Current Lab Members
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Dr. Joanna R. Blaszczak
Assistant Professor Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Science University of Nevada, Reno CV Google Scholar profile |
Postdocs:
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Dr. Heili Lowman - Postdoc researcher with the Modelscape Consortium (Spring 2021 - present)
Heili is an aquatic biogeochemist and ecosystem ecologist. She received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she conducted her dissertation research on nutrient and organic matter cycling in the nearshore Santa Barbara Channel as part of the Santa Barbara Coastal Long Term Ecological Research Project. She is broadly interested in biogeochemical processes taking place at ecological margins - terrestrial/aquatic, wildland/urban – and developing methods to model these processes through space and time. In her free time, she enjoys running, cooking, and traveling. |
Graduate students:
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Kelly Loria - Ph.D. Student (Fall 2020 - present)
Kelly is a PhD student in the Natural Resources and Environmental Science Program at the University of Nevada, Reno. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder with a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and post-graduation lead the Niwot Ridge Long Term Ecological Research Program’s monitoring of alpine lakes. She is broadly interested in aquatic ecology, especially in headwater catchments. Kelly is excited to be investigating patterns of stream metabolism in the Lake Tahoe Basin for land use gradients and event based signals. |
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Jordan Zabrecky - Ph.D. Student (Summer 2022 - present)
Jordan is a PhD student in the Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences program. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BS in the Geological Sciences. During undergrad, she realized her interest in water quality and freshwater science while researching anthropogenic gadolinium in local streams. For her PhD, Jordan is psyched to tackle water quality issues through a biogeochemical perspective by studying controls on cyanobacteria and anatoxin production in streams of northern California. Outside of academia, you can find her bouldering at Lake Tahoe or Bishop. |
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Dre Garcia Jimenez - Ph.D. Student (Fall 2023 - Present)
Dre is a PhD student in the Natural Resources and Environmental Science program. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BS in Environmental Science-Geology where she first became interested in cyanotoxins. She is broadly interested in the interactions between hydrological processes, water quality, and how they influence aquatic ecology. Outside of the lab, you can find Dre climbing, knitting, or hanging out with her dog Posey (who is named after the grass Poa secunda). |
Visiting scholars:
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Wubneh Belete Abebe - Visiting PhD student (Fall 2022 - Present)
Wubneh Belete Abebe is currently at civil and water resources engineering institute, Bahir Dar University. Wubneh does PhD research in Environmental water requirement, ecohydrology. My current project is located on Lake Tana basin, Gumara river in the northwestern Ethiopia. Here at UNR, I'm going to work on aquatic ecosystems services analysis using InVEST model specifically on nutrient retention ecosystem services; looking at nutrient dynamics in the catchment and linking with the fishery in the connected wetlands and the lake. |
Research Technicians:
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Taryn Elliott - Research Technician (Spring 2023 - Present)
Taryn is a laboratory technician with a BS degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arizona. Before joining the Blaszczak lab, she worked for the U.S. Geological Survey and assisted with ecotoxicology research in various aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. She is broadly interested in studying microorganisms in extreme environments and is excited to learn more about cyanobacterial ecology. |
Wundergrads:
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Paola Miramontes Gonzalez (Spring 2022-Present)
Paola is an undergraduate student in the Natural Resources and Environmental Science program and a McNair Scholar at UNR. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Biology with an emphasis on pollution and environmental contaminants. In her free time, Paola enjoys going on hikes, reading books, and plant shopping. |
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Helen Lei (Spring 2022 - Present)
Helen is an undergraduate student in the Integrated Elementary Teaching program. She is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a specialization in Special Education and minoring in Environmental Science. In the future, Helen wants to combine both of her interests in environmental science and education through working for Environmental Outreach programs. |
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Ian Halterman (Summer 2023 - Present)
Ian is an undergraduate student in the biology program at the University of Nevada, Reno. He plans to graduate with a bachelors in biology with a focus on aquatic ecosystems. In his free time Ian enjoys gardening, spending time with his pets, and hiking national parks. |
Lab Alumni
Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Research Associate Alumni
Dr. Leon Katona (Summer 2022 - Summer 2023): Postdoctoral Research Associate with the NSF-funded Modelscape consortium (currently with the USGS Midwest Science Center)
Keenan Seto (Fall 2020 - Summer 2022): NRES M.S., UNR, Thesis Title: "Urbanization and freshwater salinity: Impacts on water quality, sediment, and microbial communities in semi-arid streams" (currently with Dudek Environmental Consulting)
Meredith Brehob (Spring 2020 - Spring 2022): NRES M.S., UNR, co-advised by Sudeep Chandra, Thesis Title: "Aquatic Macrophytes in Irrigation Canals: Environmental Controls and Impacts on Metabolic Processes" (currently with the U.S. EPA National Nutrient Inventory)
Dr. Leon Katona (Summer 2022 - Summer 2023): Postdoctoral Research Associate with the NSF-funded Modelscape consortium (currently with the USGS Midwest Science Center)
Keenan Seto (Fall 2020 - Summer 2022): NRES M.S., UNR, Thesis Title: "Urbanization and freshwater salinity: Impacts on water quality, sediment, and microbial communities in semi-arid streams" (currently with Dudek Environmental Consulting)
Meredith Brehob (Spring 2020 - Spring 2022): NRES M.S., UNR, co-advised by Sudeep Chandra, Thesis Title: "Aquatic Macrophytes in Irrigation Canals: Environmental Controls and Impacts on Metabolic Processes" (currently with the U.S. EPA National Nutrient Inventory)
Research Technician Alumni
Jasmine Krause (Summer 2022 - Summer 2023): Jasmine was a research technician in the lab who worked on field and laboratory research for a project studying the influence of watershed-to-lake connections on nearshore productivity dynamics in Lake Tahoe. Jasmine was a pro at running the AQ400 discrete analyzer and led a series of incubation experiments investigating N uptake rates. Following her time in the lab, Jasmine is now a PhD student at Oregon State University with Adam Ward.
Meaghan Hickey (Summer - Winter 2022): Meaghan was a research technician in the lab who worked on collecting field samples and data for a project studying cyanobacteria and anatoxin production in rivers in northern California. Meaghan started her own side project investigating macroinvertebrate diversity and abundance within toxin-producing cyanobacterial benthic mats in the South Fork of the Eel River and has a publication forthcoming. Following her time in the lab, Meaghan returned to Vermont to start a position with the Vermont Watershed Management Division.
Lauren Bolotin (Fall 2019 - Spring 2021): Lauren was the first member to join the lab as a technician. In her time as a lab member, she adeptly picked up a broad range of coding, data analysis, lab, and field skills. Lauren eventually took on a project of her own classifying river salinity regimes in the western U.S. and has a publication in Limnology & Oceanography Letters. Lauren joined Dr. Hillary McMillan's lab in the fall of 2021 at San Diego State University to do a M.S. in Geography and was awarded an Honorable Mention from the 2021 NSF GRFP.
Jasmine Krause (Summer 2022 - Summer 2023): Jasmine was a research technician in the lab who worked on field and laboratory research for a project studying the influence of watershed-to-lake connections on nearshore productivity dynamics in Lake Tahoe. Jasmine was a pro at running the AQ400 discrete analyzer and led a series of incubation experiments investigating N uptake rates. Following her time in the lab, Jasmine is now a PhD student at Oregon State University with Adam Ward.
Meaghan Hickey (Summer - Winter 2022): Meaghan was a research technician in the lab who worked on collecting field samples and data for a project studying cyanobacteria and anatoxin production in rivers in northern California. Meaghan started her own side project investigating macroinvertebrate diversity and abundance within toxin-producing cyanobacterial benthic mats in the South Fork of the Eel River and has a publication forthcoming. Following her time in the lab, Meaghan returned to Vermont to start a position with the Vermont Watershed Management Division.
Lauren Bolotin (Fall 2019 - Spring 2021): Lauren was the first member to join the lab as a technician. In her time as a lab member, she adeptly picked up a broad range of coding, data analysis, lab, and field skills. Lauren eventually took on a project of her own classifying river salinity regimes in the western U.S. and has a publication in Limnology & Oceanography Letters. Lauren joined Dr. Hillary McMillan's lab in the fall of 2021 at San Diego State University to do a M.S. in Geography and was awarded an Honorable Mention from the 2021 NSF GRFP.
Wundergraduate Alumni
Rob Miller (Fall 2021 - Spring 2023): Rob joined the lab as an undergraduate research technician while majoring in the Natural Resources and Environmental Science program at the University of Nevada, Reno. He focused on helping with field and lab work related to nearshore greening in Lake Tahoe.
Michelle Fung (Spring 2023): Michelle joined the lab as an undergraduate research technician while majoring in the Biology program at the University of Nevada, Reno. Michelle helped with acid washing and tasks in the lab.
Alyda Dickens (Fall 2021 - Spring 2022): Alyda joined the lab as an undergraduate research technician while majoring in the Natural Resources and Environmental Science program at the University of Nevada, Reno. She designed lab logos and helped with acid washing and organization in the lab.
Laura Arbutina (Fall 2021 - Spring 2022): Laura joined the lab as an undergraduate research technician while majoring in the Natural Resources and Environmental Science program and well as the Biology program at UNR. Laura downloaded data from and maintained sensors in urban streams around Reno. She completed a bachelor of science degree in Environmental Science and Biology with an interest in genetics.
Anna Zoeters (Spring 2021 - Fall 2022): Anna joined the lab as a senior after taking an Environmental Toxicology course taught by Joanna. During spring 2021, Anna worked with Madison Glenwinkel to investigate stream responses to drying in streams monitored by the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). Anna graduated in spring 2021 and was awarded Outstanding Senior in the NRES department. During the fall of 2021, Anna rejoined the lab as a remote research technician.
Chloe Dodge (Spring 2020 - Summer 2021): Chloe graduated from the Environmental Science and Ecohydrology programs at UNR in spring 2021 and continued on as a research technician until the beginning of Fall 2021. Chloe was awarded Outstanding Senior from the NRES department. Chloe is now a masters student at Erasmus University in Rotterdam in their Urban Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change program.
Molly Farro & Helena Garrett-Paullada (Summer 2021): Molly & Helena joined the lab for the summer of 2021 and learned a variety of field and laboratory skills helping Meredith, Keenan, and Kelly with their projects.
Madison Glenwinkel (Spring 2021): Madison joined the lab as a freshman interested in environmental microbiology. Madison worked with Anna Zoeters to investigate stream responses to drying in streams monitored by the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). She was awarded a NV EPSCoR Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program summer fellowship (declined).
Albert Lopez-Martinez (Spring 2020 - Spring 2021): Albert joined the lab as a junior undergraduate student pursuing a Chemical Engineering degree and a McNair Scholar. Albert successfully applied for both the UNR Nevada Undergraduate Research Award (NURA - declined) and the NV EPSCoR Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP - accepted). Albert's research was investigating greenhouse gas emissions from canals in northeastern NV, and will be joining Frank (Yu) Yang's lab at UNR in the fall of 2021.
Michelle Fung (Spring 2023): Michelle joined the lab as an undergraduate research technician while majoring in the Biology program at the University of Nevada, Reno. Michelle helped with acid washing and tasks in the lab.
Alyda Dickens (Fall 2021 - Spring 2022): Alyda joined the lab as an undergraduate research technician while majoring in the Natural Resources and Environmental Science program at the University of Nevada, Reno. She designed lab logos and helped with acid washing and organization in the lab.
Laura Arbutina (Fall 2021 - Spring 2022): Laura joined the lab as an undergraduate research technician while majoring in the Natural Resources and Environmental Science program and well as the Biology program at UNR. Laura downloaded data from and maintained sensors in urban streams around Reno. She completed a bachelor of science degree in Environmental Science and Biology with an interest in genetics.
Anna Zoeters (Spring 2021 - Fall 2022): Anna joined the lab as a senior after taking an Environmental Toxicology course taught by Joanna. During spring 2021, Anna worked with Madison Glenwinkel to investigate stream responses to drying in streams monitored by the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). Anna graduated in spring 2021 and was awarded Outstanding Senior in the NRES department. During the fall of 2021, Anna rejoined the lab as a remote research technician.
Chloe Dodge (Spring 2020 - Summer 2021): Chloe graduated from the Environmental Science and Ecohydrology programs at UNR in spring 2021 and continued on as a research technician until the beginning of Fall 2021. Chloe was awarded Outstanding Senior from the NRES department. Chloe is now a masters student at Erasmus University in Rotterdam in their Urban Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change program.
Molly Farro & Helena Garrett-Paullada (Summer 2021): Molly & Helena joined the lab for the summer of 2021 and learned a variety of field and laboratory skills helping Meredith, Keenan, and Kelly with their projects.
Madison Glenwinkel (Spring 2021): Madison joined the lab as a freshman interested in environmental microbiology. Madison worked with Anna Zoeters to investigate stream responses to drying in streams monitored by the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). She was awarded a NV EPSCoR Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program summer fellowship (declined).
Albert Lopez-Martinez (Spring 2020 - Spring 2021): Albert joined the lab as a junior undergraduate student pursuing a Chemical Engineering degree and a McNair Scholar. Albert successfully applied for both the UNR Nevada Undergraduate Research Award (NURA - declined) and the NV EPSCoR Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP - accepted). Albert's research was investigating greenhouse gas emissions from canals in northeastern NV, and will be joining Frank (Yu) Yang's lab at UNR in the fall of 2021.
