People
People
Embedded Files
Jim Cotner
I have been studying freshwater and marine ecosystems for over 30 years--the tropics, the arctic, but mostly the temperate region. My area of expertise is primarily focused on heterotrophic bacteria and ecological stoichiometry. I work with individual strains and communities of ecologically relevant microbes in the laboratory as well as in the field. I feel that understanding gained in the lab can help generate understanding and questions that can be addressed in the field and vice versa.
My teaching responsibilities in EEB are fairly diverse. In the past, I taught Limnology, but more recently my primary course has been Biogeochemical Processes (EEB 4611). In this course, we basically try to understand the Earth as a collection of functioning ecosystems, but we also spend a lot of time thinking about microbes because they are the motors that drive most of the transformations in biogeochemical cycles. I also teach a course with a professor in Microbiology on the beer: Brewing: The Biology, History and Practice.
Here I am prepping for one of my lectures:
Click on these links for:
Twitter...oh ok X but I rarely post anymore--thanks Elon: @jbcotner
Current personnel
Current personnel
Post-doc(s)
Post-doc(s)
Phoenix Rogers
With a strong foundation in stream ecology, my dissertation research investigated how warming influences macroinvertebrate communities in forest streams. Currently, at the University of Minnesota, my work focuses on the role of microbial communities in Minnesota lakes and their impact on the production, degradation, and composition of dissolved organic matter. By examining these complex interactions, I aim to advance our understanding of aquatic ecosystems and their responses to environmental changes.
Joe Rabaey (John Downing's post-doc but still working in the Cotner lab--go figure)
I am interested in biogeochemical cycles in freshwaters, and how those cycles are influenced by human and climate impacts. Specifically, my research focuses on greenhouse gas cycling, and what drives carbon dioxide and methane emissions from lakes and ponds. During my PhD, I studied how CO2 and CH4 emissions from small ponds are impacted by water chemistry, morphology, and biological and physical processes.
Graduate Students
Graduate Students
Reid Brown
I am a PhD student in the Plant and Microbial Biology program. I am interested in better understanding greenhouse gas dynamics and emissions pathways in inland lakes, with a focus on methane in particular. My proposed dissertation research focuses on the role of methane oxidation as a driver of increased nitrogen fixation rates as other oxidants can be limiting where most methane oxidizing bacteria live in lakes. This could be a potential link between the global carbon and nitrogen cycles that hasn’t been explored too much. Outside of my research, I live at and serve on the Board of Directors at the Como Student Community Cooperative (CSCC) which provides housing for UMN graduate students and their families.
Vanessa Czeszynski
I am a PhD student in the Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior program. My MSc research focused on dissolved organic carbon concentration and composition, and I am interested in exploring the microbial community processes involved in carbon cycling more in my PhD. I hope to focus my work on the intersection of dissolved organic material, browning, and methane. I am passionate about DEI and making science inclusive and accessible for everyone (not just scientists). I especially have a lot of fun working on the graphic design side of science communication and data visualization.
Recent Alumni
Ben Fry
Ben Fry
Ben worked in our group as an undergraduate and is now completing a PhD with Kirk Winemiller at Texas A&M.
Bri Loeks
Bri Loeks
I graduated with a MSc and PhD with Dr. Cotner in the Water Resources Science program with an emphasis in Oceanography and Limnology. My research interests involve closing the knowledge gap in the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle in lakes. I have focused on net nitrogen processing in lakes looking at N2 saturation throughout the water column to infer net denitrification or nitrogen-fixation as well as comparing actual rates of these microbial processes throughout lakes in Minnesota. I currently work as a Senior Research Analyst at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and teach Environmental Science and Sustainability at University Wisconsin-Stout.
Other Alumni
Other Alumni
Former Graduate students
Former Graduate students
Bri Loeks (PhD): Closing the knowledge gap surrounding nitrogen cycling in Minnesota lakes. Currently working for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; loek0003@d.umn.edu
Joe Rabaey (PhD): Small Size, Huge Impact: Disproportionate Effects of Ponds on Aquatic Carbon Cycling and Atmospheric Greenhouse Gases; Currently a post-doc with John Downing-University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Casey Godwin (PhD): Dissertation Title: Ecological Stoichiometry of Assemblages; Currently working at CILER/NOAA-GLERL in Ann Arbor, MI; cgodwin@umich.edu
Meghan Funke (PhD): Dissertation Title: Biological and Photochemical Degradation of Dissolved Organic Carbon in Peatland Ecosystems; Currently working as an environmental consultant at EOR, Inc. in the Twin Cities; mfunke@eorinc.com
Kate Phillips (PhD): Dissertation Title: The effects of temperature and phosphorus availability on the biomass composition, phosphorus allocation, size and morphology of freshwater bacteria; Currently teaching at North Hennepin Community College; phil8620@umn.edu
Leah Domine (PhD): Dissertation Title: Mechanisms Influencing Carbon Burial in Prairie Pothole Shallow Lakes; Currently teaching at the University of St. Thomas; domi7653@stthomas.edu
Jon Kenning (PhD): Dissertation Title: Carbon sequestration in macrophyte-dominated wetlands; Currently working for the State of Montana in water protection.
Becky Stark (MSc): Thesis Title: Nitrate Production and Nitrogen and Carbon Cycling in Lake Superior Sediments
Ted Stets (PhD): Dissertation Title: Interactions between heterotrophic bacteria, bacterial grazers and autotrophic phytoplankton - consequences for net ecosystem productivity; Currently working at the USGS in Mounds View, MN; estets@usgs.gov
Brian Johnson (MSc): Thesis Title: Sulfate reducing bacteria and the role of nutrients in mercury methylation in Spring Lake, Minnesota. Currently working for the Twin Cities Metropolitan Council; brian.johnson@metc.state.mn.us
Ed Hall (PhD): Dissertation Title: Interacting Effects of Temperature and Nutrients on Natural Bacterioplankton Communities. Currently an Associate Professor at the Colorado State University; ed.hall@colostate.edu
Yesim Büyükates (MSc): Thesis Title: Determination of Phosphorus Composition and Availability from Various Feedstuffs to Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus); Currently a Professor and Associate Dean Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Turkey; ybuyukates@yahoo.com
David Shormann (PhD): DIVE Interactive Education
Kelly Gloger (MSc) Renewable Energy Consulting, Asheville, NC;
Mike Suplee (PhD) Montana Department of Environmental Quality; msuplee@mt.gov
Casey Moore (MSc) The first one willing to take a chance on me! caseykmoore@hotmail.com
Post-docs
Post-docs
Bopaiah Biddanda (1998-02) Annis Water Research Station, Grand Valley State University; biddandb@gvsu.edu
Wataru Makino (2000-02) Assistant Professor; Tohoku University ; makinowataru＠m.tohoku.ac.jp
Rose M. Cory (2006-2008) Assistant Professor; University of Michigan; rmcory@umich.edu
Thad Scott (2007-2008) Associate Professor; Department of Biology, Baylor University; Thad_Scott@baylor.edu
Leah Domine (2010-13) Clinical Faculty, University of St. Thomas, Department of Biology; domi7653@stthomas.edu
Will Hobbs (2011-13) Department of Ecology, State of Washington; whob461@ecy.wa.gov
Casey M. Godwin (2013-2016) Post-doctoral Fellow, University of Michigan; cgodwin@umich.edu
Ana (Mindy) Morales-Williams (2016-2017) Associate Professor, School of the Environment, University of Vermont; Ana.Morales@uvm.edu
Greg Sindberg (2016-2017) Senior Medical Writer, Medtronic, Twin Cities, MN
Phoenix Rogers (2024-present) roge0745@umn.edu
Visiting Scholars
Visiting Scholars
Galina Kapanen (2013-2014) galya@tlu.ee
Andre Amado (2006-2007) andre.amado@gmail.com
Natalie Pessoa Noyma npnoyma@gmail.com
Ermeton Duarte do Nascimento ermeton_duarte@yahoo.com.br
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