Faculty and Staff Directory
Michael Abbott
- Director, Great Lakes Research Center Operations
- 906-487-3165
- Cell: 906-281-1230
- mdabbott@mtu.edu
- GLRC 309
Robert A Andersen
- Adjunct Professor, Biological Sciences
- Senior Research Scientist, University of Washington
- Emeritus Director, Provasoli-Guillard National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota (CCMP, now NCMA)
- 906-370-1886
- raa48@uw.edu
Research Interests
- Chrysophyte algae
- Algal Systematics
- Algal Culturing

Jamey Anderson
- Coordinator of Marine Operations
- Reservations, Great Lakes Research Center Fleet
- 906-487-2914
- jameya@mtu.edu
- GLRC 319
Specialties
- Oversee research buoys
- Maintain and repair Remote Operated Vehicles
- Maintain R/V Agassiz to USCG standards
- Maintain and operate survey vessels
- Provide electrical and mechanical support of specialized research equipment

Carol J. Asiala
- Research Scientist/Engineer, Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences
- 906-487-2033
- cjasiala@mtu.edu
- Dow 626
Links of Interest
Specialties
- Proposal preparation assistance
- Project assistance with databases and computer programming/analysis
- Project assistance with budget reporting and management
Martin T. Auer
- Professor Emeritus, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- 906-487-2799
- mtauer@mtu.edu
- GLRC 318
Links of Interest
Teaching Interests
- Surface water quality engineering
Research Interests
- Limnology
- Engineering approaches to lake and river management
- Mathematical modeling of surface water quality
Nancy A. Auer
- Emeritus Research Professor, Biological Sciences
- 906-487-2353
- naauer@mtu.edu
- Dow 732
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Fish Biology
- Zooplankton ecology
- Limnology
- Conservation Biology
Melissa F. Baird
- Assistant Professor of Anthropology
- 906-487-2366
- mfbaird@mtu.edu
- Academic Office Building 212
Links
Research Interests
- Resource Frontiers
- Extractive industries
- Heritage landscapes
- Indigenous and expert knowledge
- Ethnographic methods
- Politics of archaeology
Brian D. Barkdoll, PE
- Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- 906-487-1981
- barkdoll@mtu.edu
- Dow 807
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Dam Decommissioning
- Environmental Engineering
- Hydraulic Structures
- River Mechanics
- Sediment Transport
- Stream Rehabilitation
- Sustainability
Andrew Barnard
- Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering—Engineering Mechanics
- Faculty Advisor, SENSE Enterprise
- 906-487-2412
- arbarnar@mtu.edu
- 930 MEEM
Areas of Expertise
- Acoustics
- Noise Control
- Vibration
- Real Time Control Systems
- LabVIEW programming and instruction
Research Interests
- Advanced Measurements and Signal Processing
- Acoustic Intensity and Vector Sensors
- Room Acoustics
- Acoustic Material Characterization
- Outdoor Sound Propagation
- Physical Acoustics
- NI LabVIEW Data Acquisition and Control
- Microphones
- Crowd Noise
- Underwater Acoustics
- Structural Acoustics
- Array Signal Processing
Jennifer Becker
- Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Affiliated Associate Professor, Biological Sciences
- 906-487-2942
- jgbecker@mtu.edu
- Dow 864
Links of Interest
Teaching Interests
- Water and wastewater treatment
- Biological treatment processes
Research Interests
- Bioremediation of Contaminated Groundwater Environments
- Microbial Ecology and Kinetics of Chlorinated Aliphatic Solvent Biodegradation
- Conversion of Organic Solid Wastes and Cellulosic Feedstocks to Electricity via Microbial Fuel Cells
Leonard J. Bohmann
- Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
- Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- 906-487-2005
- ljbohman@mtu.edu
- M&M 707
Areas of Interest
- Electric power systems analysis
- Utility applications of power electronics (HVDC, SVC, FACTS)
- Power system dynamics
- Power quality
- Power system transients
- Computer analysis and simulation of power systems
William S. Breffle
- Associate Professor of Economics, School of Business and Economics
- Affiliate Professor, SFRES
- 906-487-1959
- wsbreffl@mtu.edu
- Academic Office Building G019
Teaching Interests
- Environmental economics
- Natural resource economics
- International economics
- Mathematical economics
- Principles of economics
Research Interests
- Non-market valuation
- Discrete choice modeling
- Benefit-cost analysis
- Restoration program planning
- Health economics
Colin N. Brooks
- Adjunct Instructor, Biological Sciences
- Manager of Environmental Science Laboratory, MTRI: Michigan Tech Research Institute (Ann Arbor)
- 734-913-6858
- cnbrooks@mtu.edu
Research Interests
- Resource Ecology
Gary A. Campbell
- Professor of Natural Resource Economics, School of Business and Economics
- Director of MS in Applied Natural Resource Economics
- Affiliate Professor, Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences
- 906-487-2808
- gacampbe@mtu.edu
- Academic Office Building 122
Teaching Interests
- Natural Resource Economics
- Principles of Economics
- International Economics
Specialties
- Metal markets
- Sustainability of mining
- Social decision-making about resource use
Joan Chadde-Schumaker
- Director, Center for Science and Environmental Outreach
- Instructor, Cognitive and Learning Sciences
- 906-487-3341
- jchadde@mtu.edu
- GLRC 115
Areas of Expertise
- Great Lakes education and stewardship
- Watershed management ; stream monitoring
- Environmental education
- Elementary engineering and STEM education
- K-12 science education
- K-12 teacher professional development
- Communicating Science to a lay audience
Rupali Datta
- Associate Professor, Biological Sciences
- Director and Advisor, Graduate Program
- 906-487-1783
- rupdatta@mtu.edu
- Dow 530
Links of Interest
Specialties
- Plant Biochemistry
- Environmental Remediation
- Plant-Microbe Interactions

"Good things come in small packages—you can get a GREAT liberal arts education from
us. Our graduates get jobs and enroll in fine graduate programs at universities like
Yale, Michigan, and Johns Hopkins."
—Mary Durfee
—Mary Durfee
Mary H. Durfee
- Professor Emerita
- 906-487-2112
- mhdurfee@mtu.edu
- Academic Office Building 216
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Great Lakes of North America
- International Law
- Malta
- Scholarship of Pedagogy
- Arctic Affairs
Curtis Edson
- Assistant Professor, SFRES
- Remote Sensing
- Geospatial Information Science
- 906-487-2596
- cbedson@mtu.edu
- Horner Hall (Forestry) 184
Areas of Expertise
- Remote Sensing
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Surveying and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)
- Aerial Photogrammetry
- Cartography
- Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)
- Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
Gary Fahnenstiel
- Senior Scientist, Great Lakes Research Center and Michigan Tech Research Institute
- Adjunct Professor, Biological Sciences
Research Interests
- Limnology of the Great Lakes
- Primary productivity
- Phytoplankton dunamics
- Laurentian Great Lakes
John S. Gierke, PE
- Chair, Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences
- Professor, Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences
- Affiliated Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- 906-487-2535
- jsgierke@mtu.edu
- Dow 631
Links of Interest
Teaching Interests
- Hydrogeology
- Ground water Engineering
- Contaminant Transport
- Subsurface Remediation
Research Interests
- Field performance of air sparging for removing volatile organic chemicals from ground water
- Volatile organic vapor transport in unsaturated soils
- Sulfur dioxide interactions with volcanic ash
Hugh S. Gorman
- Department Chair, Social Sciences
- Professor of Environmental History and Policy, Social Sciences
- 906-487-2116
- hsgorman@mtu.edu
- Academic Office Building 215
Fields
- Environmental Policy and History
- History of Technology
- History of Science
- Economic History
Research Interests
- The historical interaction between technological change, uses of the environment, and systems of governance
- Adaptive governance
- Sustainable energy and environmental policy
Sarah A. Green
- Professor, Chemistry
- 906-487-3419
- sgreen@mtu.edu
- GLRC 205
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Climate change communication
- Science-policy interface
- Response of aquatic systems to climate change
- Great Lakes
- Behavior of metal-contaminated sediments in the Lake Superior basin
- Fluorescence-based analytical methods
- Aerosol chemistry
- Origin and fate of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in terrestrial, lake, and marine environments
- Methods for detection of free radicals, photochemical transformations of natural and anthropogenic organic compounds in the environment
- integration of biological, geological, physical, and chemical data for understanding global cycles.
Michael R. Gretz
- Professor, Biological Sciences
- Director, Chemical Advanced Resolution Methods Laboratory
- 906-487-3175
- mrgretz@mtu.edu
Research Interests
- Algal Extracellular Polymers and Biocomposites - Regulation of Biogenesis
David Hand
- Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- 906-487-2777
- dwhand@mtu.edu
- Dow 871
Research Interests
- Development and application of physical and chemical processes for the recovery, removal, or destruction of organic compounds from air and water streams in industrial processes and the environment

Elizabeth Hoy
- Assistant Director, Business & Program Development
- Great Lakes Research Center
- 906-487-1208
- elizabeth@mtu.edu
- GLRC 309
Specialties
- Facilitates partnerships that support Institute growth
- Directs the development and distribution of outreach material to external partners
- Oversees administrative operations
Casey J Huckins
- Professor, Biological Sciences
- 906-487-2475
- cjhuckin@mtu.edu
- Dow 716, GLRC 112
Research Expertise
- Ecology of lakes, streams, and their riparian interface with terrestrial systems
- Fish ecology, biology, functional morphology
- effects of land use on ecological systems
- Biomonitoring for research and restoration
- Effects of Invasive Species

Liza Jenkins
- Research Scientist, Michigan Tech Research Institute
- 734.913.6869
- lliverse@mtu.edu
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Satellite remote sensing and spatial data analysis
- Fusion of electro-optical and synthetic aperture radar data
- Innovative field data collection schemes and sensors
- Temporal monitoring and detection of landscape change
- Big data analysis for natural resource applications
- Arctic and boreal systems in the domains of fires, lakes, peatlands, wetlands, and glaciers
Chandrashekhar P. Joshi
- Department Chair and Professor, Biological Sciences
- Affiliated Professor, SFRES
- 906-487-2738
- cpjoshi@mtu.edu
- Dow 741
Links of Interest
Research Interests: Biological Sciences
- Plant Molecular Genetics
Areas of Expertise: Biology and Forestry
- Cellulose and lignin biosynthesis in trees
- Wood formation
- Tree growth and development
- Engineering trees
- Forest bioinformatics

"If trees could run away from their place of establishment, believe me many of them
probably would!"
Evan S. Kane
- Associate Professor, SFRES
- 906-482-6303
- eskane@mtu.edu
- Forest Service Building 123
Areas of Expertise
- Soil carbon
- Plant/soil relationships
- Decomposition
- Dissolved organic carbon
- Wildfire
- Black carbon
Charles Kerfoot
- Professor, Biological Sciences
- Director, Lake Superior Ecosystem Research Center
- Adjunct Professor, Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences
- wkerfoot@mtu.edu
- GLRC 305, office
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Aquatic Ecology
- Paleoecology
Maryam Khaksari
- Research Specialist
- 906-487-1469
- mkhaksar@mtu.edu
- 218 GLRC
Research Interests
- Developing LCMS Method for variety of applications
- Analyzing LCMS data and formula assignment
- Qualitative and quantitative analysis
Area of Interest
- Snowfall remote sensing using spaceborne and ground-based instruments
- Global snowfall characterization and future snowfall trends
- Measuring snow microphysical properties
- Lake effect snow (satellite and radar observations, modeling, forecasting)
Research Interests
- Understanding future global snowfall trends using combined modeling, reanalysis, and observational datasets
- Using spaceborne radar and microwave radiometer observations to quantify global snowfall
- Evaluating spaceborne precipitation estimates using ground-based radar and in situ snow microphysics observations
- Studying systematic snow microphysical property differences associated with distinct snowfall modes (lake effect vs. syntopic snow)
- Characterizing uncertainties in spaceborne snowfall estimates due to snow and ice particle microphysics
- Improving snow/ice microphysical properties and processes in numerical models
- Developing improved lake effect snow forecasting tools using satellite data
Don Lafreniere
- Assistant Professor of Geography and GIS
- Director. Historical Environments Spatial Analytics Lab
- Director, Geospatial Research Core Facility
- 906-487-2189
- djlafren@mtu.edu
- AOB 200A, GLRC 208
Research Interests
- Environmental Change and Life Course Epidemiology
- Urban Environments and Population Health
- PPGIS
- Applications of GIS for Historical Research
- Qualitative GIS
- Deindustrialization and Shrinking Cities
- Time-Space Integration and Modeling in GIS
- Demography and Historical Record Linkage
- Sense of Place and Neighborhood Construction
Nancy Langston
- Professor of Environmental History, Social Sciences
- Member of the Great Lakes Research Center
- Affiliated Professor, SFRES
- nelangs3@mtu.edu
- 220 AOB MTU, 1400 Townsend D Houghton MI 49931
Areas of Interest
- Toxics, forested watersheds, and northern lakes
- Environmental history
- Watershed change and water quality
- Mining history
Eugene Levin, CP
- Associate Professor, School of Technology; Program Chair, Surveying Engineering
- Director, Integrated Geospatial Technology Graduate Program
- Faculty Advisor, Digital Mapping Enterprise
- 906-487-2446
- elevin@mtu.edu
- EERC 220
Research Interests
- Integrated geospatial technologies for sustainable development
- Mobile mapping platforms for geographical and environmental studies
- SAR- and LIDAR-based remote sensing and GIS
- Geosensorics, real-time networks of geosensors
- Human-computer symbiosis for knowledge extraction and expertise transfer
- Visual perception in remote sensing and GIS
- 3-D geospatial visualization and augmented reality
- Visual and automated feature extraction in multispectral and hyperspectral image interpretation
- Geospatial-sensor modeling and calibration
- Image processing and automated feature extraction from aerial and satellite imagery
- Automated systems for vision-based autonomous navigation and control of manned/unmanned robotic platforms
- Image fusion and analysis
- Photogrammetry of aerial and high-resolution satellite imagery
Teaching Interests
- Earth observation systems
- Geodesy
- Photogrammetry
- Geospatial technologies, data, and systems
- Global positioning systems
- Remote sensing
- LIDAR-, SAR-/InSAR-based remote sensing
- Geospatial 3-D visualization
- Geospatial imaging: perception and interpretation
- Introductory and advanced GIS
- Spatial analysis and modeling
- Spatial decision support
- Cartography and cybercartography
Carol A. MacLennan
- Professor of Anthropology, Social Sciences
- camac@mtu.edu
- Academic Office Building 209A
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Environmental anthropology/political ecology
- Anthropology of industry (mining, sugar)
- Hawai`i and the Pacific
- Anthropology of public policy
Nina Mahmoudian
- Lou and Herbert Wacker Associate Professor in Autonomous Mobile Systems, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
- Faculty Advisor, SENSE Enterprise
- 906-487-3084
- ninam@mtu.edu
- MEEM 1009
Areas of Expertise
Areas of Expertise
- Unmanned Systems
- Dynamics and Controls
- System Design
Research Interests
- Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) with Special Interest in Underwater Gliders
- Coordination and Control of Networked Multi-Agent Systems
- Motion Planning in Complex Environments
- Cyber-physical Systems
Amy M Marcarelli
- Associate Professor, Biological Sciences
- 906-487-2867
- ammarcar@mtu.edu
- Dow 727
Research Interests
- Limnology
- Ecosystem Ecology of Streams and Rivers
- Biogeochemistry
Patrick E. Martin
- Research Professor of Archaeology
- 906-487-2070
- pemartin@mtu.edu
- Archaeology Annex
Areas of Expertise
- Industrial archaeology
- Industrial heritage
- Historical archaeology
Audrey L. Mayer
- Associate Professor of Ecology and Environmental Policy, SFRES
- Coordinator, Peace Corps Masters International Program in Forestry
- 906-487-2864
- almayer@mtu.edu
- Academic Office Building 206
Links of Interest
- Private Land Management and Voluntary Incentive Programs project
- Environmental and Energy Policy Program
- Sustainable Futures Institute
- Follow me on Twitter! @AudreyLMayer
Areas of Expertise
- Landscape ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Environmental and Natural Resources Policy
- Sustainability science
Alex S. Mayer, PE
- Charles and Patricia Nelson Presidential Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Professor, Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences
- 906-487-3372
- asmayer@mtu.edu
- Dow 809
Links of Interest
Teaching Interests
- Groundwater flow and transport and subsurface remediation
Research Interests
- Numerical and Experimental Investigations of Contaminant Transport in Groundwater Vadose Zones
- Mathematical Optimization of Groundwater Remediation Systems: Multi-Objective and Uncertainty Problems
- Surfactant-Enhanced Dissolution of Nonaqueous Phase Liquids in Subsurface Systems
- Groundwater Flow in a Fault Zone in the Vicinity of Desert Hot Springs, California
- Simulation of Saltwater Intrusion in the Guaymas Valley, Sonora, Mexico California
Lynn R. Mazzoleni
- Associate Professor, Chemistry
- 906-487-1853
- lrmazzol@mtu.edu
- Chem Sci 402D
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Understanding the identities, occurrence, and transformation of aerosol organic compounds
- Identifying organic aerosol constituents from a variety of atmospheric environments
- Exploration of new LC column chemistries with ultrahigh pressure pumps for fast and thorough separations
- Aqueous reaction pathways
Cory P. McDonald
- Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- 906-487-2898
- cpmcdona@mtu.edu
- Dow 815
Teaching Interests
- Surface Water Quality Engineering
Research Interests
- Limnology
- Aquatic-terrestrial connectivity and landscape-scale drivers of water quality
- Water quality modeling
- Carbon cycling and ecosystem metabolism
- Nutrient biogeochemistry
Guy Meadows
- Director, Great Lakes Research Center
- Adjunct Professor, Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences
- Research Professor, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
- 906-487-1106
- gmeadows@mtu.edu
- GLRC 307
Research Interests
- Large scale field experimentation in the Inland Seas of the Great Lakes and coastal oceans
- Nearshore hydrodynamics and prediction
- Autonomous and semi-autonomous environmental monitoring platforms (surface and sub-surface)
- Underwater acoustic remote sensing
- Marine engineering
Thomas E. Merz
- Associate Dean, School of Business and Economics
- Professor of Economics, School of Business and Economics
- 906-487-2805
- temerz@mtu.edu
- Academic Office Building 105
Teaching Interests
- Game theory
- Public sector economics
- Microeconomic theory
Research Interests
- Game theory
- Public sector economics
- Microeconomic theory
Daisuke Minakata
- Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Affiliated Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry
- Affiliated Assistant Professor, Department of Physics
- 906-487-1830
- dminakat@mtu.edu
- Dow 801
Links of Interest
Teaching Interests
- Physical-Chemical Treatment Processes
- Environmental Process and Design
- Computational Environmental Engineering and Chemistry
Research Interests
- Sustainable water and wastewater treatment and management
- Development of assessing and predicting tools for water treatment technologies
- Innovative water and wastewater treatment technologies for energy saving and harvesting
- Systematic and integrated understanding of water and wastewater reuse
- Application of computational chemistry and molecular modeling
Daya Muralidharan
- Adjunct Assistant Professor of Economics, School of Business and Economics
Teaching Interests
- Natural resource economics
- Environmental economics
- Water resource economics
- Microeconomics
- Econometrics
Research Interests
- Water management and drainage in agriculture
- Groundwater management
- Forest use in developing economies
- Groundwater quality externalities
Jill A. Olin
- Research Scientist, Great Lakes Research Center
- 906-487-1121
- jaolin@mtu.edu
- GLRC 110
Areas of Interest
- Ecology of aquatic systems
- Fisheries science
- Aquatic-terrestrial energy linkages
- Dietary biomarkers (e.g., stable isotopes, fatty acids, compound-specific isotopes of AA and FA)
- Trophic ecology of top predators in marine, estuarine and coastal communities
- Predator-prey interactions
Research Interests
- Understanding species- and food web-level responses to environmental stressors using combined dietary biomarker, ecological and modeling approaches
- Evaluating distributional patterns of organisms and the mechanisms that drive these patterns
- Using abundance and biomass estimates to quantify nekton communities
- Quantifying the mechanisms and processes that structure food webs and ecosystems
- Developing ecosystem models to evaluate the effect of environmental change
Gord Paterson
- Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
- 906-487-1120
- gpaterso@mtu.edu
- GLRC 112
Areas of Expertise
- Legacy and emerging pollutants
- Ecotoxicology
- Great Lakes fisheries
- Multiple stressors
- Fisheries bioenergetics
Research Interests
- Using pollutants as ecological tracers
- Overwintering bioaccumulation and bioamplification
- Energy dynamics in Great Lakes food-webs
- Energetic costs of multiple stressors
Wayne D. Pennington
- Dean, College of Engineering
- David House Endowed Professor of Geophysical Engineering, Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences
- 906-487-2005
- wayne@mtu.edu
- M&M 701
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- (Not accepting new graduate students)
- Properties of rocks under varying conditions of saturation, stress, and heterogeneity
- Oil and gas exploration and development
- Seismic petrophysics -- relating rock properties to seismic observations, particularly in oil and gas development
- Earthquake seismology, particularly induced seismicity, and humanitarian aspects of large earthquakes
- Administrator of the SPOT Lab (seismic petrophysics: observation and theory)
Judith A. Perlinger
- Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- 906-487-3641
- jperl@mtu.edu
- Dow 863
Links of Interest
Teaching Interests
- Environmental Engineering
- Transport & Transformation of Organic Chemicals
- Boundary Layer Meteorology
- Sustainability
Research Interests
- Air and Water Quality
- Atmosphere-biosphere Exchange of Chemicals
- Micrometeorology
- Environmental Analytical Chemistry
- Sustainability

Christopher Pinnow
- Electronics/Computer Engineer
- 906-487-0007
- ckpinnow@mtu.edu
- GLRC B001
Specialties
- Support GLRC and APSRC research programs
- Focus on measurements of the over water and in-water environments
- Support design, fabrication, testing & utilization of prototype field deployable instruments, including programming and decision support algorithms
- Statistical analysis of remote sensing and in situ data sets

Tom Polkinghorn
- Building Mechanic II

Stephen Roblee
- Professor Emeritus, Mathematical Sciences
Mark D. Rouleau
- Assistant Professor, Social Sciences
- 906-487-2039
- mdroulea@mtu.edu
- Academic Office Building 205
Research Interests
- Social simulation
- Agent-based modeling
- Land-use modeling
- Norm evolution
- Survey design
- International relations

"Whereas innovation, in the backwards reading of creativity, lies outside of time,
improvisation, in a forward reading, is inherently temporal."
—Elizabeth Hallam and Tim Ingold (2007) Creativity and Cultural Improvisation. Berg, New York.
—Elizabeth Hallam and Tim Ingold (2007) Creativity and Cultural Improvisation. Berg, New York.
Timothy J. Scarlett
- Associate Professor of Archaeology and Anthropology
- 906-487-2359
- scarlett@mtu.edu
- Academic Office Building 210
Research Interests
- Historical and Industrial Archaeologies
- Ecobiography, Creativity and Work
- Ceramic Petrology, Neutron Activation Analysis
- Community-based scholarship, public science/humanities
- Archaeometric and Conservation Sciences
Chelsea Schelly
- Associate Professor of Sociology
- Graduate Director, IA/H and EEP
- 906-487-1759
- cschelly@mtu.edu
- Academic Office Building 226
Research Interests
- Alternative technology adoption
- Renewable energy technologies
- Renewable and alternative technology policy
- Sustainable communities
- Energy conservation and consumption practices
- Self-provisioning
- Environmental education
David Schwab
- Computer & Math Sr. Scientist, Great Lakes Research Center
- 734-763-1093
- djschwab@mtu.edu
- GLRC 208
Specialties
- Hydrodynamic modeling of the Great Lakes and other coastal regions including theoretical, numerical, and observational investigations of circulation, thermal structure, seiches, storm surges, wind waves, and air-sea interaction
- Applications of hydrodynamic modeling to water quality problems, including transport of bacteria from tributary sources to swimming beaches and predictive tracking of algal blooms
Eric Seagren
- Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Affiliated Professor, Biological Sciences
- 906-487-2614
- eseagren@mtu.edu
- Dow 859
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Environmental biotechnology, including in situ bioremediation of contaminated subsurface environments, monitoring and evaluation of the performance of biological treatment processes, development of in situ biological treatment systems for urban storm water runoff, innovative reuse of waste materials, and in situ improvement of soils properties via microbially-mediated processes.
Bruce Seely
- Dean, College of Science and Arts
- Professor of History and STS
- 906-487-2156
- bseely@mtu.edu
- Walker Arts and Humanities Center 201

Devin Seppala
- Office Assistant
- Great Lakes Research Center
- 906-487-2043
- devin@mtu.edu
- GLRC 308
Robert A. Shuchman
- Adjunct Professor, Biological Sciences
- Co-director of the Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI)
- 734-913-6860
- shuchman@mtu.edu
- MTRI
Research Interests
- Oceanic Sciences/Natural Resources
- AR, MS, and Photo-imaging Applied to Oceanography
- Earth Resources
- Military Coastal Environmental Assessment
Stephen Techtmann
- Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
- 906-487-3250
- smtechtm@mtu.edu
- Dow 531
Research Interests
- Environmental Microbiology
- Next-generation sequencing technology and bioinformatics
- Microbial physiology and biochemistry
- Microbes as sensors for the environmental impacts of oil and gas production
- Microbially-mediated remediation of crude oil contamination
Roger Turpening
- Research Professor, Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences
- 906-487-1784
- roger@mtu.edu
- Dow 624
Noel R. Urban
- Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- 906-487-3640
- nurban@mtu.edu
- 306 GLRC
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Environmental cycles of major and trace elements
- Sediment diagenesis and stratigraphy
- Chemistry of natural organic matter
- Wetland biogeochemistry
- Environmental impact and fate of pollutants
- Influence of organisms on the chemical environment
- Role of chemical environment in controlling populations

Erika Vye
- Geoheritage Education Coordinator, Center for Science & Environmental Outreach
- 906-487-3341
- ecvye@mtu.edu
- GLRC 114
Areas of Interest
- Geoheritage
- Geoscience education
- Interpreting geology
- Geoconservation and the value of public lands
Craig Waddell
- Associate Professor of Rhetoric, Humanities
- (906) 487-3261
- cwaddell@mtu.edu
- Walker 302
Zhaohui Wang
- Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- 906-487-2054
- zhaohuiw@mtu.edu
- EERC 506
Links of Interest
Areas of Interest
- Communications
- Signal processing
- Communication networks
- Network security
- Emphasis on underwater acoustic applications
David Watkins, PE
- Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- 906-487-1640
- dwatkins@mtu.edu
- Dow 806
Links of Interest
Teaching Interests
- Water resources planning and management
- Environmental systems analysis
- Hydrologic and hydraulic engineering
- Optimization methods
- Learning through service
Research Interests
- Integrated water resources planning
- Use of seasonal hydroclimatic forecasts
- Climate change risk assessment
- Robust decision-making
- System dynamics modeling
Veronica L. Webster
- Associate Professor, Water Resources Engineering
- 906-487-1079
- vlweb@mtu.edu
- Dillman 201D
Links of Interest
Teaching Interests
- Probability and statistics
- Stochastic hydrology
- Numerical methods
- Water resources
- Risk analysis and management
Research Interests
- Water resources
- Uncertainty analysis
- Flood frequency and analysis of extreme events
- Impacts of climate and land use changes

"Academics are the only people I can think of for whom this sentence makes sense:
'I'm hoping to get some time off so that I can get some work done.'"
—Sidney Verba
—Sidney Verba
Adam M. Wellstead
- Associate Professor of Public Policy, Social Sciences
- 906-487-2115
- awellste@mtu.edu
- Academic Office Building 207
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Policy advisory systems
- Governance and political mechanisms
- Survey research
- Policy process frameworks
Areas of Interest
- Canadian Energy and Environmental Issues
- Climate Change Adaptation
- Oil Sands Development
- Forest Policy
- Canadian history

Lloyd Wescoat
- Education Program Assistant & Service Learning
- 906-487-3341
- lwescoat@mtu.edu
- GLRC 116
Travis White
- Research Engineer, Great Lakes Research Center
- 906-487-2877
- tmwhite@mtu.edu
- GLRC 310

Ryan Williams, GISP
- Geospatial Research Scientist
- Geospatial Research Facility, Great Lakes Research Center
- 906-487-1485
- rywillia@mtu.edu
- GLRC 311
Areas of Expertise
- Geographic Information Systems
- Database Development
- GIS Tool and Process Development
- Integrating Web, GIS, Database and Analytics Tools
Richelle L. Winkler
- Associate Professor of Sociology and Demography, Social Sciences
- 906-487-1886
- rwinkler@mtu.edu
- Academic Office Building 217
Areas of Expertise
- Rural Sociology
- Population and Environment
- Environmental Sociology
- Community Engaged Scholarship
- Internal Migration
- GIS and spatial analysis
Pengfei Xue
- Assistant Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering
- Director, Numerical Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Great Lakes Research Center
- 906-487-1837
- pexue@mtu.edu
- GLRC 317
Links of Interest
Teaching Interests
- Introductory Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
- Hydrodynamic Modeling
- Water Resources Engineering
- Ecosystem Dynamics Modeling
Research Interests
- Hydrodynamic modeling
- Coupled physical-biological modeling
- Dynamics of coupled ocean-atmosphere models
- Ocean data assimilation
- Estuary and coastal ocean circulation
- Bio-physical processes in the Great Lakes

Lucille Zelazny
- Research Assistant, Biological Sciences
- 906-487-2791
- lzelazny@mtu.edu
- GLRC