Bio
Associate of Science degree in Biology from Roane State
Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Biology from Tennessee Tech
He has spent the last 15 years working as an aquatic ecologist with multiple government agencies and is currently employed at Oak Ridge National Lab. Michael has travelled extensively throughout the Tennessee River Valley, where he has collected over 200 different species of freshwater fish. His primary responsibility is to collect, process, and ship fish samples to various labs for contaminant analysis. Michael also assists with fish collections for population and density surveys, collection of benthic macroinvertebrates, treatment of invasive plants, and to prepare summary statistics and reports for sponsors. In 2015, he contributed to a BBC World: Horizons episode titled “Pollution Solutions” illustrating ongoing mercury research at Oak Ridge National Lab. In 2021, he contributed to a CBS Mission Unstoppable episode "Testing Stream Systems for Toxins". He also participates in educating middle and high school students on the importance of conservation and environmentalism through various outreach programs.
Highlights
Michael had the opportunity to take ROV Pilot training at NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston, Texas.
He had one-on-one interactions with Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry during a visit to ORNL's Aquatic Ecology Lab. This included various hands-on displays of local fish.
Michael was a technician for a 10 day trip to Nome, Alaska in support of the NGEE Arctic project.
Awards
Best Professional Presentation – 2021 Tennessee Chapter American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting
“Using a Collaborative Approach for Sampling Striped Bass for PCB Analysis in a Deep Reservoir While Reducing By-Catch”
M.W. Jones, R.T. Jett, W.K. Roy, T.J. Mathews, M.J. Peterson
Other Publications
M.W. Jones, N.J. Jones, R.T. Jett, T.J. Mathews, K.A. Lowe, J. Baker. “Field Report for the Evaluation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Fish and SPMDs Near the US Department of Energy Kansas City Plant, Summer 2021.” ORNL/LTR-2021/2192. September 2021.
T.J. Mathews, P.G. Matson, L.M. Stevenson, N.J. Jones, M.W. Jones, N.A. Griffiths. “Assessment of Containment Bioaccumulation in Aquatic Biota on and Adjacent to the Oak Ridge Reservation – 2020.” ORNL/TM-2021/1891. September 2021.
T.J. Mathews, R.T. Jett, N.A. Griffiths, P.G. Matson, N.J. Jones, A.M. Fortner, M.W. Jones, C.R. Derolph. “East Tennessee Technology Park Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program – 2021 Fiscal Year Report” ORNL/SPR-2021/2161. September 2021.
T.J. Mathews, R.T. Jett, N.A. Griffiths, J.M. Herold, A.M. Fortner, N.J. Jones, M.W. Jones, S.E. Darling, E. Carter. “Operational and Performance Monitoring of East Tennessee Technology Park Ponds – 2021 Results” ORNL/TM-2021/2276. September 2021.
S.C. Brooks, T.J. Mathews, R.T. Jett, B.M. Pracheil, M.W. Jones, A.M. Fortner, K.A. Lowe. “Rogers Quarry Special Studies Report 2021” ORNL/SPR-2021/2163. September 2021.
T.J. Mathews, R.T. Jett, N.A. Griffiths, P.G. Matson, A.M. Fortner, M.W. Jones, N.J. Jones, C.R. Derolph. East Tennessee Technology Park Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program – 2020 Calendar Year Report” ORNL/TM-2020/1887. January 2021
T.J. Mathews, R.T. Jett, N.A. Griffiths, N.J. Jones, A.M. Fortner, M.W. Jones, C.R. Derolph, P.G. Matson. “East Tennessee Technology Park Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program – 2020 Fiscal Year Report” ORNL/SPR-2020/1578. September 2020.
T.J. Mathews, R.T. Jett, N.A. Griffiths, J.M. Herold, A.M. Fortner, N.J. Jones, M.W. Jones, S.E. Darling, E. Carter. “Operational and Performance Monitoring of East Tennessee Technology Park Ponds – 2020 Results” ORNL/LTR-2020/32. September 2020.
B.M. Pracheil, S.C. Brooks, T.J. Mathews, R.T. Jett, M.W. Jones, A.M. Fortner, K.A. Lowe. “Rogers Quarry Special Studies Report 2020” ORNL/SPR-2020/1575. September 2020.
T.J. Mathews, N.A. Griffiths, R.T. Jett, N.J. Jones, M.W. Jones, A.M. Fortner, L.M. Stevenson,
P.G. Matson. “Y-12 National Security Complex Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program – 2019 Calendar Year Report” ORNL/SPR-2020/1562. July 2020.
T.J. Mathews, R.T. Jett, N.A. Griffiths, A.M. Fortner, M.W. Jones, N.J. Jones, C.R. Derolph, M.J. Peterson. “East Tennessee Technology Park Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program – 2019 Calendar Year Report” ORNL/SPR-2019/1412. January 2020.
Chu R K ; Goldman A E ; Brooks S C ; Danczak R E ; Garayburu-Caruso V A ; Graham E B ; Jones M ; Jones N ; Lin X ; Morad J W ; Ren H ; Renteria L ; Resch C T ; Tfaily M ; Tolic N ; Toyoda J G ; Wells J R ; Stegen J C: “WHONDRS 48 Hour Diel Cycling Study at the East Fork Poplar Creek in Tennessee, USA.” Worldwide Hydrobiogeochemistry Observation Network for Dynamic River Systems (WHONDRS). doi:10.15485/1577278. 2019.
T.J. Matthews, D.G. Mattie, G.W. Morris, A.M. Fortner, R.T. Jett, M.W. Jones, N.J. Jones, C.R. Derolph, M.J. Peterson. “Oak Ridge National Laboratory Toxicity Identification/Reduction Evaluation for the Y-12 National Security Complex Outfall 200.” ORNL/TM-2019/1268. September 2019.
M.J. Peterson, T.J. Mathews, B.M. Pracheil, N.J. Jones, A.M. Fortner, M.W. Jones, N. Griffiths. “ORNL Progress Report for the TVA-Kingston Project, FY 2019” ORNL/LTR-2019/1224. September 2019
M.J. Peterson, T.J. Mathews, R.T. Jett, B.M. Pracheil, S.C. Brooks, M.W. Jones, A.M. Fortner, K.A. Lowe. “Rogers Quarry Special Studies Report 2019” ORNL/SPR-2019/1099. September 2019
M.J. Peterson, R.T. Jett, T.J. Mathews, M.W. Jones, A.M. Fortner, N.J. Jones. “East Tennessee Technology Park Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program 2019 Fiscal Year Report” ORNL/SPR-2019/1244. September 2019
M.J. Peterson, T.J. Mathews, R.A. McManamay, R.T. Jett, N.J. Jones, J.G. Morris, M.W. Jones, A.M. Fortner, G.W. Morris. “Y-12 National Security Complex Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program – 2018 Calendar Year Report” ORNL/SPR-2019/1176. July 2019
M.J. Peterson, R.T. Jett, T.J. Mathews, R.A. McManamay, A.M. Fortner, M.W. Jones, N.J. Jones, J.G. Morris. “East Tennessee Technology Park Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program, 2018 Calendar Year Report” ORNL/SPR-2019/1076. January 2019
M.J. Peterson, M.W. Jones, R.T. Jett, N.J. Jones, C. Brandt, T.J. Mathews, C.R. Derolph. “Evaluation of PCBs in Fish from Indian Creek and the Blue River: DOE Kansas City Plant Studies – 2017 Update” ORNL /SPR-2019/1064. January 2019
M.J. Peterson, T.J. Mathews, R.T. Jett, R.A. McManamay, J.M Herold, A.M. Fortner, M.W. Jones, S.E. Darling, E.E. Tobin. September 2018. “Operational and Performance Monitoring of ETTP Ponds - 2018 Results.” ORNL/LTR-2018/911
M.J. Peterson, R.T. Jett, T.J. Mathews, M.W. Jones, A.M. Fortner, R.A. McManamay, N.J. Jones. September 2018. “East Tennessee Technology Park Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program 2018 Fiscal Year Report.” ORNL/SR-2018/903
S.C. Brooks, T.J. Mathews, M.J. Peterson, N.J. Jones, M.W. Jones, K. A. Lowe, J.G. Morris, R.T. Jett. September 2018. “Bear Creek Special Studies Report 2018.” ORNL/SPR-2018/909
M.J. Peterson, T.J. Mathews, R.T. Jett, B.M. Pracheil, S.C. Brooks, K.A. Lowe, A.M. Fortner, N.J. Jones, M.W. Jones. September 2018. “Rogers Quarry Special Studies Report.” ORNL/SPR-2018/904
M.J. Peterson, T.J. Mathews, B.M. Pracheil, R.A. McManamay, J.G. Smith, M.S. Greeley, A.M. Fortner, G.W. Morris, M.W. Jones, R.T. Jett, C. Brandt, N.J. Jones. September 2018. “2018 ORNL Progress Report for the TVA-Kingston Project.” ORNL/SPR-2018/902
J.G. Smith, T.J. Mathews, M. J. Peterson, N.J. Jones, M.W. Jones, C.L. Standish. September 2018. “Biouptake of Mercury by Lower East Fork Poplar Creek Floodplain Invertebrates.” ORNL/TM-2018/928
M.J. Peterson, T.J. Mathews, R.A. McManamay, R.T. Jett, N.J. Jones, M.W. Jones, A.M. Fortner, G.W. Morris. July 2018. Y-12 National Security Complex Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program – 2017 Calendar Year Report. ORNL/SPR-2018/886
M.J. Peterson, et. al. July 2018. Mercury Remediation Technology Development for Lower East Fork Poplar Creek – 2017 Progress Report. ORNL/TM-2017/480
M.J. Peterson, R.T. Jett, T.J. Mathews, R.A. McManamay, J.G. Smith, A.M. Fortner, M.W. Jones, N.J. Jones. March 2018. “East Tennessee Technology Park Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program – 2017 Calendar Year Report.” ORNL/SPR-2017/581
M.J. Peterson, R.T. Jett, M.W. Jones, N.J. Jones, M. Stites. September 2017. “Field Report for the Evaluation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Fish and SPMDs Near the US Department of Energy Kansas City Plant, Summer 2017.” ORNL/LTR-2017/475
M.J. Peterson, R.T. Jett, T.J. Mathews, M.W. Jones, A.M. Fortner, R.A. McManamay, N.J. Jones. September 2017. “East Tennessee Technology Park Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program 2017 Fiscal Year Report.” ORNL/SR-2017/481
M.J. Peterson, S.C. Brooks, T.J. Mathews, N.J. Jones, M.W. Jones, K.A. Lowe, J. McCurdy, J.G. Morris, R.T. Jett. September 2017. “Bear Creek Special Studies Report 2017.” ORNL/SPR-2017/516
M.J. Peterson, T.J. Mathews, R.T. Jett, B.M. Pracheil, S.C. Brooks, M.S. Greeley, M.W. Jones. September 2017. “Rogers Quarry Special Studies Report 2017.” ORNL/SPR-2017/517
M.J. Peterson, T.J. Mathews, R.T. Jett, J.M Herold, W.K. Roy, A.M. Fortner, M.W. Jones. September 2017. “Operational and Performance Monitoring of the K-1007-P1 Pond Summary of FY 2017 Results.” ORNL/LTR-2017/477
M.J. Peterson, M.S. Greeley, T.J. Mathews, B.M. Pracheil, J.G. Smith, R.A. McManamay, A.M. Fortner, M.W. Jones, C.Brandt, N.J. Jones. September 2017. “2017 ORNL Progress Report for the TVA-Kingston Project.” ORNL/SPR-2017/488
M.J. Peterson, R.T. Jett, T.J. Mathews, R.A. McManamay, J.G. Smith, A.M. Fortner, M.W. Jones, N.J. Jones. January 2017. “East Tennessee Technology Park Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program – 2016 Calendar Year Report.” ORNL/SR-2017/62
M.J. Peterson, R.T. Jett, T.J. Mathews, M.W. Jones, A.M. Fortner, J.G. Smith, G.W. Morris, W.K. Roy. September 2016. “East Tennessee Technology Park Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program 2016 Fiscal Year Report.” ORNL/SR-2016/506
M.J. Peterson, J.G. Smith, T.J. Mathews, R.T. Jett, W.K. Roy, M.W. Jones, A.M. Fortner. September 2016. “Operational and Performance Monitoring of the K-1007-P1 Pond Summary of FY 2016 Results.” ORNL/SR-2016/505
M.J. Peterson, M.S. Greeley, R.T. Jett, T.J. Mathews, J.G. Smith, A.M. Fortner, M.W. Jones. January 2016. “East Tennessee Technology Park Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program – 2015 Calendar Year Report.” ORNL/SPR-2016
2016 Remediation Effectiveness Report for the U.S. Department of Energy – Oak Ridge Reservation. DOE/OR/01-2707&D2
J.G. Smith, T.J. Mathews, M.J. Peterson, N.J. Jones, M.W. Jones. March 2016. “Assessment of Contaminant Bioaccumulation in Aquatic Biota on and Adjacent to the Oak Ridge Reservation – 2015.” ORNL/TM-2016/133
M.J. Peterson, G. R. Southworth, M.W. Jones, M. E. Stites. August 2015. “Food chain accumulation of PCBs and dioxin-like biphenyls in an urban stream.” ORNL Summary Report
2015 Remediation Effectiveness Report for the U.S. Department of Energy – Oak Ridge Reservation. DOE/OR/01-2675&D2
M.J. Peterson, M.S. Greeley, R.T. Jett, T.J. Mathews, A. M. Fortner, M.W. Jones. January 2015. “East Tennessee Technology Park Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program - 2014 Calendar Year Report.” ORNL/SPR-2015/43
M.J. Peterson, S.C. Brooks, T.J. Mathews, M. Mayes, A Johs, J.H. Kidder, D.B. Watson, M.D. Poteat, M.W. Jones, J.G. Morris, E. Pierce. September 2014. “Mercury Remediation Technology Development for East Fork Poplar Creek—FY 2014 Progress Report.”
ORNL/LTR-2014/504.
2013 Remediation Effectiveness Report for the U.S. Department of Energy – Oak Ridge Reservation. DOE/OR/01-2594&D2