symposium of the Grupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie, Station de biologie des Laurentides. St-Hippolyte, Canada, March 3-5. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2011
DeFelice, A., J. Adams, B. Branco, M. Foster and I. Akohoho. "Development of an Urban Environmental and Geoscience Place-based Curriculum Using Cogenerative Dialogue" [abstract]. Proceedings of the 2011 Annual International Conference of the National Association of Research in Science Teaching. Orlando, Fla., April 3-6. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2011
Lamb, A.R. Boger and B. Branco. "Analyzing the Trends of Water Quality Indicators iin Jamaica Bay, NY." Spring Meeting of the New England Estuarine Research Society. Port Jefferson, N.Y., May 5-7. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2011
Aquino, A., T. Minott, L. Oquendo, Z. Rosch, B. Branco and R. Boger. "GIS Analysis of 30 Years of Water Quality Data at Gateway National Recreation Area: An Undergraudate Research Project." Geological Society of America Abstracts With Programs 42.5: 457. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2010
Dabreo, K. and B.F. Branco. "Erosion and Accretion of Sediment at Plumb Beach in the Gateway National Recreation Area." Northeastern Section (45th Annual) and Southeastern Section (59th Annual) Joint Meeting. March 13-16. Geological Society of America Abstracts With Programs 42.1: 141. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2010
Powell, W., R. Boger, B. Branco and L. Yarrow. "Place-Based Initiatives for Urban Students of Introductory Geoscience Courses in Brooklyn." 2009 Portland GSA Annual Meeting. Oct. 18-21. Geological Society of America Abstracts With Programs 41.7: 490. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2009
Branco, B. and C. Oldham. "Vertical Mass Exchange across Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Canopies Using a New Eddy Correlation Method." ASLO Ocean Sciences Meeting. Orlando, Fla. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2008
Branco, B.F. and T. Torgersen. "Modelling Thermal Structure and Vertical Eddy Diffusivity in Ponds with the Princeton Ocean Model, Eos Trans. AGU, 85(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract H41F-0345. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2004
Professional Leadership
Member, Advisory Committee, First College Year Program at Brooklyn College. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2011
Member, Executive Board, Roberta S. Matthews Center for Teaching. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2011
Community Activities
Member, Wildlife Management Advisory Committee for the Prospect Park Alliance, Brooklyn. 2010
