Dr. Fabio De Leo is one of ONC’s Senior Staff Scientists whose research focuses on investigating the vast biological diversity that inhabits the ocean’s seafloor (marine benthos). He ensures that top-notch ocean researchers are involved with ONC and analyses data to produce breakthrough scientific knowledge about the processes, biodiversity, and effects of human-induced change in the ocean. As a benthic ecologist, he specializes in deep-sea ecosystems and the effects of anthropogenic stressors such as bottom fishing and climate change on community structure and function. Fabio holds multiple citizenships (Brazil, Spain, and Canada) and has accumulated over 23 years of seagoing experience having participated in research cruises in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern Oceans and the Mediterranean and Tasman Seas. His experience at sea also includes diving in manned submersibles as deep as 1.2 Km in submarine canyons off Hawaii. He earned a Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and an M.Sc. in the same field from the University of Sao Paulo. Fabio also lectures at various departments at UVic (Biology, Earth & Ocean and Computer Science) and co-supervises graduate and undergraduate students.