Students & People
Current Research Students
Sage Sellers: Class of 2024
Thesis Title: A tale of two winters: Comparing the effects of winter intensity on algal biochemical properties
Madelyn Casselman: Class of 2025
Thesis Title: Examining the effects of road salt on periphyton through the lens of the Light:Nutrient Hypothesis
Blake Pahuta: Class of 2026
Thesis Title:
Graduated Research Students
Cole Beale: Class of 2018
Thesis Title: Effects of Boat Traffic on Water Chemistry of Lake Erie
Current Employment: Director of Conservation, Squam Lakes Association
Abigail LaFlair: Class of 2018
Thesis Title: Salinity Effects on Macroinvertebrates within Erie County, Western New York
Current Employment: Technician at Bristol-Meyer Squibb
Mopati Kuswani: Class of 2019
Thesis Title: Water Chemistry, Algal Enzyme Activity and Fatty Acid Concentration as Indicators of Water Quality of Erie County Streams
Current Employment: New Jersey Institute of Technology graduate program
Jessica Burka: Class of 2020
Thesis Title: Changes in Stream Algal Taxonomic Composition with Road Salt Application
Current Employment: Veterans Affairs
Cassandra Mayle: Class of 2020
Thesis Title: Anthropogenic Salt Stress Effects On Algal Lipid Gene Expression
Current Employment: Ithaca Cytotechnologist
Jennifer Hertiz: Class of 2021
Thesis Title: Methane Affects Ozark Mountain Stream Algae Lipid Composition
Current Employment: SUNY Upstate doctoral program
Shannon Weatherley: Class of 2021
Thesis Title: Effects of RoundUp on benthic bacteria diversity and nutrient cycling
Current Employment: DVM program at Ross University
Dylan Normandin: Class of 2022
Thesis Title: Basic ecology surrounding a Euglenophyte bloom in Ellicott Creek
Current Employment: MS in Cytology at Roswell Park
Hannah Laird (Dr. Caitlyn Montross mentor): Class of 2022
Thesis Title: Effects of RoundUp on benthic bacteria diversity and nutrient cycling
Current Employment: MS in Cytology at Roswell Park
Alex Hangen (Dr. Jon Good co-mentor): Class of 2023
Thesis Title: An analysis of microplastics and algal associations in ambient water and gastrointestinal tract of Lake Ontario sport fish
Current Employment: Depew Police Department
Frandi Kunhardt Veras: Class of 2023
Thesis Title: Society for Freshwater Science INSTAR member 2024
Clare Greeley: Nichols High School Class of 2025
Thesis Title: Exploring the relationship between resting state Euglena and winter dissolved oxygen concentrations
Scientific Staff
Sarah is primarily interested in how anthropogenic activities (urbanization, agriculture, climate change) affect freshwater aquatic ecosystem properties and specifically how micro algae in these habitats are affected. Algae are microscopic photosynthetic organisms that support the base of many freshwater food webs. These organisms not only provide basic calories, but key nutrients such as ω3 and ω6 essential fatty acids to higher trophic levels. Anthropogenic activities can affect the quantity of these key molecules in a variety of freshwater habitats from small ponds, wetlands, and streams to the Mississippi River and Great Lakes.
Daniel is our master of field sampling protocols and the Assistant Research Spouse Esquire (hereinafter ARSE). He originally trained as an entomologist with 4-H and later specialized in the legal arts. He is interested in macroinvertebrate and vertebrate biodivsersity and presence within aquatic ecosystems. He is also adept at exploring the below-surface habitats within lakes, documenting invasive algal species. He is primarily involved with our assessment of Bangia presence and affect on littoral food web quality.
