Sr. Scientific Research Faculty - Ocean Engineer
Clifford (Cliff) R. Merz holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Science from the University of South Florida (USF) and has been a member of the research faculty at the USF’s College of Marine Science (CMS) for over 23 years where he is the Program and HF Radar Operations Director for the Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System (COMPS) program. COMPS addresses multidisciplinary issues of both scientific relevance and societal importance. Previously Dr. Merz was employed for over 15 years supporting naval maritime defense needs in the private sector. Dr. Merz is a four-term elected Commissioner for the City of Safety Harbor (Pinellas County, Florida), is a prior President of the USF Chapter of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), and in 2020 was one of 38 academic inventors nationwide named as a new NAI senior member in recognition of his efforts in marine-based renewable and sustainable technologies.
Dr. Merz is an Ocean Engineer, inventor, and patent holder of a marine-based energy technology that uses seawater concentration differences for salinity gradient power generation. Dr. Merz is the president and founder of Dialytics, Inc., a technology start-up company focused on research and commercialization of water-food-energy nexus technologies such a marine bio-waste reuse of Chitin in Chitosan based membranes, and in algae production for the aquaculture, nutraceutical, renewable bioplastics and biofuel sectors. He is a former two-term Board of Director member (2007 - 2013) of the NOAA/IOOS® Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA); the current Chairman of the Marine Technology Society’s (MTS) Marine Renewable Energy Committee. In 2014, Dr. Merz was selected to be a business mentor on one of 23 competitively awarded National Science Foundation I-CORPS program teams selected from around the country to engage in a multi-week effort linking academic researchers with members of the private sector towards entrepreneurship and technology commercialization.
Dr. Merz was first elected to the Safety Harbor Commission in 2012 where he has served the community in various ways including that of Commissioner, Vice-Mayor, and city representative to the: Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) board (2012 - 2014), the Forward Pinellas (MPO/PPC) board (2014 – 2016, 2020 - Present), and the Suncoast League of Cities (2012 – present). In 2017 he was an invited speaker at the 2017 Pinellas County Economic Leadership Symposium presenting on the workforce panel topic of: Preparing for the Future and in 2022 was invited to be a member of Forward Pinellas' Target Employment and Industrial Lands Study (TEILS) Advisory Committee. In 2018, Dr. Merz was competitively selected to participate in the Leadership Pinellas Program whose mission is to develop and enhance community leadership by providing a diverse group of emerging and existing leaders the opportunity to increase their community knowledge, civic network, and perpetuate community service.
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About Dr. Clifford R. Merz, PE
Clifford (Cliff) R. Merz holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Science from the University of South Florida (USF) and has been a member of the research faculty at the USF’s College of Marine Science (CMS) for over 23 years where he is the Program and HF Radar Operations Director for the Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System (COMPS) program. COMPS addresses multidisciplinary issues of both scientific relevance and societal importance. Previously Dr. Merz was employed for over 15 years supporting naval maritime defense needs in the private sector. Dr. Merz is a four-term elected Commissioner for the City of Safety Harbor (Pinellas County, Florida), is a prior President of the USF Chapter of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), and in 2020 was one of 38 academic inventors nationwide named as a new NAI senior member in recognition of his efforts in marine-based renewable and sustainable technologies.
Dr. Merz is an Ocean Engineer, inventor, and patent holder of a marine-based energy technology that uses seawater concentration differences for salinity gradient power generation. Dr. Merz is the president and founder of Dialytics, Inc., a technology start-up company focused on research and commercialization of water-food-energy nexus technologies such a marine bio-waste reuse of Chitin in Chitosan based membranes, and in algae production for the aquaculture, nutraceutical, renewable bioplastics and biofuel sectors. He is a former two-term Board of Director member (2007 - 2013) of the NOAA/IOOS® Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA); the current Chairman of the Marine Technology Society’s (MTS) Marine Renewable Energy Committee. In 2014, Dr. Merz was selected to be a business mentor on one of 23 competitively awarded National Science Foundation I-CORPS program teams selected from around the country to engage in a multi-week effort linking academic researchers with members of the private sector towards entrepreneurship and technology commercialization.
Dr. Merz was first elected to the Safety Harbor Commission in 2012 where he has served the community in various ways including that of Commissioner, Vice-Mayor, and city representative to the: Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) board (2012 - 2014), the Forward Pinellas (MPO/PPC) board (2014 – 2016, 2020 - Present), and the Suncoast League of Cities (2012 – present). In 2017 he was an invited speaker at the 2017 Pinellas County Economic Leadership Symposium presenting on the workforce panel topic of: Preparing for the Future and in 2022 was invited to be a member of Forward Pinellas' Target Employment and Industrial Lands Study (TEILS) Advisory Committee. In 2018, Dr. Merz was competitively selected to participate in the Leadership Pinellas Program whose mission is to develop and enhance community leadership by providing a diverse group of emerging and existing leaders the opportunity to increase their community knowledge, civic network, and perpetuate community service.
| Present | Program Director of the Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System, University of South Florida | |
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Disciplines
Grants
| 2018 - 2019 | National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) |
| USF - 2500-1745-00 | |
| Role: Principal Investigator | |
| $1,089,451 | |
| 2018 - 2019 | SECOORA |
| USF - 2500-1669-00 | |
| Role: Co-Principal Investigator | |
| Colleague(s): Bob Weisberg (PI) | |
| $110,000 | |
| 2018 - 2019 | Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA) |
| USF - 2500-1681-00 | |
| Role: Co-Principal Investigator | |
| Colleague(s): Mark Luther (PI) | |
| $51,000 |
Professional Service and Affiliations
| 2016 - Present | Chairman, Marine Renewable Energy Committee, Marine Technology Society | 2011 - Present | Member, National Academy of Inventors (NAI) USF Chapter | 2017 | Invited Speaker, Pinellas County Economic Leadership Symposium | 2015 | President, National Academy of Inventors (NAI) USF Chapter | 2014 | Business Mentor, National Science Foundation (NSF) I-CORPS Austin Cohort 1 | 2007 - 2013 | Board of Director Member and Treasurer, Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA) |
Honors and Awards
- Florida League of Cities (2014) Home Rule Hero Award recipient
| 2008 | PhD, University of South Florida | |
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| 1995 | MS, Florida Atlantic University | |
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| 1986 | MS, University of Connecticut | |
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| 1984 | BS, Florida Atlantic University | |
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Contact Information
phone: (727) 553-3729
Email: