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
Naomi Blinick Research Scientist, Lab manager, Hansen, Larkin, and Walsh Labs	AIS and their effects on fish and aquatic plants of particular ecological and cultural importance	[email protected]
Valerie Brady Senior Research Program Manager		[email protected]
Donn Branstrator Professor	Spiny water fleas	[email protected]
Chan Lan Chun Research Fellow, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering / Natural Resources Research Institute	eDNA detection of aquatic invasive species and pathogens
Solomon David Research Fellow, Assistant Professor, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology	Response of native fishes to invasive species, particularly native non-game or "native rough fish" species.
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 Research Fellow, Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Population Medicine	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]
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 Research Fellow, Assistant Professor of Biology, St. Olaf College	Aquatic invasive plants, dynamics of major shifts in ecological communities	[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 Research Fellow, Professor, Department of Forest Resources	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 Research Fellow, Professor	Developing genetic control technologies for aquatic invasive species	[email protected]
Isaiah Tolo Research Fellow	Pathogens
Amber Ulseth MAISRC fellow, Aquatic Ecologist	Mystery snails; ecosystem and community ecology
Grant Vagle Research Scientist	Leveraging existing datasets in machine learning models; interpreting models at relevant spatial/temporal scales.
Diane Waller Research Fellow, Research Fishery Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey	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

Past MAISRC Fellows

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