• Test the acute and chronic effects of cotinine, and triclocarban on aquatic organisms including: green algae (Pseudokirchneriella capricornutum), water fleas (Daphnia magna) and fathead minnows
• Test the effects of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) detected in Lake Michigan on diatom (Cyclotella meneghiniana) survival
• Conduct a mixture study chronically exposing D. magna, P.capricornotum, C. meneghiniana, and P. promelas to several PPCPs

• Develop a predictive model of Asian carp consumption and growth in the Great Lakes using a bioenergetics approach
• Test model predictions with growth and consumption experiments in mesocosms
• Predict where in the Great Lakes Asian carp are likely to survive by feeding on plankton
• Provide initial estimates of the potential impact of Asian carp on Great Lake plankton communities

• Develop and apply eDNA sampling methods for detecting fish species and  measuring eDNA concentration in these large, complex habitats
• Compare results between fish capture methods and eDNA methods

• Investigate the factors influencing the adoption and maintenance of rain barrels, a commonly promoted urban-suburban best management practice, in the Salt Creek watershed in northwestern Indiana

My doctoral work will evaluate opportunities to replace traditional lawns by more sustainable and ecologically friendly crops in the Greater Chicago Metropolitan area. Specifically, I will  pursue three broad objectives: (1) Use aerial images to identify lawns in Chicago and Evanston and quantify the potential for lawn replacements in the city. (2) Use ethnographic work to assess homeowners’ incentives to replace their lawns with other crops. (3) Conduct an experiment to test the water filtration/retention capacity of different lawn replacements. Support from the IISG Graduate Scholars program would enable me to pursue the second objective. Many research projects related to urban ecology use census and survey data to understand the social aspects of restoration within urban communities. The ethnographic interviewing method involves participant observation which allows for a more determined selection of interviewees as well as a more in-depth line of questioning than the survey data might provide. I will also conduct participant observation for this project which will involve interacting directly with interviewees while they maintain, cultivate, and enjoy their own green spaces.

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of P and NH4-N partitioning between fluvial sediments and the overlying water column during and following a manure spill
• Determine the effectiveness of the current manure spill remediation plan to mitigate P desorption from manure exposed ditch sediments
• Investigate the influence of sediment particle size distribution on the depth of P contamination as a result of a manure spill under base flow conditions
• Determine adequate application rates of alum and CaCO3 needed to remediate fluvial sediments following a manure spill
• Evaluate the efficacy of the sediment alum treatments following a manure spill