our team

Faculty:

David Andow - ecological risk assessment

Przemek Bajer - common carp biology and management

Donn Branstrator - spiny waterflea impacts and history

Chanlan Chun - microorganisms associated with AIS

Susan Galatowitsch - invasive plant control and restoration

Dan Larkin - aquatic invasive plant control and management

Michael McCartney - zebra mussel prevention and control

Loren Miller - genetics and eDNA

Ray Newman - aquatic invasive plant control and management

Nicholas Phelps - infectious fish diseases and ecosystem health

Michael Sadowsky - metagenomics approaches to control AIS

Peter Sorensen - Asian carp detection and control

Paul Venturelli - fish population ecology and management

Research lead partners:

James Luoma - fisheries biologist

Graduate students:

Clark Dennis - Asian carp, common carp

Adam Doll - zebra mussels

Melaney Dunne - invasive plants

Jasmine Eltawely - invasive plants

Josh Poole - common carp

Reid Swanson - Asian carp, common carp

Meg Thompson – aquatic ecosystem health

Isaiah Tolo – invasive carp

Megan Tomamichel - Heterosporis

Mike Verhoeven - invasive plants

Postdoctorates and research staff:

Hannah Dunn – metagenomic approaches to control AIS

Luis Escobar – ecological niche modeling

Jean Sebastien Finger – Asian carp deterrents

Ratna Ghosal – hormones, pheromones, and behavior in fish

Anvar Gilmanov – Asian carp deterrents

Wes Glisson – aquatic invasive plants

Peter Hundt – common carp control

Sophie Mallez – zebra mussel population genetics

Prince Mathai – metagenomic approaches to control AIS

Sunil Kumar Mor – biological control of AIS

Ranjan Muthukrishnan – aquatic invasive plants

Alex Primus – infectious disease, fish and ecosystem health

Andy Riesgraf – Asian carp deterrents

Grace Van Susteren – Asian carp deterrents

Staff:

Christine Lee - Executive Office and Communications Specialist

Jay Maher - Scientist

Pat Mulcahy - AIS Program Coordinator

Becca Nash - Associate Director

Nicholas Phelps - Director

Megan Weber - Extension Educator

Additional guidance

MAISRC also receives guidance from two groups:

  • An Advisory Board which is made up of representatives from key governmental and nongovernmental organizations and helps guide overall activities; and
  • A Technical Committee which is made up of scientists from academia and governmental agencies and advises on scientific and technical matters, including which species to research.

Advisory Board members:

Technical Committee members (2016 - 2018):
  • John Anfinson, National Park Service (Mississippi National River and Recreational Area)
  • John Barten, retired, Three Rivers Park District
  • Brian Buhr, U of M College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences, ex officio
  • John Downing, Minnesota Sea Grant
  • Sue Galatowitsch, MAISRC, ex officio
  • Gabriel Jabbour, Tonka Bay Marina
  • Tera Guetter, Pelican River Watershed District
  • Tom Landwehr, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
  • Jeff Lovgren, Vermilion Lake Association
  • Steve McComas, Blue Water Science
  • Craig Norman, Pelican Lakes Association
  • Molly Pederson, Audubon Minnesota
  • John Schneider, MN Bass Federation/Metro State
  • Tim Sumner, Beltrami County
  • Chris Tiedeman, Weber Johnson Public Affairs
  • Todd Turner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Przemek Bajer, MAISRC
  • Eric Fieldseth, Minnahaha Creek Watershed District
  • Nick Fronhauer, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
  • Bill Grantges, Itasca County
  • Dan Larkin, MAISRC
  • Michael McCartney, MAISRC
  • Gary Montz, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
  • Alex Primus, MAISRC
  • Heidi Rantala, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources