As an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Educator, Natalia Szklaruk works to prevent the introduction and proliferation of non-native plants, animals, and pathogens in southern Lake Michigan by supporting science-based prevention strategies and pathway-specific initiatives. Her work focuses on understanding human behaviors within key AIS introduction pathways, including the aquarium trade, bait trade, and recreational water users. She also leads the Invasive Crayfish Collaborative, an initiative that convenes professionals to improve the collective management of invasive crayfish in the Great Lakes basin. Through this initiative, she develops resources for stakeholders and shares new crayfish research and programs with communities.

Natalia received both a B.S. and M.S. in Environmental Science and Sustainability from Loyola University Chicago, where she specialized in AIS control barriers and field sampling methodologies.