Academic Background 2013 PhD Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Bath (Thesis) 2007 MSc (Distinction) Mechatronics, University of Bath 2006 BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Bath Professional Experience 2015–present KTP Associate, University of Aberdeen and MeyGen Ltd. 2014–2015 Visiting Researcher, University of Washington 2011–2014 Named Research Fellow, FLOWBEC-4D project, University of Bath and Aberdeen 2010–2011 Knowledge Transfer Fellow, Project Edison: SMART-DC, University of Bath 2008–2009 Visiting Scientist, Biomimetic propulsor development, University of British Columbia 2008–2011 Field Engineer, AUV/ROV development, sonar surveys, CERF, British Columbia 2007–2010 Teaching Assistant, Sensing, data acquisition, marine robotics, University of Bath

Benjamin Williamson’s research includes AUV development, sensor integration and the environmental and ecological effects of marine renewable energy devices. His PhD developed hybrid-ROV/AUVs for near-shore habitat mapping of kelp beds using multibeam sonar and video. He is now a Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen, working on the FLOWBEC project with MeyGen Ltd to develop subsea platforms to track the interactions of fish, seabirds and marine mammals with wave and tidal energy devices.

B.J. Williamson, S. Fraser, Ph. Blondel, P.S. Bell, J.J. Waggitt, B.E. Scott (2017). Multisensor Acoustic Tracking of Fish and Seabird Behavior Around Tidal Turbine Structures in Scotland. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering. http://doi.org/10.1109/JOE.2016.2637179 S. Fraser, V. Nikora, B.J. Williamson, B.E. Scott (2017). Automatic active acoustic target detection in turbulent aquatic environments. Limnology & Oceanography: Methods.http://doi.org/10.1002/lom3.10155 L.E. Wiesebron, J.K. Horne, B.E. Scott, B.J. Williamson (2016). Comparing nekton distributions at two tidal energy sites suggests potential for generic environmental monitoring. International Journal of Marine Energy.http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijome.2016.07.004 J.J. Waggitt, P.W. Cazenave, R. Torres, B.J. Williamson, B.E. Scott (2016). Predictable hydrodynamic conditions explain temporal variations in the density of benthic foraging seabirds in a tidal stream environment. ICES Journal of Marine Science. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsw100 J.J. Waggitt, P.W. Cazenave, R. Torres, B.J. Williamson, B.E. Scott (2016). Quantifying pursuit-diving seabirds’ associations with fine-scale physical features in tidal stream environments. Journal of Applied Ecology. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12646 B.J. Williamson, Ph. Blondel, E. Armstrong, P.S. Bell, C. Hall, J.J. Waggitt, B.E. Scott (2015). A Self-Contained Subsea Platform for Acoustic Monitoring of the Environment Around Marine Renewable Energy Devices – Field Deployments at Wave and Tidal Energy Sites in Orkney, Scotland. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/JOE.2015.2410851