Faculty & Staff
Mindy Morales-Williams, PhD
Associate Professor, Rubenstein School
Interim Director, Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory
ana.morales@uvm.edu
I'm a limnologist specializing in phycology and biogeochemistry. My research interests include phytoplankton community ecology, cyanobacteria bloom dynamics, land-water linkages, and effects of eutrophication on carbon cycling in lake ecosystems. I investigate how fine scale physiological and ecological mechanisms feedback to drive ecosystem and landscape scale processes.
Anila P. Ajayan, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher, Rubenstein School
I graduated from the University of Kerala from the Department of Botany, India. I am interested in learning trait-based phytoplankton community ecology. I am more interested in understanding: 1) How does trait diversity mediate the effect of anthropogenic/ climatic stressors on ecosystem function? 2) What is the effect of phenotypic plasticity on ecosystem function? 3)How do traits interact between the trophic levels? At UVM, I will be interested in understanding the phytoplankton phenology in response to warming winter conditions in experimental mesocosms and small lakes.
Personally, I am a cheerful, optimistic, and eco-friendly person. Interested in freshwater biomonitoring and biodiversity conservation.
Students
Maria Alfaro
MSc Student, Rubenstein School
maria.alfaro@uvm.edu
Maria completed her B.Sc. in Aquatic and Fisheries Science at SUNY ESF in 2019, and has conducted aquatic research in streams, lakes, and marine systems at the Stroud Research Center, the Finger Lakes Institute, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. She is broadly interested in biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem function in lakes. At UVM, her research focuses on phytoplankton community phenology in Vermont inland lakes.
Rachel Cray
PhD Student, Rubenstein School rachel.cray@uvm.edu
Rachel graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a Master's degree in Biology in 2021, where she researched algal physiological changes in response to oxidative stress. Additionally, she has also previously worked at the Marine Biological Laboratory developing advanced microscopy techniques. Her current research interests involve the intersection of algal community ecology and biogeochemistry.
Edouard Rugema
PhD Student, Rubenstein School
edouard.rugema@uvm.edu
Edouard graduated from the University of Rwanda in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in applied Biology. He graduated also from Vrije Universiteit Brussel in 2017 with a master’s degree in marine and Lacustrine Science and Management where he researched on changes in phytoplankton community structure in relation to limnological parameters in Lake Kivu. His current research focuses on investigations between phytoplankton community stability and ecosystem function in Lake Champlain.
Kelsey Colbert
MSc Student, Rubenstein School
kelsey.colbert@uvm.edu
Jo Delahunt
Accelerated Msc Student, Rubenstein School
Jo is an accelerated MS student finishing their BS in Fisheries Biology. Their current interests in research are algal bloom dynamics, phenology, and lake carbon cycling. Overall, they’re passionate about aquatic ecology and art!
MIRIAM Rose
BS Student, CALS MMG, HCOL
miriam.rose@uvm.edu
Miriam is a Bachelors of Science student in the Honors College. She studies Environmental Science with a concentration in Environmental Health. Her research interests include cyanotoxin effects on lake ecological communities and drinking water. She is currently working with PhD student Rachel Cray to characterize phytoplankton communities in Vermont climate sentinel lakes.
Morgan Doersch
BS Student, Rubenstein School ENSC, Studio Art
morgan.doersch@uvm.edu
I’m Morgan and I am a Bachelors of Science student in the Rubenstein School, studying Environmental Science with a concentration in Global Environment and Climate Change and a minor in Art. I am currently working with PhD student Rachel Cray in collecting water and benthic algae samples from Vermont inland lakes. I am interested in the role of climate change and human disturbance on lake ecosystems along with strategies for restoration!
Emma Polhemus
BS Student, Rubenstein School ENSC
Emma is a Bachelors of Science student in the Rubenstein School, studying Environmental Science with a concentration in marine and aquatic science. She is currently working with Dr. Mindy Morales-Williams and Dr. Pablo Gutierrez-Fonseca on a project investigating cyanobacteria bloom drivers at a watershed scale. Additionally, she is working to create phytoplankton herbarium slides documenting long-term algal community response to climate change and related disturbances.
Audrey Manning
BS Student, Rubenstein School WFB
Audrey Manning is a Bachelor of Science student working towards a degree in Fisheries Biology with an interest in marine fisheries. Audrey is currently working with PhD student Edouard Rugema on his project involving phytoplankton community stability and ecosystem function in Lake Champlain.
Ollie Leibovich
BS Student, CAS, Political Science, Russian, ENSC
Ollie is a Bachelors of Science student and a Bachelors of Arts student in CAS. They are studying environmental science with a concentration in environmental biology, Russian, and political science. They are currently working with Dr. Mindy Morales-Williams and Dr. Pablo Gutierrez-Fonseca to determine the effects of disturbances on stream and lake ecosystems.
Max Schibel
BS Student, Rubenstein School WFB
Max is a Bachelors of Science student in the Rubenstien School. He is studying Wildlife and Fisheries Biology, with a concentration in Wildlife, and Minoring in Geospatial Information Systems. He is currently assisting both in the field and the lab. Max is interested in how wildlife populations are affected by changes in water quality and algal presence.