Daphne Miles completed a master's in biology in 2025 and is now teaching environmental plant science at a university in China.

Daphne's thesis focused on the impacts of invasive Potamogeton crispus, season, and water depth on aquatic plant communities in spring-fed ponds in the Ozarks. Read Daphne's thesis here.

Alexis Reifsteck completed a master's in biology in 2024 and is working with the Missouri DNR in Jefferson City, MO.

Alexis' thesis research focused on the interactions between gravel bar plants and the stream environment in disturbance prone Ozark streams. Read Alexis' thesis here.

Leslie Hatch completed a Master's in biology at Missouri State University and is currently working for the City of Springfield. Leslie's thesis focused on how metal-contaminated leaves can impact macroinvertebrates in mining-contaminated rivers. Read Lelsie's thesis here. 

Christine Cornish completed a Master's in Biology at Missouri State University. Read Christine's thesis here. She received her doctorate in Environmental and Conservation Sciences from North Dakota State University in 2023. She is currently an associate researcher at Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research.

Anna Faust graduated with a BS in Biology in 2025. Anna's undergraduate research focused on the impacts of varying nitrogen concentrations on Azolla growth and impacts of Azolla on lake water quality. 

Jaslyn Johnson graduated with a BS in Biology in 2025. Jaslyn's undergraduate research focused on studying the impacts of cold temperatures on the floating aquatic fern, Azolla. Jaslyn is interested in working with aquatic plants and animals.

Riley Talbert was an undergraduate biology student studying planaria abundance in rural and urban Ozark streams. 

Sam Booth and Emily Holly were undergraduate biology students who assisted with field sampling and lab work for several projects.

Malachai Frisby graduated with a BS in biology in December 2023! He will be an intern at the Litzinger Road Ecology Center in Spring 2024! 

Malachai's research focused on the impacts of metal contamination on macroinvertebrates in mining-contaminated streams in the Old Lead Belt and Tri-state district of Missouri.

Indigo Tran. Metals from mining pollution move into ecosystems via riparian trees. These metals reenter the environment during decomposition. Indigo studied decomposition rates and metal leaching of these trees. 

Hannah Whaley. Spring-fed ponds provide necessary ecosystem services, but can be contaminated by pollutants in the groundwater. Hannah studied plant communities to show how pollution affects these habitats. 

Tory Lydy completed a Master's in ecotoxicology at Arkansas State University and is now pursuing a career in ecotoxicology.

Jordan Heiman graduated with a BS in biology from Missouri State University and a PHD in biology from University of Mississippi in fall 2024.

Abigail Giering graduated with a BS in biology and is interested in native plants.

Deanna Means graduated with a Master of Arts in Teaching at Missouri State University.

Lia Biritz graduated with a BS in biology and is interested in aquatic plants and invertebrates.

Emma Fonke graduated with a BS in chemistry and is interested in analytical chemistry.