Contact:
Biography:
Josh is a New Orleans native pursuing his postdoctoral degree in Phytoplankton Ecology at MOTE Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. After his undergraduate degree at Tulane University, Josh worked for several years for aquariums and marine research facilities in dolphin and sea turtle rescue, animal husbandry and life support systems. Currently, Josh is working with his advisor, Dr. Vince Lovko, to lead two projects focused on mitigation strategies for toxic freshwater cyanobacteria, including Microcystis spp. Josh is interested in pursuing a research-based career involving coastal morphodynamics, hydrology and the impacts on environmental and human health.
Education:
M.S. in Earth and Environmental Science, University of New Orleans
M.S. in Marine Resources Management, Texas A&M University at Galveston
Ph.D. in Environmental Health Science, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
Additional Publications
Dellapenna, T. M., Lee, G. H., Rogers, J., Lin, P., Alarcon, J., & Chang, J. (2026). Impact of an Estuarine Dam on Sediment Distribution and Accumulation in the Geum Estuary, South Korea. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 109717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2026.109717
Nelson, A., Cedraz, F. M. A., Vigil, K., Alarcon, J., & Aw, T. G. (2025). Spatiotemporal distribution and species diversity of pathogenic Vibrios in estuarine recreational waters of southeast Louisiana. bioRxiv, 2025-07. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.07.16.665201
Alarcon, J., Brighton, K., Nelson, A., Mac-Allister Cedraz, F., & Aw, T. G. (2025). Spatiotemporal variability in microbial water quality and fecal source tracking markers in a subtropical estuary and its tributaries. Journal of Water and Health, jwh2025083. https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2025.083
Alarcon, J., Ward, L., Pan, K., Gonsoroski, E., Uejio, C. K., Beitsch, L., ... & Sherchan, S. (2023). HABs Karenia brevis and Pseudo-nitzschia pre-and post-Hurricane Michael. Journal of Water and Health, 21(4), 491-500. https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2023.302
Sherchan, S., Shahin, S., Alarcon, J., Brosky, H., Potter, C., & Dada, A. C. (2022). Microbial source tracking of fecal contamination in stormwater runoff. Journal of Water and Health, 20(9), 1271-1283. https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2022.286
A. Shahin, S., H. Alarcon, J., Brosky, H. N., Lamori, J. G., Dada, A. C., Xue, J., ... & P. Sherchan, S. (2022). Occurrence of Naegleria fowleri and faecal indicators in sediments from Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana. Journal of Water and Health, 20(4), 657-669. https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2022.285