Lab staff

 

Meet our productive and talented team!

 

 lab members

Ethan Tiong






Ethan Tiong is a M.S. student, and previously a member of the highly regarded Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP).  He aspires to go into water management or habitat conservation in hopes of protecting the planet for not just ourselves but for other organisms as well.  Ethan is working on a paleoenvironmental reconstruction from Puerto Rico, focused on reconstructing climate, hurricanes, and tsunamis.

Philip Sobczak




Philip Sobczak is a research assistant, and a senior working on his second degree with a major in Environmental Science (Resource Management and Environmental Sustainability) and a minor in Geology. Philip has previously interned at the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development analyzing weed risk assessments (WRAs). Philip aspires to work as a hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).


 Nick Skinner


Nicholas Skinner is a research assistant, and a junior majoring in Environmental Science (Resource Management and Environmental Sustainability) with a minor in GIS (Geographic Information Systems). He hopes to work in the field of research or conservation, preferably outdoors in nature. 


Cade Koppen



Cade Koppen is a senior at Oakland University majoring in Environmental Science. Cade will be participating in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) during the summer of 2023. Cade has been working an internship position that involves sustainability practices, and their implementation across the company. He is excited to get experience working in a research setting during this summer. In the future, his goal is to build a career where his work is primarily based outdoors.. 

  Joji Vazquez



Joji Vazquez is a junior working toward a degree in Environmental Science (Resource Management and Environmental Sustainability). She is interested in marine conservation and coastal restoration/research. 

  Bela Bivens


Isabela Bivens is an undergraduate student majoring in Environmental Science, with a focus on Sustainability and Resource Management. She is currently participating in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program for 2024. Looking ahead, Isabela aspires to work in environmental remediation.

past lab members

Sean Loeffler



Sean Loeffler is now an M.S. student in Geography at the University of Victoria, located in British Columbia. 


Ryan Yahner



Ryan Yahner worked on many paleoenvironmental projects in the lab. He is currently an Environmental Scientist for the Mannik and Smith Group in Lansing, MI. 

 Eilene Myers


Eilene Myers worked on reconstructing paleoflood events along the margins of Lake Erie. She is currently employed with ProOne water filters. 

Joshua Liccardello





Joshua Liccardello analyzed sediment cores extracted from NW Ohio to understand flood histories and ecological change.  Joshua is currently a Construction Materials Tester at Professional Service Industries, Inc.