James is an Ecologist with NOAA’s National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science. His research focuses on coastal marine ecology with expertise in invasive species and marine aquaculture. Past research includes laboratory and field experiments on aquaculture candidate species, finfish reproduction, and invasiveness of marine organisms. James has recently documented the biology and ecology of invasive lionfish, studied the propagation of invasive colonial tunicates, helped develop an early detection and rapid response program for marine invaders in South Florida, and has cultivated over seven species of marine fishes and multiples species of molluscs.