Academic Interests
Service and leadership in higher education, research in microalgal ecology and physiology, harmful algal blooms, phylogenetics of eukaryotic microbes, applications of algae and fungi in biotechnology
Degrees and Training
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, Center for Applied Aquatic Ecology, NC State University (2003 – 2006)
- PhD – Plant & Microbial Biology with minor in Biotechnology, North Carolina State University (2003)
- BS – Biology with minors in Chemistry and Geology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1992)
Appointments
- 2024 – present – Associate Dean for Academic Administration, College of Science, UNC Charlotte
- 2023 – present – Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, UNC Charlotte
- 2020 – 2024 – Associate Chair for Academic Programs, Department of Biological Sciences, UNC Charlotte
- 2014 – Acting Vice Chair for Research, Department of Biological Sciences, UNC Charlotte
- 2012 – 2023 – Associate Professor with tenure, Department of Biological Sciences, UNC Charlotte
- 2006 – 2012 – Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, UNC Charlotte
Awards & Honors
- 2021 – Co-recipient of R+D Award: Toward Carbon Neutrality – High-Performance Biochromic Window. Architect, Journal of the American Institute of Architects
- 2015 – Luigi Provasoli Award for the most outstanding paper published in the Journal of Phycology, Phycological Society of America
- 2013 – Recipient of the Corporate Strategic Partnership Award, Charlotte Venture Challenge (for company pitch, Sustainable Ethanol Technologies, LLC) (Charlotte, NC)
- 2011 – Invited Kavli Delegate for the U.S. National Academy of Sciences Indonesian-American Kavli Frontiers of Science Symposium for distinguished young scientists (Bogor, Indonesia)
- 2007 – Theodore L. Jahn and Eugene C. Bovee Award for the best research paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Society of Protistologists (authors: Skelton HM, Burkholder JM, Parrow MW)
- 2003 – Algae Highlights Feature Article in the Journal of Phycology recognized 2 publications from my dissertation research (J. Phycology 39, 629-632, 2003)
- 2003 – Kenneth R. Keller Research Award for Excellence in Doctoral Dissertation Research, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University
Courses Taught at UNC Charlotte
- BIOL 3111 – Cell Biology
- BIOL 3144L – Ecology Laboratory
- BIOL 3272 – Plant Physiology
- BIOL 4000/5000 – Biology of Algae
- BIOL 4000/5000 – Tree of Life: Eukaryotes
- BIOL 4600 – Senior Seminar
- BIOL 4284/5284 – Eukaryotic Microbiology
- BIOL 8200 – Interdisciplinary Colloquium
Selected Publications
Parrow MW, Ehrlich LC (in press) Chapter 7 Biology and Ecology: Dinophyta. In: Algae: Source to Treatment, Manual of Water Supply Practices M57, 2nd Ed. American Water Works Association, Washington DC, USA
Parrow MW, Rosen BH (in press) Chapter 8.4 Key to Common Freshwater Dinophyta (Dinoflagellate) Genera. In: Algae: Source to Treatment, Manual of Water Supply Practices M57, 2nd Ed. American Water Works Association, Washington DC, USA
Broemsen ELJE, Place AR, Parrow MW (2023) Division time (Td) for in situ growth measurements demonstrates thermal ecotypes of Karlodinium veneficum. Harmful Algae 131: 10258
Broemsen ELJE, Place AR, Parrow MW (2021) Quantitative nuclear DNA content and cell cycle analysis of a mixotrophic dinoflagellate by image cytometry. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods
Adolf JE, Parrow MW, Place AR (2020) Karlodinium veneficum: Still blooming and toxic sixty-two years later. In: Subba Rao, D.V. [Ed] Dinoflagellates: Classification, Evolution, Physiology and Ecological Significance. Nova Science Publishers, Inc., NY, pp. 353 – 403
Giles RL, Parrow MW (2020) US Patent and Trademark Office Patent Award No. US 10,662,454 B2: “Lignocellulosic Treatments and Applications Thereof”. Assignee: UNC Charlotte.
Gaspar TR, Chi RJ, Parrow MW, Ringwood AH (2018) Cellular bioreactivity of micro- and nano- plastic particles in oysters. Frontiers in Marine Science 5:1-8.
Lira B, Parrow MW, Tavera R (2017) Morphology and ecology of freshwater-blooming Durinskia baltica (Dinophyceae: Peridiniales) in Xochimilco, Mexico. Microbiology Research Journal International 18: 1-15
Carty S, Parrow MW (2015) Dinoflagellates. In Wehr JD & Sheath RG [eds] Freshwater Algae of North America: Ecology and Classification, 2nd Ed. Academic Press, Boston, USA, pp. 773-807
Kim K, Parrow MW (2015) Project-based learning: interdisciplinary collaboration of bio-facades in urban environment. In: Kim A, Choi J [Eds] Open Cities: The New Post-Industrial World Order. ACSA Press, Washington, DC, pp. 66-70
Giles RL, Zackeru JC, Galloway ER, Elliott GD, Parrow MW (2015) Single versus simultaneous species treatment of wood with Ceriporiopsis subvermispora and Postia placenta for ethanol applications, with observations on interspecific growth inhibition. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 99:66-72
Chi J, Parrow MW, Dunthorn M (2014) Cryptic sex in Symbiodinium (Alveolata, Dinoflagellata) is supported by an inventory of meiotic genes. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 61:322-327
Fawcett RC, Parrow MW (2014) Mixotrophy and loss of phototrophy among geographical isolates of freshwater Esoptrodinium/Bernardinium sp. (Dinophyceae). Journal of Phycology 50:55-70
Giles RL, Galloway ER, Zackeru JC, Naithani V, Parrow MW (2014) Two stage fungal biopulping solubilizes lignocellulosic carbohydrates without supplemental enzymatic hydrolysis. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 86:265-271
Fawcett RC, Parrow MW (2012) Cytological and phylogenetic diversity of freshwater Esoptrodinium/Bernardinium species (Dinophyceae). Journal of Phycology 48:793-807
Giles RL, Zackeru JC, Elliott GD, Parrow MW (2012) Fungal growth necessary but not sufficient for effective biopulping of wood for lignocellulosic ethanol applications. International Biodeterioration and Biodegredation 67:1-7
Giles RL, Galloway ER, Elliott GD, Parrow MW (2011) Two-stage fungal biopulping for improved enzymatic hydrolysis of wood. Bioresource Technology 102:8011-8016
Skelton HM, Burkholder JM, Parrow MW (2009) Axenic culture of the heterotrophic dinoflagellate Pfiesteria shumwayae in a semi-defined medium. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 56:73-82
Skelton HM, Burkholder JM, Parrow MW (2008) Axenic cultivation of the heterotrophic dinoflagellate Pfiesteria shumwayae and observations on feeding behavior. Journal of Phycology 44:1614-1624
Burkholder JM, Hallegraeff GM, Melia G, Cohen A, Bowers HA, Oldach DW, Parrow MW, Sullivan MJ, Zimba PV, Allen EH, Kinder CA, Mallin MA (2007) Phytoplankton and bacterial assemblages in ballast water of U.S. military ships as a function of port of origin, voyage time, and ocean exchange practices. Harmful Algae 6:486-518
Parrow MW, Elbrächter M, Krause MK, Burkholder JM, Deamer NJ, Htyte N, Allen EH (2006) The taxonomy and growth of a Crypthecodinium species (Dinophyceae) isolated from a brackish water fish aquarium. African Journal of Marine Science 28:185-191
Glibert PM, Burkholder JM, Parrow MW, Lewitus AJ, Gustafson DE (2006) Direct uptake of nitrogen and nitrogen nutritional preferences by Pfiesteria piscicida and Pfiesteria shumwayae. Harmful Algae 5:380-394
Kremp A, Parrow MW (2006) Evidence for asexual resting cysts in the life cycle of the marine peridinoid dinoflagellate, Scrippsiella hangoei. Journal of Phycology 42:400-409
Lewitus AJ, Wetz MS, Willis BM, Burkholder JM, Parrow MW, Glasgow HB (2006) Grazing activity of Pfiesteria piscicida (Dinophyceae) and susceptibility to ciliate predation vary with toxicity status. Harmful Algae 5:427-434
Marshall HG, Hargraves PE, Burkholder JM, Parrow MW, Elbrächter M, Allen EH, Knowlton VM, Rublee PA, Hynes WL, Egerton TA, Remington DL, Wyatt KB, Coyne KJ, Lewitus AJ, Henrich VC (2006) Taxonomy of Pfiesteria (Dinophyceae). Harmful Algae 5:481-496
Skelton HM, Parrow MW, Burkholder JM (2006) Phosphatase activity in the heterotrophic dinoflagellate Pfiesteria shumwayae. Harmful Algae 5:395-406
Glibert PM, Seitzinger S, Heil CA, Burkholder JM, Parrow MW, Codispoti LA, Kelly V (2005) The role of eutrophication in the global proliferation of harmful algal blooms – new perspectives and new approaches. Oceanography 18:198-209
Parrow MW, Burkholder JM, Deamer NJ, Ramsdell JS (2005) Contaminant-free cultivation of Pfiesteria shumwayae (Dinophyceae) on a fish cell line. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 39:97-105
Parrow MW, Burkholder JM (2004) Observations on zygote development and postzygotic divisions in Pfiesteria piscicida and cryptoperidiniopsoids (Dinophyceae). Harmful Algae 3:239-240
Parrow MW, Burkholder JM (2004) The sexual life cycles of Pfiesteria piscicida and cryptoperidiniopsoids (Dinophyceae). Journal of Phycology 40:664-673
Parrow MW, Deamer NJ, Alexander JL, Burkholder JM (2004) A cell cycle synchronization and culture purification technique for heterotrophic Pfiesteria and cryptoperidiniopsoid dinoflagellates analyzed by flow cytometry. Steidinger KA, et al. (Eds) Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Harmful Algae. IOC UNESCO, Paris, pp. 420-422
Parrow MW, Burkholder JM (2003) Reproduction and sexuality in Pfiesteria shumwayae (Dinophyceae). Journal of Phycology 39:697-711
Parrow MW, Burkholder JM (2003) Estuarine heterotrophic cryptoperidiniopsoids (Dinophyceae): life cycle and culture studies. Journal of Phycology 39:678-696
Parrow MW, Burkholder JM, Deamer NJ, Zhang C (2002) Vegetative and sexual reproduction in Pfiesteria spp. (Dinophyceae) cultured with algal prey, and inferences for their classification. Harmful Algae 1:5-33
Parrow MW, Burkholder JM (2002) Flow cytometric determination of zoospore DNA content and population DNA distribution in cultured Pfiesteria spp. (Pyrrhophyta). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 267:35-51
Stoecker DK, Parrow MW, Burkholder JM, Glasgow HB (2002) Grazing by microzooplankton on Pfiesteria piscicida with different histories of toxicity. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 28:79-85
Parrow MW, Glasgow HB, Burkholder JM, Zhang C (2001) Comparative response to algal prey by Pfiesteria piscicida, Pfiesteria shumwayae, and an estuarine ‘lookalike’ species. Hallegraeff GM, Blackburn S, Bolch CJ, Lewis RJ (Eds) Harmful Algal Blooms 2000, Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on Harmful Algal Blooms. IOC UNESCO, Paris, pp. 101-104
Burkholder JM, Glasgow HB, Deamer-Melia NJ, Springer J, Parrow MW, Zhang C, Cancellieri PJ (2001) Species of the toxic Pfiesteria complex and the importance of functional type in data interpretation. Environmental Health Perspectives 109:667-686
Glasgow HB, Burkholder JM, Morton SL, Springer J, Parrow MW (2001) Fish-killing activity and nutrient stimulation of a second toxic Pfiesteria species. Hallegraeff GM, Blackburn S, Bolch CJ, Lewis RJ (Eds) Harmful Algal Blooms 2000, Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on Harmful Algal Blooms. IOC UNESCO, Paris, pp. 97-100
Bralower TJ, Parrow MW (1996) Morphometrics of the Paleocene coccolith genera Cruciplacolithus, Chiasmolithus, and Sullivania: a complex evolutionary history. Paleobiology 22:352-385
Bralower TJ, Parrow MW, Thomas E, Zachos JC (1995) Stable isotopic stratigraphy of the Paleocene pelagic cap at Site 865, Allison Guyot. Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results 143:581-586
Bralower TJ, Zachos JC, Thomas E, Parrow MW, Paull CK, Kelly DC, Silva P, Sliter WV, Lohmann KC (1995) Late Paleocene to Eocene paleoceanography of the equatorial Pacific Ocean: stable isotopes recorded at Ocean Drilling Program Site 865, Allison Guyot. Paleoceanography 10:841-865