Previous Graduate Students and Staff


Previous Post-docs and Research Staff


Lyndsie Wszola, Post Doctoral Researcher, 2022-2024.
Current employment: Biometrician, Missouri Department of Conservation
Topic: Linking angler catch and harvest with climate change
Ph.D., University of Nebraska
M.S., University of Nebraska
B.S., Penn State University
Email: lyndsiewszola5@gmail.com

Colin Dassow, Post Doctoral Researcher, 2021.
Current employment: Research Biologist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Topic: Cost of replacing walleyes in Wisconsin due to climate change: implications for management
Ph.D., University of Notre Dame
B.S., St. Norbert College
Email:

Ryan Lueckenhoff, Senior Research Associate, 2013-2015.
Current employment: Private Lands Biologist, Missouri Department of Conservation
Topic: Effects of flow and DO on fish habitat
M.S., University of Nebraska
B.S., University of Missouri
Email: Ryan.Lueeckenhoff@mdc.mo.gov

Dr. Katy Klymus, Post Doctoral Researcher, 2012-2014.
Current employment: Research Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey
Topic: eDNA as a tool for Asian carp detection
Ph.D., University of Missouri
B.S., University of Texas
Email: ekate78@gmail.com

Dr. Jacob Westhoff, Post Doctoral Researcher, 2011-2014.
Current employment: Native Fish Research Ecologist, Missouri Department of Conservation
Topic: Thermal habitat use of smallmouth bass
Ph.D., University of Missouri
M.S., Tennessee Tech University
B.S., Universitry of Missouri
Email: Jacob.Westhoff@mdc.mo.gov

Dr. Michelle Staudinger, Post Doctoral Researcher, 2011-2013.
Current employment: Science Coordinator, Northeast Climate Science Center
Topic: Effects of climate change in biodiversity
Ph.D., University of Massachusetts
M.S., Stony Brook University
B.S., Boston University
Email: mstaudinger@usgs.gov

Dr. Allison Pease, Post Doctoral Researcher, 2010-2012.
Current Position: Assistant Professor, University of Missouri
Topic: Modeling population-level impacts of climate change on stream fishes in the U.S.
Ph.D., Texas A&M University
M.S., University of New Mexico
B.S., University of Texas
Email: allison.pease@ttu.edu

Dr. Kristen Bouska, Post Doctoral Researcher, 2014 - 2015.
Current Position: Ecologist, US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Science Center
Topic: Effects of climate change on river floodplains
PhD., Southern Illinois University
M.S., Kansas State University
B.S., University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse
email: kbouska@usgs.gov

Dr. James Whitney, Post Doctoral Researcher, 2014-2016.
Current employment: Assistant Professor, Pittsburg State University (Kansas)
Topic: Effects of climate change on global fisheries
PhD., Kansas State University
M.S., Kansas State University
B.S., Emporia State
email: jewhitney@pittstate.edu

Dr. Garth Lindner, Post Doctoral Researcher, 2014-2020.
Current employment: Hydraulic Engineer, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Topic: Climate change effects on floodplain connectivity
PhD., University or Maryland-Baltimore County
M.S., Indiana University
B.S., Indiana University
email: GLindner@dnr.IN.gov

Tyler Arnold, Sr. Research Technician, 2019-2020.
Current employment: Biologist, Utah Department of Natural Resources
Topic: Evaluation of Striped bass stocking in Bull Shoals Lake
B.S., Utah State University
email: texarnold008@gmail.com

Brandon Brooke, Sr. Research Technician, 2014-2020.
Current employment: Resource Assisstant, Missouri Department of Conservation
Topic: Climate change effects on floodplain connectivity
B.S., University of Missouri
email: brandon.brooke@mdc.mo.gov

Dr. Ralph Tingley, Post Doctoral Researcher, 2016-2020.
Current employment: Fish Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center
Topic: Climate change effects on floodplain connectivity
PhD., Michigan State University
M.S., Michigan State University
B.S., University of Connecticut
email: rtingley@usgs.gov

Dr. Jane Rogosch, Post Doctoral Researcher, 2020.
Current employment: Assistant Unit Leader and Assistant Professor, U.S. Geological Survey, Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Topic: Effective Landscape Conservation in Priority Geographies: Coordinating Existing Tools to Assist Managers with Conservation Decisions
Ph.D., University of Washington
M.S., Kansas State University
B.S., University of New Mexico
email: jrogosch@ttu.edu

Previous Graduate Students


Hadley Boehm, Ph.D., 2023. University of Missouri
Dissertation: Evaluation of Striped bass stocking in Bull Shoals Lake
Current employment: Post Doc, University of Missouri
Current email: hadley.boehm@missouri.edu

Michael Moore, Ph.D., 2021. University of Missouri
Thesis: Habitat selection and dispersal of Lake Sturgeon in Missouri River tributaries
Current employment: Assistant Unit Leader and Assistant Professor, U.S. Geological Survey, Iowa Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Current email:

John Brant, M.S., 2020. University of Missouri
Thesis: Habitat use and distribution of lithophilic spawning and riffle fishes in the East Fork of the Black River
Current employment: Fisheries Biologist, Fort Leonardwood Military Base
Current email: john.d.brant4.ctr@mail.mil

Mike Thomas, M.S., 2020. University of Missouri
Thesis: Field Verification of Electrofishing Immobilization Thresholds of Smallmouth Bass, Flathead Catfish, and Blue Catfish
Current employment: Fisheries Biologist, Idaho Fish and Game Department
Current email: mike.thomas@idfg.idaho.gov

Corey Dunn, Ph.D., 2020. University of Missouri
Dissertation: Assessment and diversity of fish communities in non-wadeable tributaries of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers
Current employment: Assistant Leader and Assistant Professor, U.S. Geological Survey, Mississippi Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Current email: corey.dunn@msstate.edu
Personal website: https://dunnfishresearch.com/

Emily Pherigo, M.S., 2019. University of Missouri
Thesis: Seasonal fish community and reproductive biology of fishes in two tributaries of the Lower Missouri River USA.
Current employment: Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Missouri)
Current email: emily_pherigo@fws.gov


Landon Pierce, Ph.D, 2019. University of Missouri
Thesis: Conservation biogeography of lotic fishes in the Missouri and Colorado river basins.
Current employment: Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (South Dakota)
Current email: landon_pierce@fws.gov


Elisa Baebler, M.S., 2018. University of Missouri
Thesis: Habitat selection and movement by Spotted Bass and Shorthead Redhorse downstream of a hydropeaking dam in Missouri.
Current employment: Biologist, Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Current email: enbww8@mail.missouri.edu


William (Zach) Morris, M.S., 2018. University of Missouri
Thesis: Determining electrofishing immobilization thresholds of Smallmouth Bass, Flathead Catfish, and Blue Catfish
Current employment: Consulting Firm, Missouri
Current email: zachmorris252@gmail.com


Julia Guyton, M.S., 2017. University of Missouri.
Thesis: Development of a fish and amphibian rapid assessment protocol for Wetlands.
Current Employment: Ducks Unlimited
Current email: julguyton@gmail.com


Ethan Kleekamp, M.S., 2016. University of Missouri.
Thesis: Streams in a Changing Landscape: Identifying Candidate Reference Reaches to Assess the Physical and Biotic Integrity of Missouri’s Wadeable Streams.
Current Employment: Biologist, Quail Unlimited
Current email: kleekamp.ethan@gmail.com


Jacob Schwoerer. M.S., 2016. University of Missouri.
Thesis: Assessing the Vulnerability of Stream Communities and the Consistency and Use of Biotic Indices in Least-Disturbed Streams
Current Employment: Watershed Scientist, City of Jefferson City, Missouri
Current email: jacob.m.schwoerer@gmail.com


Joe Gerken. Ph.D., 2015. Kansas State University.
Thesis: Fish and Invertebrate Community Response to Flow Magnitude in the Kansas River
Current Employment: University of Florida
Current email: gerkenje@gmail.com


Jake Faulkner.M.S., 2015.  University of Missouri. 
Thesis: Multi-scale Resource Selection of Niangua Darters in the Osage River Basin, Missouri
Current Employment: Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey
Current email: jfaulkner@usgs.gov


Nick Sievert.  M.S., 2014.  University of Missouri. 
Thesis: As Assessment of Stream Fish Vulnerability and an Evaluation of Conservation Networks in Missouri
Current Employment: Doctoral Student, University of Missouri
Current email: nas4tf@mail.mizzou.edu


Jason Harris.  M.S., 2013.  University of Missouri. 
Thesis: Habitat Selection, Movement, and Home Range of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) Following a Habitat Enhancement Project in Table Rock Lake
Current Employment: Biologist, Minnesota DNR
Current email: Jason.Harris@state.mn.u

Jonathan Spurgeon.  M.S., 2012.  University of Missouri. 
Thesis: Evaluation of Humpback Chub Translocations and Native Fish Community Restoration in Grand Canyon
Current Employment: Assistant Leader and Assistant Professor, U.S. Geological Survey, Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Current email: spurgeonj@uapb.edu


Jason Fischer.  M.S., 2012.  Kansas State University. 
Thesis: Fish Community Response to Habitat Alteration: Impacts of Sand Dredging in the Kansas River
Current Employment: Fish Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Michigan
Current email: fisch133@gmail.com


Andrea Severson.  M.S., 2010.  Kansas State University. 
Thesis: Effects oz zebra mussel invasion on the aquatic community of a Great Plains reservoir. 
Current Employment: Environmental Protection Specialist, Western Area Power Administration
Current email: andreamseverson@yahoo.com


Mackenize (Shardlow) Jeffress.  M.S., 2009.  Kansas State University
Thesis:
Factors affecting the detectability and distribution of the North American river otter.
Current Employment:  Heritage Biologist, Nevada Division of Wildlife
Current email:
mrjeffress@ndow.org


Wesley Bouska. M.S., 2008. Kansas State University
Thesis: Road crossing design and their impact on fish assemblages and geomorpholgy of Great Plains streams.
Current Employment: Biologist, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Wisconsin
Current Email: wbouska@hotmail.com


Jeff Eitzmann. M.S., 2008. Kansas State University
Thesis: Spatial habitat variation in a Great Plains river: eff ect on the fish assemblage and food web structure.
Current Employment: Falcon Drilling, Reno, NV
Current Email: jle4477@gmail.com


Kristen (Pitts) Bouska. M.S., 2008. Kansas State University
Thesis:
Assessing threats to native fishes in the Lower Colorado River Basin.
Current Employment: Ecologist, US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Science Center
Current Email: kbouska@usgs.gov


Josh Schloesser, M.S., 2008. Kansas State University
Thesis: Large river fish community sampling strategies and fish associations to engineered and natural river channel structures.
Current Employment: Biologist, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Wisconsin
Current Email: Joshua_Schloesser@fws.gov


Jesse Fischer. M.S., 2007. Kansas State University
Thesis: Structural organization of Great Plains stream fish assemblages: Implications for sampling and conservation.
Current Employment: Research Fish Biologist, U.S. Geologicla Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center
Current Email: jessefischer@usgs.gov


Andy Makinster. M.S., 2006. Kansas State University
Thesis: Flathead catfish population dynamics in the Kansas River.
Current Employment: Biologist, Consulting Firm in Georgia
Current Email: amakinster50@gmail.com