Principal Investigators
Amy Burgin, Ph.D. 2007 Michigan State University, B.A. 2002 Coe College
Amy is a proud native Midwesterner, originally hailing from Lacona, Iowa (population 361). Originally in college, she thought she wanted to go to medical school, but a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in NY (Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies) and NH got her hooked on aquatic ecology. She also completed a semester abroad in Costa Rica that further convinced her that ecology was a pretty great way to spend your working life. She graduated from Coe College with a B.A. in Biology and Environmental Science. She then started grad school at Michigan State University at the Kellogg Biological Station under the guidance of Dr. Steve Hamilton. While the REU experience got Amy's feet wet in streams, working with Steve Hamilton broadened her aquatic interests to wetland and lake ecosystems. After her Ph.D., she moved to the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in NY to complete postdoctoral work with Dr. Peter Groffman. Her project there focused on using sensors to measure environmental variables in riparian wetlands. Before moving to UNL in 2011, she completed two years as an Assistant Professor at Wright State University in Dayton, OH. She joined UNL's School of Natural Resources in the Fall of 2011.
Amy is a proud native Midwesterner, originally hailing from Lacona, Iowa (population 361). Originally in college, she thought she wanted to go to medical school, but a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in NY (Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies) and NH got her hooked on aquatic ecology. She also completed a semester abroad in Costa Rica that further convinced her that ecology was a pretty great way to spend your working life. She graduated from Coe College with a B.A. in Biology and Environmental Science. She then started grad school at Michigan State University at the Kellogg Biological Station under the guidance of Dr. Steve Hamilton. While the REU experience got Amy's feet wet in streams, working with Steve Hamilton broadened her aquatic interests to wetland and lake ecosystems. After her Ph.D., she moved to the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in NY to complete postdoctoral work with Dr. Peter Groffman. Her project there focused on using sensors to measure environmental variables in riparian wetlands. Before moving to UNL in 2011, she completed two years as an Assistant Professor at Wright State University in Dayton, OH. She joined UNL's School of Natural Resources in the Fall of 2011.
Terry Loecke, Ph.D. 2007 Michigan State University, M.S. 2002 Iowa State U, B.A. 1999 University of Northern Iowa
Steve Thomas, Ph.D. 2000 Idaho State University, M.S. 1991 U Wyoming, B.A. 1987 University of New Hampshire
Simply put, Steve is interested in understanding how the properties of one location impact the ecological properties of another. The flow of water links upstream and downstream habitats and longitudinal connection is a fundamental, though often ignored, aspect of ecology. Steve's research combines ecology and hydrology to address nutrients in streams, microbiological activity and organic matter production, transport and processing.
These interests have led Steve to research topics such as organic particle dynamics in stream ecosystems, in-stream nitrogen removal and transport; hydrology, remote sensing and thermal heterogeneity in floodplain river ecosystems; flow paths and the formation of biogeochemical hotspots; and other areas.
Steve came to UNL as an assistant professor of stream ecology in January 2006. Previously, he was a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University and formerly a research hydrologist in the private sector.
Simply put, Steve is interested in understanding how the properties of one location impact the ecological properties of another. The flow of water links upstream and downstream habitats and longitudinal connection is a fundamental, though often ignored, aspect of ecology. Steve's research combines ecology and hydrology to address nutrients in streams, microbiological activity and organic matter production, transport and processing.
These interests have led Steve to research topics such as organic particle dynamics in stream ecosystems, in-stream nitrogen removal and transport; hydrology, remote sensing and thermal heterogeneity in floodplain river ecosystems; flow paths and the formation of biogeochemical hotspots; and other areas.
Steve came to UNL as an assistant professor of stream ecology in January 2006. Previously, he was a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University and formerly a research hydrologist in the private sector.
Graduate Students
Karla Jarecke, M.S. student
I am a Masters student working with Drs. Terry Loecke and Amy Burgin. I studied biology and Spanish in college and dreamed of being a scientist since as long as I can remember. I am a Nebraska native, but travels and new cultural experiences led me to work in sustainable agriculture for 2 years in various places after college. I returned to Nebraska to work as a research technician in this lab, which led me to where I am today. My current field work takes me to southwest Ohio where I’m interested in understanding temporal variation in soil oxygen and greenhouse gas fluxes during soil wetting and drying. My study site was historically a wetland, but then farmed intensively for about 100 years with the advent of tile drainage. Construction on the site began in 2010 to restore natural hydrology and increase native vegetation. The site is also a profitable wetland mitigation bank for a regional public park organization in the greater Dayton area. In my free time I enjoy going out for a good run and eating delicious food.
I am a Masters student working with Drs. Terry Loecke and Amy Burgin. I studied biology and Spanish in college and dreamed of being a scientist since as long as I can remember. I am a Nebraska native, but travels and new cultural experiences led me to work in sustainable agriculture for 2 years in various places after college. I returned to Nebraska to work as a research technician in this lab, which led me to where I am today. My current field work takes me to southwest Ohio where I’m interested in understanding temporal variation in soil oxygen and greenhouse gas fluxes during soil wetting and drying. My study site was historically a wetland, but then farmed intensively for about 100 years with the advent of tile drainage. Construction on the site began in 2010 to restore natural hydrology and increase native vegetation. The site is also a profitable wetland mitigation bank for a regional public park organization in the greater Dayton area. In my free time I enjoy going out for a good run and eating delicious food.
Kaycee Reynolds M.S. student
Kaycee originally hails from the great state of Minnesota, land of 10,000+ lakes. Her passion for water developed at a very young age and has only continued to grow through her studies. While at Coe College, she completed two summers of undergraduate research on water quality in the Lime Creek watershed, focusing on the effects of best management practices under the guidance of Dr. Marty St. Clair. During her senior year, she completed an intensive semester-long internship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a member of the SPRUCE project—a high impact climate change study on a northern Minnesota bog, under the guidance of Dr. Jeffrey Warren. Her individual project, which focused on using stable isotopes of water to characterize the hydrological cycle in this northern Minnesota bog, really solidified her interest in water research, which ultimately encouraged her application to graduate school. The stars must have aligned perfectly as her interest in graduate programs focusing on water directly coincided with RAPID funding for water quality research involving the aforementioned Lime Creek watershed. Her project will focus on nitrate flux in streams following drought conditions and the greater ecological impact of such pulses.
Kaycee originally hails from the great state of Minnesota, land of 10,000+ lakes. Her passion for water developed at a very young age and has only continued to grow through her studies. While at Coe College, she completed two summers of undergraduate research on water quality in the Lime Creek watershed, focusing on the effects of best management practices under the guidance of Dr. Marty St. Clair. During her senior year, she completed an intensive semester-long internship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a member of the SPRUCE project—a high impact climate change study on a northern Minnesota bog, under the guidance of Dr. Jeffrey Warren. Her individual project, which focused on using stable isotopes of water to characterize the hydrological cycle in this northern Minnesota bog, really solidified her interest in water research, which ultimately encouraged her application to graduate school. The stars must have aligned perfectly as her interest in graduate programs focusing on water directly coincided with RAPID funding for water quality research involving the aforementioned Lime Creek watershed. Her project will focus on nitrate flux in streams following drought conditions and the greater ecological impact of such pulses.
Meg Trowbridge, M.S. student
Meg is originally from Omaha, Nebraska and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and a minor in Environmental Studies. At a young age she had a passion for animals and nature that ultimately lead to her goal of becoming a scientist. She is a Masters student working with Drs. Mark Pegg and Amy Burgin on a project within Fremont State Recreation Area (SRA). Her concentrations are on food web dynamic comparisons between different treatment types within the SRA lakes and aluminum toxicity within target species found within the lakes. Her career goal is to become an environmental consultant with a private firm and ultimately form her own company. In her spare time she likes spending time outdoors with her husband, traveling, and trying new things.
Meg is originally from Omaha, Nebraska and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and a minor in Environmental Studies. At a young age she had a passion for animals and nature that ultimately lead to her goal of becoming a scientist. She is a Masters student working with Drs. Mark Pegg and Amy Burgin on a project within Fremont State Recreation Area (SRA). Her concentrations are on food web dynamic comparisons between different treatment types within the SRA lakes and aluminum toxicity within target species found within the lakes. Her career goal is to become an environmental consultant with a private firm and ultimately form her own company. In her spare time she likes spending time outdoors with her husband, traveling, and trying new things.
Christa Webber, M.S. student
Christa is a M.S. student from Omaha with a B.S. from Northwest Missouri State. She is pursuing a specialization in aquatic ecology and doing research at Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area. Her work focuses on plankton community dynamics in response to restoration treatments in order to determine their effectiveness of controlling toxic algae.
Christa is a M.S. student from Omaha with a B.S. from Northwest Missouri State. She is pursuing a specialization in aquatic ecology and doing research at Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area. Her work focuses on plankton community dynamics in response to restoration treatments in order to determine their effectiveness of controlling toxic algae.
Undergraduates
Katie Schlafke, B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife concentration in Conservation Biology, expected May 2015
My name is Katie Schlafke and I am a junior Fisheries and Wildlife student with a concentration in Conservation Biology. Originally from White Bear Lake, Minnesota, I came to UNL and started working in the lab right away my freshman year alongside Valerie Schoepfer on the Timberlake project. Last summer I got to travel to North Carolina and experience the field site and work for myself, along with completing a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) project. This summer I worked in Nebraska on the Fremont Lakes restoration project, and am currently helping with zooplankton counts alongside Christa Webber
My name is Katie Schlafke and I am a junior Fisheries and Wildlife student with a concentration in Conservation Biology. Originally from White Bear Lake, Minnesota, I came to UNL and started working in the lab right away my freshman year alongside Valerie Schoepfer on the Timberlake project. Last summer I got to travel to North Carolina and experience the field site and work for myself, along with completing a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) project. This summer I worked in Nebraska on the Fremont Lakes restoration project, and am currently helping with zooplankton counts alongside Christa Webber
David Moscicki, B.S in Water Science expected Dec 2014
David is originally from New York. In 2007 he graduated from the Seattle Film Institute in Seattle, WA. Dave has worked freelance in the production industry as a camera operator. His work includes commercials, cable television shows and many independent shorts, including entries into the 2009 Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) and Seattle True Independent Film Festival (STIFF). Then residing in the Long Beach, CA area he began following his dream to mix science with entertainment as he works towards a bachelor's degree in water science with an emphasis in Aquatic Ecology. He currently resides in Lincoln NE, where he is finishing his B.S. in aquatic ecology and assists researchers in Dr. Amy Burgin's lab, gaining experience and learning techniques with hopes of transferring that knowledge for use in his own future research.
David is originally from New York. In 2007 he graduated from the Seattle Film Institute in Seattle, WA. Dave has worked freelance in the production industry as a camera operator. His work includes commercials, cable television shows and many independent shorts, including entries into the 2009 Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) and Seattle True Independent Film Festival (STIFF). Then residing in the Long Beach, CA area he began following his dream to mix science with entertainment as he works towards a bachelor's degree in water science with an emphasis in Aquatic Ecology. He currently resides in Lincoln NE, where he is finishing his B.S. in aquatic ecology and assists researchers in Dr. Amy Burgin's lab, gaining experience and learning techniques with hopes of transferring that knowledge for use in his own future research.
Cain Silvey, B.S. in Environmental Restoration Science expected Dec 2014 (UCARE)
Cain hails from Omaha, NE and is currently pursuing a B.S in Environmental Restoration Science. He received a UCARE grant for the 2013/2014 school year to research plant mediated methane transport in wetland soils and spent two weeks in Dayton, OH this summer taking soil cores and collecting plant samples while helping out with the 5Rivers project. When he's not working on his research, Cain can be found assisting with various projects around the lab.
Cain hails from Omaha, NE and is currently pursuing a B.S in Environmental Restoration Science. He received a UCARE grant for the 2013/2014 school year to research plant mediated methane transport in wetland soils and spent two weeks in Dayton, OH this summer taking soil cores and collecting plant samples while helping out with the 5Rivers project. When he's not working on his research, Cain can be found assisting with various projects around the lab.
Emily Waring, B.S. in Biosystems Engineering, minor in Water Science expected May 2014
My name is Emily Waring and I am senior majoring in Biological Systems Engineering with an Environmental Emphasis and a Water Science Minor. I joined the lab this fall and will be working on the ROBOT project! We will be comparing water samples collected by the UAV with samples collected manually.
My name is Emily Waring and I am senior majoring in Biological Systems Engineering with an Environmental Emphasis and a Water Science Minor. I joined the lab this fall and will be working on the ROBOT project! We will be comparing water samples collected by the UAV with samples collected manually.
Carrie Adkisson, B.S. in Water Science expected May 2015
My name is Carrie Adkisson, I'm majoring in water science with a minor in fisheries and wildlife. I have always been interested in freshwater ecosystems, especially the complex relationships between the aquatic organisms that live there. I joined the lab this spring to learn more about the laboratory side of aquatic ecology. In the lab I help process soil samples for the Five Rivers project.
My name is Carrie Adkisson, I'm majoring in water science with a minor in fisheries and wildlife. I have always been interested in freshwater ecosystems, especially the complex relationships between the aquatic organisms that live there. I joined the lab this spring to learn more about the laboratory side of aquatic ecology. In the lab I help process soil samples for the Five Rivers project.
Lindsey Steele, B.S. in Water Science, expected May 2017
My name is Lindsey Steele, and I am non-traditional water science major with a concentration in aquatic ecology. Born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, my father was a hydrologist for the USGS. As such, an interest in science and specifically water was pretty much inborn. My interests are primarily concentrated on understanding how things interconnect within an aquatic ecological system, as well as studying the many potential uses for algae.
I am the newest hire in Dr. Burgin's lab, and am helping with the Fremont State Recreation Area project. More specifically, I am assisting Meg Trowbridge in counting phytoplankton for her research.
My name is Lindsey Steele, and I am non-traditional water science major with a concentration in aquatic ecology. Born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, my father was a hydrologist for the USGS. As such, an interest in science and specifically water was pretty much inborn. My interests are primarily concentrated on understanding how things interconnect within an aquatic ecological system, as well as studying the many potential uses for algae.
I am the newest hire in Dr. Burgin's lab, and am helping with the Fremont State Recreation Area project. More specifically, I am assisting Meg Trowbridge in counting phytoplankton for her research.
Technicians
Valerie Schoepfer, M.S. 2013, SNR - UNL; B.S. 2010 UNH
Valerie Schoepfer just graduated from UNL with a masters in Natural Resources, under Amy Burgin. Her thesis was regarding the iron and sulfur cycles in a coastal freshwater wetland in North Carolina. Currently she is a research technician with Amy and is mainly associated with the Fremont Lakes project, doing data analysis, sample processing and data organization for the group. She is also involved in several other projects, including data analysis for a small lake in Ohio and writing up some papers for the Timberlake North Carolina project.
Valerie Schoepfer just graduated from UNL with a masters in Natural Resources, under Amy Burgin. Her thesis was regarding the iron and sulfur cycles in a coastal freshwater wetland in North Carolina. Currently she is a research technician with Amy and is mainly associated with the Fremont Lakes project, doing data analysis, sample processing and data organization for the group. She is also involved in several other projects, including data analysis for a small lake in Ohio and writing up some papers for the Timberlake North Carolina project.
Craig Adams, B.S. Environmental Studies, UNL, 2012
I grew up in Omaha and have been living happily in Lincoln for 6 years. I have been passionate about environmental sciences ever since I spent a summer in the Colorado Rockies. I am currently working as a Lab Technician on our RAPID project, performing various field and lab work centering around record high nitrate concentrations from agricultural runoff in Iowa. Other than the environment, I am also very passionate about playing music and am constantly striving to better myself as a guitar player.
I grew up in Omaha and have been living happily in Lincoln for 6 years. I have been passionate about environmental sciences ever since I spent a summer in the Colorado Rockies. I am currently working as a Lab Technician on our RAPID project, performing various field and lab work centering around record high nitrate concentrations from agricultural runoff in Iowa. Other than the environment, I am also very passionate about playing music and am constantly striving to better myself as a guitar player.
ChandraKiran Singh, [details]