Ilya Nikanorov is a Senior Marine Technician for the University of Miami, Marine Technology Group.
Interview with Marine Technician Ilya Nikanorov
Interview by Cindy Renkas of the Ocean Explorer TeamOcean Explorer: What is your job title?
Ilya Nikanorov: Sr. Marine Technician
Ocean Explorer: For whom do you work?
Ilya Nikanorov: University of Miami, Marine Technology Group
Ocean Explorer: What are your typical duties?
Ilya Nikanorov: Assistance to science party in pre-cruise preparations. Provide support and maintenance for data collection equipment installed by the University of Miami on board the R/V Seward Johnson. Oversee usage of this equipment by the science party during the expedition, including training, quality control, and deck operation supervision. Provide liaison services between science party and the ship's crew.
Ocean Explorer: What are some of your out-of-the-ordinary duties?
Ilya Nikanorov: Counseling, conflict resolutions.
Ocean Explorer: What is your educational and professional background?
Ilya Nikanorov: BS Marine Electronic Engineering
BS Systems Design
Ocean Explorer: What kind of preparation would you recommend for someone interested in this kind of job?
Ilya Nikanorov: Technical degree (electronics/computers) and ability to work with people; experience being at sea.
Ocean Explorer: What are the things you like best about your job?
Ilya Nikanorov: Travel, work environment, opportunity to observe and sometimes participate in marine science research, ability to experiment with new technologies.
Joe Vitale is a Senior Marine Technician for the University of Miami, Marine Technology Group.
Interview with Marine Technician
Joe Vitale
Interview by Cindy Renkas of the Ocean Explorer Team
Ocean Explorer: What is your job title?
Joe Vitale: Sr. Marine Technician
Ocean Explorer: For whom do you work?
Joe Vitale: University of Miami, Marine Technology Group
Ocean Explorer: What are your typical duties?
Joe Vitale: Responsible for the operation and repair of data collecting instruments measuring water properties, weather conditions, heat, light, wind speed, water conductivity, salinity, temperature, ocean depth, ocean bottom tracking, ocean currents, and earth samples (coring). We are also responsible for the electronics, network, computers and satellite email operations of the ship.
Ocean Explorer: What are some of your out-of-the-ordinary duties?
Joe Vitale: Many times our instruments need to be housed or repaired in a certain way and most of the time we have to custom build something for our instruments to operate aboard an ocean going vessel.
Ocean Explorer: What is your educational and professional background?
Joe Vitale: Certified Information Systems Technician - US Navy
Certified Electronics Specialist - US Navy
Microsoft Certified Systems EngineerOcean Explorer: What kind of preparation would you recommend for someone interested in this kind of job?
Joe Vitale: Background in electronics and computers; shipboard experience; hands-on knowledge of marine operations and marine technology.
Ocean Explorer: What are the things you like best about your job?
Joe Vitale: Something new to learn in this field everyday; having the freedom to formulate and experiment with new ideas for instruments and operations.
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