The objective of this project is to develop a rapid, sensitive assay for detecting the exposure of fishes to carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in contaminated aquatic ecosystems.

• Examine drinking water disinfection byproducts for ability to kill mammalian cells and damage mammalian DNA
• Compare results to published databases that include carcinogens

Although widely used in Europe and Asia, porous asphalt has not been extensively used in the southern Lake Michigan region due to its poor resistance to freeze-thaw. This study aims to (i) synthesize the existing literature on porous asphalt, (ii) determine the need for porous asphalt pavements on the southern Lake Michigan coast, and (iii) develop in the laboratory a porous asphalt mixture capable of resisting freeze-thaw cycles common to this region. 

• Grow freshwater actinomycete bacteria from sediment collected in Lake Michigan and other Great Lakes

The main bottleneck to further development of sustainable and intensive aquaculture in Midwest is improvement of larval fish rearing technologies and larval fish nutrition. The main objective of this project is to develop detailed protocols for larval largemouth bass rearing in indoor facilities that will help to support high survival and growth performance of this species in its young age.

• Develop virtual reality visualization applications for coastal cities by Lake Michigan in northern Indiana