Postdoctoral researchers
Shyam Thomas, 2019-2023. Shyam investigated joint impacts of climate and vegetation change in northern forest watersheds to assess threats to wild rice. Previousle, he developed spatially explicit models to predict invasion risk and quantify socio-economic impacts of Eurasian watermilfoil invasion in Minnesota lakes (when he was co-advised by Dan with Gretchen Hansen). Shyam is currently a Geospatial Data Manager & Analyst at The Nature Conservancy.
Katherine Marchetto, 2018-2022. Katie worked on a project to 1) assess the efficacy of using goat browsing to control invasive plants, and 2) examine a control strategy to reduce the exposure of goats used in invasive plant management to a potentially deadly parasite, meningeal worm. Katie was co-advised by Dan with Tiffany Wolf in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Jesús Pinto Ledezma, 2017-2020. Jesús is from the lowland region of Bolivia and his research focuses on the intersection between macroevolution and macroecology. He applies macroevolutionary theory and phylogenetic comparative methods to understand geographic patterns of species diversity and the assembly of local biotic communities. Also, as a field biologist, he loves to explore all aspects of the natural history of vertebrate species, especially Neotropical birds. Jesús was co-advised by Dan with Jeannine Cavender-Bares and is now a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow in the Dept. of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior.
Ranjan Muthukrishnan, 2016-2018. Ranjan's research focuses on integrating empirical and theoretical approaches to understand the dynamics of major shifts in ecological communities. This has included working in coral reef communities to evaluate how anthropogenic stresses can drive shifts between coral-dominated and algal-dominated community states and research on biological invasions focusing on the properties that make communities susceptible to invasive species and the community consequences of the displacement of native foundation species. Ranjan is now a Research Assistant Professor at Boston University.
Evelyn Williams, 2015-2017. Evelyn was a postdoc and remains a Co-PI on our project testing the role of phylogenetic diversity in prairie restoration. Her work encompasses plant conservation, genetics, and ecology. Evelyn is now a Restoration Ecologist at Adaptive Restoration LLC in Wisconsin.
Research staff
Wesley Glisson. Wes was a Research Fellow involved in many aspects of our field and laboratory research. For his M.S. with Dan at Northwestern University, Wes investigated the sensitivity of secretive marshbirds to vegetation condition in natural and restored wetlands in southern Wisconsin. Before coming to UMN, Wes worked as a researcher in plant biology at Chicago Botanic Garden and in wildlife biology at the USGS Coop Unit at the University of Idaho. He is now an aquatic botanist with the State of Washington Department of Ecology.
Graduate students
Michael Verhoeven, Ph.D. 2022, M.S. 2018. Mike completed his Ph.D. in Conservation Sciences on Community assembly, invasion, and management of aquatic plant communities. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow in Gretchen Hansen's lab (UMN FWCB).
Sara Nelson, M.S. 2022. An evaluation of goat browsing and other restoration strategies in buckthorn-invaded woodlands and savannas. Sara is now an Ecologist with Great River Greening.
Carli Wagner, M.S. 2021. Plant community impacts and environmental associations of the invasive macroalga Nitellopsis obtusa (starry stonewort). Carli is now an AIS Specialist with the Minnesota DNR.
Rafael Contreras-Rangel, M.S. 2021. Efficacy of copper-based algaecides for the control of starry stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa). Rafa is now with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Rebecca Barak, Ph.D. 2017. Using trees to seed prairies: incorporating phylogenetic information to guide tallgrass prairie restoration. Becky is now a Conservation Scientist at Chicago Botanic Garden and a faculty member at Northwestern University.
Ryan Disney, M.S. 2016. Effects of harvest regime on an assemblage of native prairie species grown as a biofuel crop
Rebecca Tonietto, Ph.D. 2015. Effects of habitat restoration on wild bee communities. Rebecca is now an associate professor in Biology at University of Michigan-Flint.
Paul Hartzog, Ph.D. 2015. The effects of restoration and plant community change on denitrification and investigations into denitrification measurement techniques. Paul is now a Consultant with Beghou Consulting
Wes Glisson, M.S. 2012. Habitat requirements and restoration targets for secretive marshbirds in southeastern Wisconsin. Wes is an aquatic plants specialist with the Washington State Department of Ecology.
Byron Tsang, M.S. 2012. Environmental factors affecting woodland legume restoration. Byron is a Project Manager in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes National Program Office.
Amy Price, M.S. 2011. Genetics and ecology of Phragmites australis invasion in Chicago-area wetlands. Amy is employed in clinical research with EMMES Corporation
Elizabeth (Riley) Donovan, M.S. 2010. Comparison of three common wetland-assessment methods. Betsy is a biologist with the U.S. EPA
Undergraduate researchers
Isabel LaLonde (UROP, 2022)
Jonah Bacon (undergrad research assistant, UROP, 2019-2020)
Jackson Millasovich (undergrad research assistant, 2020)
Noah Berg (undergrad research assistant, 2018–2020)
James Dickson (undergrad research assistant, 2019)
Carolyn Kalinowski (undergrad research assistant, 2018)
Carli Wagner (UMN UROP, 2015-2017)
Meghan Kramer (CBG REU, 2015)
Alyssa Wellman Houde (CBG REU, 2015)
Gabrielle Carr (NU, 2014–15)
Laura Bofill (CBG REU, 2012)
Hannah King (CBG REU, 2012)
Becky Cotteleer (Albion College, 2011)
Evan Eifler (UW–Madison, 2011)
Thea Klein-Mayer (NU thesis, 2011)
Lisa Mithun (NU thesis, 2011)
Tyr Wiesner-Hanks (NU, 2011)
Allegra Mount (NU thesis, 2011)
Cat Collins (DePaul University, 2010)
Joseph Boyer (CBG, 2010)
Dayani Pieri (Oakton Comm. College, 2010)
Bridgette Moen (CBG REU, 2010)
Chad Zirbel (CBG REU, 2010)
Jackie Beard (NU, 2010)
Rachel (Hesselink) Gentile (CBG REU, 2009)
Max Wilson (NU, 2009)
Michal Olszewski (LUC, 2007–2008)
Jeff Price (UM Biol. Station REU, 2007)
Cindy Stowell (LUC, 2006–2007)
Mike Lucero (San Diego State U., 2004–2005)
Tasi Rodriguez (Pt. Loma Nazarene U., 2004)