STUDENT RESEARCHERS

My research lab supports training opportunities for both graduate (Master's in Biology) and undergraduate students. Undergraduate students at Grand Valley State University are welcome to inquire about possible opportunities to work on an existing research project or to develop an independent research project. For prospective graduate students, I will advertise here if there are funded MS positions available. If you have MS project ideas in mind that align with my research lab's focus, don't hesitate to reach out.

ABIGAIL STASKO

Abby is pursuing a M.S. in Biology at GVSU and is contributing to the lab's focus on studying plant community change and dynamics using a long-term monitoring data set. Her study system is the aquatic plant community of the Turtle Flambeau Flowage in NE Wisconsin, a 13,000 acre flowage system constructed in 1926. Recent invasions by Eurasian watermilfoil are a concern and so her work will contribute to future management planning. Prior to grad school, Abby worked as a biological technician at the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. As an undergraduate researcher at Northland College, Abby contributed to our lab's research on long-term changes in groundlayer species in northern forests ('Plant Watch' monitoring program) as well as coastal wetland plant surveys in the Kakagon-Bad River Sloughs. After graduation from Northland, she worked on our botanical crew studying long-term changes in Lake Superior dune communities.

JUNIPER & SIDE OATS 'OATY'

They work for lots of treats, pets, and walks. They help collect seeds in their fur and they sniff out blueberries. Named after the national flower of Tunisia where she's from, Jasmine is a Village Dog adopted from a pet rescue. Named after the delicate prairie grass from the Great Plains where he was rescued, Side Oats Gramma, "Oaty" is always by Jasmine's side.

Lab Alumni:

Please contact me with any updates!

The following students worked in my research lab when I taught at Northland College.

Julia Johnson - B.S. Natural Resources-Fisheries and Wildlife Management; Botanist for dune vegetation and Plant Watch forest monitoring program.

Isabel Sonora - B.S. Biology; Plant Watch project botanist for forest monitoring program. Current: Research Technician

Claire Anderson - B.S. Natural Resources-Ecological Restoration; Plant Watch project botanist for forest monitoring program; rare plant monitoring at Isle Royale National Park. Current: NPS botanist

Tyrease 'TJ' James - B.S. Natural Resources-Forestry; Forest vegetation surveys for the Plant Watch northern hardwood forest monitoring program; rare plant monitoring at Isle Royale National Park; tree surveys for proposed trails in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Current: Forester, Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources

Patrick Zehm - Plant Watch project botanist for forest monitoring program; greenhouse student manager

Bridget Thornburg - B.S. Biology and Natural Resources-Fisheries & Wildlife Management; rare plant monitoring & research in Isle Royale National Park (recipient of Meeker Award for Excellence in Natural Resources Research); Research Technician for Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation Current: Non-local Beings Technician, Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources

Adrian Bethel - B.S. Natural Resources-Forestry '21; rare plant monitoring & research in Apostle Islands National Lakesore; M.S. in Biological Sciences student -Wichita State U. Current: Researcher at U. of MN, forest adaptation

Maria Lefevre - B.S. Natural Resources: Ecological Restoration and Water Science: Chemistry '21; plant traits in response to fire history; greenhouse technician; Current: Conservationist with Golden Sands RC&D

Jasmine Swagel - B.S. Biology; Art '21; Woody plant flora and scientific illustrations of the Tyler Forks Community Forest

Lauren Sloyer - B.S. Natural Resources-Forestry '19; rare plant monitoring & research in Apostle Islands National Lakesore; Curent US Forest Service

Sam Tharpgeorge - B.S. Natural Resources-Forestry and Biology '18; Apostle Islands coastal wetland research; population dynamics of WI state threatened orchid Neottia convallarioides

Jena Miles - B.S. Natural Resources-Fisheries & Wildlife Ecology & Ecological Restoration '18; Apostle Island coastal wetland research

Ryan Rashke - B.S. Natural Resources '18; Leveraging research and monitoring networks to inform management of the Chryxus Arctic butterfly in the globally rare Pine Barrens ecosystem (co-mentored by Christel Kern and Brian Heeringa at USFS)

Hannah Hoff - B.S. Biology & Natural Resources-Forestry '19; Apostle Islands coastal wetland research; M.S. in Plant Sciences-Plant Genetics at MT State U. Current: PhD student at Brown University (ecology)

Shea Schachameyer - B.S. Natural Resources-Ecological Restoration '17; Apostle Islands coastal wetland research (winner of the Meeker Award for Excellence in Natural Resources Research); Current: Red Cliff Food Sovereignty Coordinator

Lewis Wiechmann - B.S. Natural Resources - Forestry '17; fire history and fuels modeling on Apostle Islands (co-advised with Jon Martin); Current: forester, US Army Corps of Engineers

Emily Leonard - B.S. Biology & Natural Resources-Ecological Restoration '16; Apostle Islands sandscape project; spatial analysis of Canada yew distribution on the Apostle Islands; M.S. in Watershed Science and Ecology at USU; Current: Ecologist, Hawthorn Hollow

Hannah O'Laughlin - B.S. Biology '16; work study research assistant and greenhouse technician; native plant propagation, rare plant population monitoring

David Moy - B.S. Biology & Natural Resources-Forestry '16; Fire effects research on Apostle Islands

Forrest Rosenbower - B.S. Biology & Natural Resources '16; Apostle Islands sandscape project; Current: Wildlife technician in Alaska

Michael Sinclair - B.S. Natural Resources-Ecological Restoration, Geology '16; Apostle Islands sandscape project; Current: M.S. in Plant Ecology and owner of EcoNorth

Grace Vosen - B.S. Natural Resources-Ecological Restoration '16; wetland seed bank study; Current: non-profit work and writer and conservation educator specializing in prairies

Stephanie Kovach - B.S. Natural Resources-Ecological Restoration '15; Fire effects research on Apostle Islands

Kim Oldenborg - B.S. Biology & Natural Resources-Ecological Restoration '15; Independent Student Researcher; Floodplain vegetation and hydrology research (winner of the Meeker Award for Excellence in Natural Resources Research); M.S. in Aquatic Biology - Grand Valley State U.; Current: Environmental Scientist with Stantec

Matt Widen - B.S. Natural Resources-Forestry '15; Canada yew project in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore; M.S. in Forestry from MTU; Current: Forester, Lake County Forestry, MN

Melissa Hogfeldt - B.S. Biology '15; greenhouse manager and teaching assistant; Current: Educator

Tim Koski - B.S. Natural Resources-Forestry '14; Greenhouse Manager; obtained funding for Canada yew propagation study

Jordan Mead - B.S. Natural Resources-Fisheries and Wildlife Ecology '13; Canada yew project in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore; Eastern Hemlock success in deer/hare exclosures; Common Juniper status in the Apostle Islands; GIS assistant for multiple projects; M.S. degree from UMN- Duluth – Integated Biosciences Graduate Program; Current: Resource Specialist at Summit County Government, CO

Carissa Hudson - B.S. Natural Resources-Ecological Restoration '13; Herbarium and research assistant