People
Current Students
Michael Kausch (BS, MS, Queens College, NY), PhD Candidate.
Causes and Consequences of Cyanobacterial Blooms in New York State Lakes
My dissertation research focuses on nutrient drivers of cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms and phytoplankton assemblages. I have conducted lake sampling, large-scale outdoor mesocosms, and single species laboratory experiments. My broader scientific interests include ecological stoichiometry, chemically driven microbial community succession, and antibiotic resistance expansion in microbial communities. @NYCmicrobes
Madelaine Wrey (BS, Loyola University, Chicago), PhD Candidate. Benthic Algae in the Colorado River: Dams and Historic Drought.
Alumni
Kimarie Yap, MS Fordham University 2021. Nutrient limitations for harmful cyanobacteria blooms in urban water bodies in Queens, NY. Current position: Environmental Analyst at the Interstate Environmental Commission (IEC) and Program Manager for IEC's Long Island Sound monitoring activities, sampling the western Long Island Sound for the Long Island Sound Study and IEC's participation in Save the Sound's Unified Water Study.
Timothy Wong, MS Fordham University 2020. Growth of Bloom-forming Cyanobacteria Under Different Forms of Nitrogen in Summer and Autumn. Current position: Research Technician II, Gobler Lab, SoMAS, Stony Brook University
Sarah Whorley, PhD Fordham University 2015. Bioassessment of agricultural effects in streams using biochemical compounds in algae. Current position: Associate Professor of Biology, Daemen University
Michael Tessler, MS Fordham University 2013. Diversity and distributions of stream bryophytes: Does pH matter? [PhD in Comparative Biology, Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History] Current position: Assistant Professor of Biology, St. Francis College, Brooklyn, NY
Jillian Decker, PhD Fordham University 2012. Nutrient controls on phytoplankton composition and ecological function among hydrologically distinct habitats in the Upper Mississippi River.. Current position: Associate Professor of Biology, Rockland Community College, State University of New York, and Chair of the Board of Directors for the Wallkill River Watershed Alliance.
Matthew Casham, BS, MS Fordham University 2011. Biochemical quality of stream periphyton as affected by light and nutrient availability. [Ph.D., River Science, Queen Mary University of London and Freie Universität Berlin] Current position: Supervisory Hydrologist, United States Geological Survey, MD/DE/DC Water Science Center
Jennfer Epstein, MS Fordham University 2009. Dissolved organic matter supply and processing in streams of Westchester County, NY. Current position: Freshwater Ecologist and Geospatial Scientist, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Monica Torres Ruiz, PhD Fordham University 2007. Trophic relationships in northeastern stream ecosystems: the importance of the quality of food sources for macroinvertebrates. Current position: Research Scientist, EInstituto de Salud Carlos III | ISCIII · Area de Toxicología, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental, Madrid, Spain. She is currently working on effects of nanoplastics in zebrafish development and behavior.
Steve DiLonardo, MS, Fordham University 2005. Chemical, light attenuation and biological effects of different particulate organic matter sources in a mesotrophic lake. Current position: Director of Operations at the NYC Public Health Laboratory (DOHMH).
Joan Petersen, PhD Fordham University 1999. Phylogenetic affiliations and Physiological Traits of Freshwater Bacteria. Current position: Full Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and Geology at Queensborough Community College, and Director of the college’s Environmental Science Program. Co-PI and Program co-coordinator of the Science and Technology Entry Program, and NYSED-funded program that seeks to strengthen the math and science skills of 7th-12th grade students who are underrepresented in STEM.