BIOSONICS Inc.

BioSonics, Inc. is a consulting, engineering and manufacturing firm that specializes in applying hydroacoustics to monitor and assess aquatic biological resources.

BioSonics has its roots in the University of Washington Sea Grant Marine Acoustic Program, which was organized in 1968 to conduct research in fisheries acoustics. The company was founded in 1978 by University of Washington professor and then Sea Grant researcher, Bill Acker with the intent of building equipment for the scientific community based on ideas developed under the Sea Grant program. Initially a manufacturing and engineering company, we quickly saw the need and added a consulting division one year later. The fundamental structure of BioSonics, linking the engineering and consulting divisions has remained throughout our 25-year history. It is this in-house mix of system designers (engineers) and end-users (biologists) that drives product development to connect the latest technology to end-user needs.

Our first product was the Model 101 Scientific Echo Sounder. Several of these echo sounders are still in use after nearly 25 years. In 1987 we introduced the Echo Signal Processor (ESP). It was the first computer-based signal processor ever produced for hydroacoustics.

Our next major advancement in scientific echosounders came in 1994 with the introduction of the BioSonics DT Series of scientific echo sounders. A totally new acoustic platform, the DT design sets the digitizer next to the transducer ceramic requiring only minimal analog circuitry. Less analog circuitry means higher resolution, wider dynamic range (the ratio of the maximum signal level of a system to its noise level) and less vulnerability to noise (unwanted signals that interfere with the signals to be quantified) than any other digital hydroacoustic system currently available. The DT Series is the only hydroacoustic system available that digitizes the signal in the transducer.

Development and diversification continues today at BioSonics to service the ever-expanding market for hydroacoustic applications. In 2002 BioSonics introduced the next generation of its portable scientific echosounder, the DT-X series. This model features an embedded processor with Ethernet communication to the operating computer. New hardware and software features will allow dramatic improvements in speed, accuracy and stability while retaining the rugged, weatherproof, and affordable qualities of the DT and DE series. This new architecture enables users to use hydroacoustic techniques in new and exciting ways never before possible. A wide range of autonomous and wireless deployments will be added to existing assessment techniques, to allow users to acquire data from biological and physical features in virtually any aquatic environment.

BioSonics Staff

	Timothy Acker President and Chief Executive Officer Tim Acker joined BioSonics as a member of the Board of Directors in January 1998 and took over as President and Chief Executive Officer in November 1998. He earned his Geosciences Degree from the Pennsylvania State University and studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington. In his eight years at BioSonics, Tim has completely transformed the working environment into a tightly run, efficient family of skilled and motivated employees. In addition to strengthening and growing BioSonics core scientific echosounder business, Tim has launched several government funded product development programs to further grow the company in the areas of aquaculture and Homeland Security.
	Bev Acker Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Bev Acker joined BioSonics in 2000, as Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. She brings many years of financial experience to BioSonics. Her areas of responsibility include all accounting operations, banking, human resources, compliance, contract administration, and office management. Bev and her staff are committed to bringing the highest level of integrity and customer service to BioSonics' business relationships. She thoroughly enjoys the business process and opportunities to interface with BioSonics' customers worldwide. As a key member of the administrative team, she is actively involved in the day-to-day operations, interfacing with the Marketing and Sales, Technical Services, Manufacturing, and Engineering teams. Bev received her Bachelor's Degree in Finance with High Honors from Penn State University.
	Janusz Burczynski Senior Scientist and Principle Investigator Dr. Burczynski has worked at BioSonics since 1983 as a Senior Scientist. His responsibilities include managing various research, development, and application projects, as well as training customers in the use of modern hydroacoustic techniques. Before joining BioSonics, he worked at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN in Rome, Italy and at the Sea Fisheries Research Institute in Gdynia, Poland. His expertise lies in the application of underwater acoustics to fish stock assessment, fish and plankton monitoring, bottom classification, and aquatic habitat monitoring. He has supervised many research projects, including the preparation of research proposals and the execution of complex research and development projects. He has broad experience in the training of graduate students, postdoctoral associates, and mid-career scientists. Education: M.Sc. in Electric Engineering, Ph.D. in Fisheries Science.
	Mike Burger Senior Scientist Dr. Burger has a broad background in fisheries science and has conducted field research in riverine, estuarine, and marine ecosystems throughout the United States. In addition to his biological expertise, Dr. Burger has a comprehensive background in statistics. He joined BioSonics in 2005 as a senior scientist. He is responsible for the coordination and oversight of multiple aquatic assessment projects throughout the United States. He has participated in numerous projects designed for the further understanding and monitoring of juvenile salmonid passage at hydroelectric projects in the Pacific Northwest. In addition to fixed location monitoring, he has conducted mobile surveys of fish and invertebrate populations in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay. B.S., Oregon State University, 1986, M.S., Marine Biology, University of Delaware, 1992, Ph.D., Oceanography, Louisiana State University, 1998.
	Jie Cao Production Engineer Jie Cao has been a member of the BioSonics production team since 1994. She graduated from the Chang Chun College of Optics and Fine Mechanics and has worked with scientific instruments for over 25 years. Before coming to BioSonics, Jie worked at the Oceanography Institute of Academia Sinica in China designing and developing the wave telemeter and the ocean data buoy. Jie's strong skills and experience make it possible for her to build the highest quality acoustic instruments.
	James Dawson Senior Scientist and Acoustics Expert James Dawson joined BioSonics in 1981, initially specializing in development of mobile survey and fixed-location techniques. Before coming to BioSonics, Mr. Dawson was Staff Biologist at the University of Washington's Fisheries Research Institute through 1980. Primary tasks included design of scientific surveys, collection and analysis of acoustic data, and report writing. He has also worked in the development of products and algorithms. He specializes in shallow water applications, detection and tracking of underwater acoustic targets, and sonar deployment in challenging environments. He has worked on literally hundreds of hydroacoustic projects in rivers, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, hydroelectric power facilities, and marine environments.
	Martin Dinsmore Hydroacoustic Technician Martin Dinsmore joined BioSonics in 2004 as the Development, Fabrication, and Deployment Specialist. He assists with the deployment and retrieval of hydroacoustic equipment. His specialties include transducer mount design, fabrication, and deployment planning. Memberships: Mensa, Intertel.
	Assad E.K. Ebrahim Director of Engineering Director of Operations Assad Ebrahim is an applied mathematician and systems engineer with principal interests in algorithms, optimization, and intelligent systems. At BioSonics, Assad lead the design and development of the fifth-generation X-Series digital scientific echosounder system (a.k.a. DT-X). He currently leads the Engineering team's efforts to integrate state-of-the-art computational and embedded systems technologies to bring additional capabilities to the X-Series system and its real-time software. He also leads the implementation of sound operational processes and the growth of BioSonics' technical teams. Assad has received NSF and Sigma Xi research grants for his work in optimization (The Boeing Company - Phantom Works Advanced R&D Division) and in parallel algorithms (Parallel Numerical Linear Algebra Group, University of Missouri, Rolla). He is co-inventor on two patents for innovative hydroacoustic systems. Assad received his B.A. in Mathematics from Swarthmore College, and his M.Sc. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Washington.
	Bob McClure Director of Marketing and Sales Bob McClure, BioSonics Director for Marketing & Sales & Special Projects Manager, has over 20 years experience as a fisheries biologist. He has been responsible for fisheries assessment, fishery development, resource and harvest management, and numerous research projects. He has worked in the USA, Middle East, Caribbean, and Central Pacific in both private sector and government (US Agency for International Development and UN Food & Agriculture Organization). Bob received his B.Sc. in Biology from Eastern Oregon University and his M.Sc. in Fisheries Science from Oregon State University. His areas of expertise are in fisheries biology, computer applications, and business.
	Debbie McKinnon Production Coordinator Debbie McKinnon has been with BioSonics for 18 years. She has 28 years of Electrical and Mechanical Assembly experience. As Production Coordinator, Debbie handles purchasing, inventory control, and assembly. She is also responsible for shipping and receiving and preparation of international shipping documentation. In addition, Debbie assists our warranty service and repair technicians, frequently interfacing with our customers to coordinate the service process. With her many years of service, Debbie is a great resource, and offers her knowledge to BioSonics' co-workers, vendors and customers.
	Garett Newman R & D Production Engineer Garett Newman contributes to both the mechanical and electrical design aspects of BioSonics Engineering projects. He is currently involved in the design and development of the sixth generation X-Series echosounder. Garett graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, specializing in analog and digital circuits. Outside BioSonics, the distinction between work and play blurs as Garett applies his mechanical and electrical engineering expertise to the building and racing of Formula 4 racecars.
	Asa Packer Lead Systems Engineer Dr. Packer is a mathematician and computer scientist whose areas of expertise are in Optimization, Numerical Analysis, Algorithm Design, Computational Geometry, and Computer Graphics. His work experience prior to joining BioSonics included a number of positions developing scientific, mathematical, and computer graphics software. He received his B.A. in Mathematics and Computer Science with High Honors from Swarthmore College in 1992 and his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Washington in 2001, where his research focused on the computational complexity of certain geometric problems. He has published four articles in scientific journals.
	Peihong Ye Technician Pei joined BioSonics in September of 2003 as a Production Technician. Before coming to BioSonics, Pei studied Analytical Chemistry at Fudan University in Shanghai, China. He also worked as a technician at Fudan University in the Environment and Resource Biology Department.
	Linda Young Senior Accountant Linda Young has been with BioSonics as Senior Accountant since 2000. She has assisted the Vice President in developing and implementing internal controls as well as streamlining daily procedures. She is responsible for many accounting functions, including General Ledger, Accounts Payable, and Payroll processing, plus state, local and payroll tax return preparation. She received her B.A. in Accounting from Renmin University and has many years of professional experience with a variety of accounting tasks in U.S., China, and Japan. In her spare time, Linda likes designing knitting projects as well as gardening.