Research Fellows

MAISRC is proud to have a robust team of researchers coming from a broad range of backgrounds, academic and governmental organizations. Interested in joining our team? Learn more about becoming a MAISRC Researcher

Name Areas of Interest Email
Valerie Brady
Senior Research Program Manager
[email protected]
Donn Branstrator
Professor

Spiny water fleas

[email protected]
John Downing
Director, Minnesota Sea Grant

Lake management and restoration, common carp

[email protected]
Mikael Elias
Research Fellow, Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics

Zebra mussels

[email protected]
John Fieberg
Associate Professor

AIS surveillance

[email protected]
David Fulton
Professor
[email protected]
Daryl Gohl
Associate Research Professor, Group Leader, UMGC Innovation Lab
[email protected]
Gretchen Hansen
Associate Professor
[email protected]
Victor Hugo Hernandez Elizarraga
Research Fellow, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Minnesota Genomics Center

Invertebrates, genomics

Satoshi Ishii
Research Fellow, Professor, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate
eDNA detection of aquatic invasive species
Amy Kinsley
Assistant Professor

AIS surveillance 

[email protected]
Jessica Kozarek
Research Associate

Zebra mussels

[email protected]
Dan Larkin
Professor, Extension Specialist, Research chair

Curlyleaf pondweed

Eurasian and hybrid watermilfoil

Phragmites

Starry stonewort

[email protected]
Lucia Levers
Research Associate

AIS management 

Common carp

[email protected]
Allen Mensinger
Professor

Bighead carp

[email protected]
Loren Miller
Adjunct Associate Professor, Fisheries Research Scientist

Bighead carp

eDNA

[email protected]
Marissa Milstein
Assistant Professor
[email protected]
Ben Minerich
Freshwater Mussel Conservation Specialist

Zebra mussels

Ranjan Muthukrishnan
Assistant Professor of Biology

Starry stonewort

[email protected]
Ray Newman
Professor

Eurasian and hybrid watermilfoil

Curlyleaf pondweed

Starry stonewort

[email protected]
Nicholas Phelps
Professor, MAISRC Director

Pathogens

[email protected]
Amit Pradhananga
Research Associate

AIS management

[email protected]
Joe Rabaey
Postdoctoral fellow
Heidi Rantala
Research Fellow, Lake and Landscape Ecologist, Minnesota DNR

Effects of invasive invertebrates on food webs, energy flow, and habitat characteristics in lakes and streams to inform fisheries management in Minnesota.

[email protected]
Ingrid Schneider
Professor

Human dimensions of natural resource management, policy, and recreation management.

[email protected]
Amy Schrank
Research fellow, MAISRC, Associate Extension Professor, Extension Program Leader, Minnesota Sea Grant

How invasive narrowleaf and hybrid cattail affect lake nearshore ecosystems

[email protected]
Michael Smanski
Assistant Professor

Genetic biocontrol

[email protected]
Isaiah Tolo
Research Fellow

Pathogens

Amber Ulseth
MAISRC fellow, Aquatic Ecologist

Mystery snails; ecosystem and community ecology

Grant Vagle
Postdoctoral Associate
Diane Waller
Research Fishery Biologist, USGS

Zebra mussels

[email protected]
Jake Walsh
Fellow, MAISRC, Assistant Professor, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology

Understanding and improving Minnesota lake health by studying how aquatic invasive species and their management affect food webs, habitats, and ecosystem services.

James J Wamboldt
Research Fellow

AIS control

[email protected]


Past MAISRC Fellows

Dave Andow • Chanlan Chun • Siba Das • Luis Escobar • John Fieberg • Jake Ferguson • Sue Galatowitsch • Vinnie Hirt • Katya Kovalenko • Sophie Mallez • Maciej Maselko • Prince Mathai • Mike McCartney • Alex Primus • Mike Sadowsky • Peter Sorensen • Paul Venturelli • Jake Walsh