Category: Research Profile

When the City of River Falls needed qualified people to provide ecological monitoring for the removal of the Junction Falls and Powell Falls Dams, University of Wisconsin-River Falls faculty and staff stepped in to fulfill this community need.

They created the Data Analysis and Monitoring Crew, a two-week summer experience during which undergraduates are trained by river restoration professionals to monitor the impacts of dam removal on the Kinnickinnic River. Their data contributes to the 10-year Kinnickinnic River Monitoring Plan written in 2021 by the Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Inter-Fluve.

The DAM Crew, as its affectionately known, completed its fourth year of monitoring in August. This year’s crew included seven students from UW-River Falls and one from UW-Eau-Claire.

“DAM Crew participants learn hands-on, workforce-ready skills in stream geomorphological and ecological monitoring from practicing professionals while filling a critical knowledge need for the regional community,” said Jill Coleman Wasik, a plant and earth science professor at UW-River Falls and creator of the DAM Crew.

Students worked closely with community partners, including the Kinni Corridor Collaborative, Trout Unlimited, Kinnickinnic River Land Trust, and the City of River Falls. They were trained by a geomorphologist from Inter-Fluve to collect data that will be used to predict and monitor the impacts that dam removal will have on the river.

In addition to the field monitoring experience, the students gained knowledge of data management and assessment in the practice of dam removal and river restoration. They also learned the importance of advocacy and community involvement to create a beneficial ecological outcome. 

“Being part of the DAM crew gave me the opportunity to dive headfirst into real-world research and water monitoring, allowing me to contribute my passion for science to a meaningful community project,” said Cass Hoffmann, an environmental science major and rising senior from Apple Valley, Minnesota.

Students are recruited each spring from the 13 Universities of Wisconsin. In addition to contributing to the city plan, the students present their findings at regional and/or national conferences.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, there are 3,900 dams in Wisconsin, many of which are aging and may need removal. Coleman Wasik notes that students participating in the DAM Crew can help fill the state’s growing need for skilled professionals who can assist communities in dam removal and river restoration projects.

The DAM Crew is a cooperative effort involving UW-River Falls, the Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the Kinni Corridor Collaborative and Inter-Fluve. It is funded by the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin.

“Kiap-TU-Wish has had the pleasure of engaging with DAM Crew students and faculty to assist with this incredible learning process for all involved,” said Kent Johnson of the Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter of Trout Unlimited. “The monitoring plan is largely a volunteer-driven initiative, and the UW-River Falls DAM Crew has been a critical partner for implementing the pre-restoration monitoring work during the past four summers.”

In July, the Freshwater Collaborative committed to funding six additional years of the DAM Crew, which will help see the 10-year monitoring plan to completion.

Written by Heidi Jeter, Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin

Jonna Rosenthal is a go-getter. During their time as an undergraduate at Smith College, the environmental science and policy major conducted independent research on stormwater issues in Costa Rica and the effects of agricultural pesticide usage in Ecuador. They also studied aerosols in the environmental chemistry lab on campus.

But it was the mentorship Rosenthal received at UW-Green Bay that opened up professional opportunities they never dreamed of. As a 2024 Freshwater@UW Summer Research Scholar, Rosenthal conducted cutting-edge research with Kpoti Gunn, an assistant professor who is studying how to prevent PFAS contamination in agricultural soils.

Growing up in Maine, Rosenthal had learned about the effects of ocean acidification and salt-water contamination, but they wanted to work on freshwater systems. The Freshwater@UW program, coordinated by UW-Madison and supported by the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, offers unique opportunities for undergraduates from around the country to conduct mentored research at one the Universities of Wisconsin campuses.

“If you’re going to work in freshwater, the Great Lakes is where you want to be,” Rosenthal says. “I am specifically interested in emerging contaminants, so I was excited to work with Dr. Gunn’s research on PFAS contamination in groundwater. It’s been amazing to see the things that have spung out of this experience.”

Rosenthal’s research was published in Soil Research in June, and they were awarded best undergraduate poster at the North American chapter of the National Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry in May.

Pretty impressive given that Rosenthal had only two months to complete the work and had no previous experience with scientific work at a research institution.

Rosenthal credits Gunn’s mentorship for instilling confidence to grow as a scientist.

“Having Dr. Gunn place so much trust in me to develop methodology and construct lab equipment and protocols was influential in my scientific process,” Rosenthal says. “I continue to use the skills I developed to write SOPs and experimental designs.”

Gunn says that during their time as research collaborators, he relied on Rosenthal to help start a lab and field research project. He was impressed by how they took charge in implementing procedures and often pointed out aspects that may have been initially missed.

“I believe Jonna has a strong work ethic and will be successful in their career,” Gunn says.

Rosenthal’s paper led to additional research projects for other undergraduates, including another Freshwater@UW scholar this summer. And Rosenthal’s experience presenting the research helped them land a job before graduation.

“I recently accepted an environmental scientist position with AECOM, [a global infrastructure consulting firm,] to work on groundwater contamination. This work includes testing and monitoring sediments and groundwater, a skill that I developed during my collaboration with Dr. Gunn,” Rosenthal says. “I know that the research I conducted with Freshwater@UW will help me achieve my career goals.”

Written by Heidi Jeter, Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin

Each year Research in the Rotunda at the Wisconsin Capitol features undergraduate research at the 13 Universities of Wisconsin. Six Freshwater Collaborative-funded projects were highlighted in 2025.

Student: Michael Buss
University: UW-Stout
Major: Environmental Science
Graduation date: May 2025
Mentors: Nicole Hayes

Summarize the research and your role.

I researched the effects of trout stream restoration on macroinvertebrates and water quality over time. We collected environmental data and macroinvertebrates samples at 143 sites from four different streams in the Red Cedar watershed in Dunn County. These sites were from reaches that were urbanized, restored, unrestored, agriculturally channelized, and relatively untouched.

We compared macroinvertebrate communities by restoration status and restoration age. We found that macroinvertebrate communities across the restoration ages were more similar than we expected, but the ordination suggests that there may be age-related trends. Newly restored sites may initially have a very different macroinvertebrate community composition that quickly shifts towards the assemblages seen in older restorations. Eventually, all restoration sites seem to settle on similar communities.

What skills did you learn?

I gained field experience collecting environmental samples. I gained experience with data management and data analysis. I gained experience presenting scientific research.

What was your favorite part about this experience?

My favorite part of this experience was being able to be part of data collection, data analysis, and presentation of the data. [I liked] being part of every step of the process.

What are some of the opportunities you’ve had because of this research?

I got the opportunity to gain skills that will be helpful in my career, and I got the opportunity to present my research and network with peers in the field.

What do you plan to do after graduation? 

I am planning on getting a job related to water, water quality monitoring, or something related to macroinvertebrates/entomology. Eventually, I would like to get a graduate degree.

Read more about the Red Cedar Basin Monitoring Project.

Each year Research in the Rotunda at the Wisconsin Capitol features undergraduate research at the 13 Universities of Wisconsin. Six Freshwater Collaborative-funded projects were highlighted in 2025.

Student: Natasha Krieger
University: UW-Madison
Major: Environmental Engineering and Public Policy
Anticipated graduation date: May 2026
Mentors: Sarah Janssen, Jessica Hua

Summarize the research and your role.

This research examines three contaminants in surface waters: mercury, microplastics, and road salts. The goal of the project is to understand possible interactions between land-use types and pond contamination. My role was to help with field sampling as well as the mercury and microplastics analysis. Last summer, we collected water and soil samples from 38 ponds in Madison. Each pond was categorized as urban, green space, or rural. I have spent the last year developing a method to extract the microplastics that involves filtration, digestion, and density separation.

What skills did you learn?

I have learned so much about the process of field sampling — especially how important communication and planning are! I’ve also had the opportunity to learn many different instruments for the mercury and microplastics analysis. It has been interesting to do lab work outside of a classroom setting, where I can see the real-life implications.

What was your favorite part about this experience?

I have really enjoyed getting to know my coworkers at the US Geological Survey Mercury Research Lab. They are so knowledgeable and have been so helpful throughout this whole project. They’re always willing to provide advice or talk about their own educational and career path, which has been valuable to me as I consider my steps after graduation. I also loved doing fieldwork!

What are some of the opportunities you’ve had because of this research?

I started this project through the Freshwater@UW Summer Research Opportunities Program last summer. Because of the connections I made, I have been able to continue the project for the past year! I was able to connect with other faculty members at UW-Madison to help me get class credits for the research. I had the opportunity to present at the 2025 Research in the Rotunda event. My experience with literature reviews and creating data visualizations helped me get a position as a science and policy intern at Clean Wisconsin!

What do you plan to do after graduation? 

This research experience has convinced me that I’d like to go to graduate school at some point. Knowing myself, I need to take a break between undergrad and grad school. I will be working at an engineering consulting firm this summer to see if that is something I like.

If I decide to go to graduate school, the laboratory, organizational, and research skills I learned will be so helpful. This has also helped me develop my research interests! Working at a government laboratory like the US Geological Survey has given me insight into an alternative path for someone interested in science but not necessarily academia. I’m so thankful for all the experiences this has given me!

UW-Green Bay’s Wild Rice in the Classroom project celebrated its sixth year with more than 190 students attending wild rice planting field trips at four locations.

Throughout the academic year, nearly 1,000 students planted wild rice in their classrooms as part of the program. Students learn about shoreline restoration, the cultural importance of wild rice to the region and the First Nations people, and how wild rice benefits local wildlife.

During the May field trips, students ranging from first to twelfth grade planted the wild rice plants they had grown, interacted with a natural resource educator, and learned about potential careers in water science.

The program has grown steadily through funding from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin and Ducks Unlimited. One classroom participated in the initial program in 2020, which involved about 120 students. In 2025, UW-Green Bay worked with teachers and students in 17 classrooms at 15 different schools.

Learn more about programs.

Each year Research in the Rotunda at the Wisconsin Capitol features undergraduate research at the 13 Universities of Wisconsin. Six Freshwater Collaborative-funded projects were highlighted in 2025.

Student: Jackson Mikel
Major: Chemical Engineering with a minor in Chemistry
Graduation date: May 2025

Student: Grace Versnik
Major: Biochemistry with a minor in Neuroscience & Behavior
Expected graduation date: May 2027
University: UW-Stevens Point
Mentor: Joseph Mondloch

Summarize the research and your role.

Our research covered the synthesis and characterization of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their ability to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water. Our roles as student researchers were to train and lead groups of our peers and to collaborate with other students and our mentor in the exploration of our research project.

What skills did you learn?

We have learned to conduct and design our own experiments, and we have been able to utilize instruments and other equipment that aren’t used in class. Leadership, time management, planning, collaboration, and scientific thinking were also extremely important skills that we have developed throughout our time in the lab.

What has been your favorite part about this experience?

Mikel: My favorite part was learning about other aspects of chemistry that I would normally not be involved with.

Versnik: One of my favorite parts has been working alongside other students to collaborate on projects and experiments. I have also really enjoyed being able to learn techniques and use instruments that I wouldn’t have been able to without being in research.

What are some of the opportunities you’ve had because of this research?

Mikel: Through this research, I was able to present my findings at many symposiums. We also had the opportunity to visit our collaborators in UW-Milwaukee to learn more about their research methods.

Versnik: Because of this research, I have had the opportunity to participate in symposiums and will also be participating in the Freshwater@UW Summer Research Opportunities Program this upcoming summer at UW-La Crosse.

What do you plan to do after graduation? 

Mikel: My career goal is to work at an engineering contracting/consulting company that is involved with water or pollutant treatment at a facility or site.

Versnik: I plan to continue to graduate school to study toxicology and physiology, then go into research.

How will this experience help you attain your career goals?

Mikel: This experience has allowed me to broaden what I have learned in classes. It also helped me to decide my major as I was undecided before starting research.

Versnik: This experience has helped me gain the independence of being in a lab and the confidence to design and perform experiments alone. These are skills that I will need in graduate school if I continue to conduct research. I have gained insight into the world of research, and it has opened my eyes to the possibilities that will be available to me in research.

Wisconsin is an amazing place to study and work in water. That’s a core message Ali Mikulyuk, program coordinator for the Freshwater@UW Summer Research Opportunities Program, hopes to share with the 30 undergraduates participating in this year’s program.

The program provides undergraduates from around the country with hands-on mentored research experiences in freshwater science at one of the Universities of Wisconsin. This year’s cohort hails from 11 universities in Wisconsin and nine other states. 

Orientation Week kicked off May 27, 2025, with activities designed to create a shared sense of identity as researchers, to introduce students to core concepts of water research and build strong peer-to-peer connections the students can lean on as they tackle challenges throughout the summer.

“The week provides a fun introduction and soft launch into research. For some, this is their first research experience; for others, they may have done research before,  but not in water,” Mikulyuk says. “We give them some hands-on learning opportunities to prepare them for a strong start with their projects. I think it takes away some of the anxiety of the first day with their research mentor.”

Students took a First Nations Cultural Landscape Tour on the UW-Madison Campus. They participated in a high ropes course through the UW-Madison Adventure Learning Program to focus on teamwork, communication and problem solving. They learned about Wisconsin’s watersheds with staff from the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. They toured Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center and learned how to take groundwater samples and identify phosphorus in groundwater — activities led by student and faculty researchers from UW-Madison and UW-Green Bay who are working on research funded by the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin.

Students then traveled to UW-Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences where they kayaked the Inner Harbor of Lake Michigan with Milwaukee Riverkeeper staff, collected water samples from the R/V Neeskay to contribute to a long-term research project, and participated in fish dissection and invertebrate and algae identification activities in the school’s labs.

An overarching goal was to showcase Wisconsin as THE place to work in water.

“Orientation week gives them a hint of what they can have if they come to Wisconsin for graduate school or to work,” Mikulyuk says. “It’s fun. It’s beautiful. And there’s a network of supportive professionals working in water.”

Over the next nine weeks, students will work on individual research projects with mentors at UW-Green Bay, UW-La Crosse, UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee, UW Oshkosh, UW-Parkside, UW-Stevens Point, USGS, the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, and Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Students will present their research at the Freshwater@UW Summer Research Symposium on July 30 at UW-Madison.

Funding for the Freshwater@UW Summer Research Opportunities Program is provided by the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Sea Grant, the UW Water Resources Institute, and Water@UW-Madison.

Written by Heidi Jeter, Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin.

Teo Buisson had a unique childhood. Born in France, he spent his early years in San Francisco and then his family moved to Milwaukee when he was in sixth grade. Spending time at his family’s fishing cabin in northern Wisconsin piqued his interest in fish.

He headed back to California for college and graduated with an undergraduate degree in marine biology from the University of California–San Diego in December 2024. Summer research at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences fueled his interest in sustainable aquaculture.

A grant from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin supported his undergraduate internship in Professor Dong-Fang Deng’s fish labs. His experience was part of efforts to train a much-needed aquaculture workforce. Buisson credits his hands-on training with helping him to land a job as an aquaculture technician at Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, a nonprofit scientific research organization in Carlsbad, Calif.

“I believe having worked in an aquaculture lab made me a very competitive candidate when applying to jobs in the aquaculture industry,” Buisson says. “It’s an up-and-coming field, with limited numbers of people familiar with aquaculture systems engineering and fish rearing.”

His internship duties included feeding fish stocks, taking daily water quality measurements, and assisting with general aquaculture maintenance such as cleaning tanks and fixing aquaculture systems.

Leading Research and Gaining Confidence

The highlight of his internship — outside of feeding sturgeon and very rowdy tilapia — was leading clinical research. Buisson studied how microplastic contamination in the diet of juvenile yellow perch affects their growth performance, nutritional quality, and heat shock response. He learned how to create special diets, measure perch, run statistics and keep fish happy and healthy overall. He presented his research findings at the World Aquaculture Society in New Orleans.

“Despite being challenging, this experience was incredibly rewarding,” he says. “Presenting the findings to an audience of aquaculture professionals trained me in presenting scientific data concisely, choosing what valuable data to focus on, and maintaining my cool despite being pretty nervous.”

At the conference, he also learned about aquaculture innovations and met other professionals. He says the experience was invaluable in preparing for his career. A few months into his job with Hubbs, Buisson feels confident in his capabilities. Because of his time in Deng’s lab, he knew what to expect and how to quickly learn new protocols and use new equipment. Just as important, he’s excited about his career path.

“I’m interested in the positive effects aquaculture can have in providing a more sustainable source of seafood, as well as its restorative capabilities to mitigate the lasting consequences of overfishing,” Buisson says.

Plus, he says, watching a fish grow from an egg to a market size fish is an awesome way to spend his days.

Written by Heidi Jeter, Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin.

For years, Wisconsin farmers have applied biosolids—a byproduct of wastewater management — to their fields. The process reduces the need for commercial fertilizers, conditions the soil, and reduces the amount of biosolids going into a landfill.

Unfortunately, biosolids may be a major source of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These hazardous chemicals are used widely in household products and manufacturing, and they accumulate in biosolids.

Is Biochar a Solution to PFAS Leaching?

Five years ago, UW-Green Bay faculty began investigating whether land application of biosolids would result in PFAS leaching into groundwater. They received funding from the Freshwater Collaborative to partner with faculty and students from UW-Madison, UW-Platteville and UW-Stevens Point to investigate the issue.

“Not only did the grant provide funding to do the research, but the project was a learning experience in how to collaborate with faculty at different universities,” says Michael Holly, an associate professor at UW-Green Bay who specializes in agricultural waste management.

The team confirmed that use of biosolids can result in PFAS leaching at concentrations hazardous to human health. They also learned that biochar — a charcoal-like substance made by burning organic material such as forestry waste — may mitigate contamination. As part of the project, undergraduates from the four universities tested woodchip-based biochar to determine its effectiveness in adsorbing PFAS from soil.

The results were published by the American Chemical Society in January 2024.

The Freshwater Collaborative awarded a second grant in 2023 so the team could test biochar filter media on a working agricultural field. Holly and his colleague Kpoti Gunn, an assistant professor at UW-Green Bay, partnered with a local farmer who has been using biosolids on his fields. The research team installed moisture sensors and soil water sampling tools on his fields last summer.

“The first year, we observed the fields without the application of biochar,” Gunn says. “The goal this year is to prepare the field along with the farmer, apply biochar, and compare the results.”

Water samples collected from the field are sent to UW-Milwaukee to test PFAS levels. Holly and Gunn are collaborating with Yin Wang, associate professor at UW-Milwaukee, who recently received a two-year grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to identify a more efficient approach of removing PFAS from water.

Students Receive Water-Quality Training

Andrew Votis, a senior at UW-Green Bay, has worked with Gunn for the past year and a half. This spring, he is helping to set up and implement the crop plan for the research plot. The research has provided professional training for his future career and also has personal meaning.

“My wife and I run a dairy farm north of Green Bay in the Coleman-Peshtigo area, so my background made me a natural fit for the project,” he says.

Votis will graduate in summer 2025 with a degree in Environmental Engineering Technology, and he appreciates the practical skills he’s developed while conducting undergraduate research at UW-Green Bay.

“My work with Dr. Gunn has strengthened my ability to communicate with various groups, manage a team, as well as increased my understanding of the intricacies of research projects,” he says.

Jonna Rosenthal participated in the research last summer as part of the Freshwater@UW Summer Research Opportunities Program, also funded by the Freshwater Collaborative. Rosenthal is a senior at Smith College in Massachusetts where they have studied the effects of ocean acidification and salt-water contamination. They wanted to work on freshwater systems and were particularly interested in emerging contaminants such as PFAS.

“It was incredibly rewarding to collaborate with the faculty at UW-Green Bay,” they say. “I attend a small liberal arts school, so I had no experience with scientific work at a research institution. It was amazing to have access to analytic equipment and other esteemed scientists with whom I could collaborate.”

Rosenthal graduates in May 2025 and will begin work as an environmental scientist with AECOM, a global infrastructure consulting firm. They will research groundwater contamination.

“This work includes testing and monitoring sediments and groundwater, a skill that I developed during my collaboration with Dr. Gunn,” they say.

The project has already trained 13 undergraduates, and two graduate students are conducting research for their thesis. Another Freshwater@UW Scholar will join Votis on the project this summer.

What they learn could identify practical solutions to PFAS leaching — and give farmers a cost-effective tool for protecting groundwater near their fields.

Written by Heidi Jeter, Freshwater Collaborative.

Wisconsin-based Sadoff Iron & Metal Company has offered scrap metal recycling for more than 70 years. It collects non-ferrous metals and ferrous scrap, auto salvage, electronics recycling, and other materials at multiple sites in Wisconsin and Nebraska. Sadoff then provides ISO-certified recycled metal to steel mills and local foundries.

The company prides itself on its sustainable practices, but it has a costly challenge. When rainwater falls into the metal collection containers, it becomes contaminated by oils and other fluids on the metals. Sadoff pays by the gallon for the contaminated water to be hauled away and treated before being safely released into the environment.

Could there be a way to treat the water on site so it would be clean enough to meet sanitary requirements for discharging it into the city sewer system? In 2022, Sadoff teamed up with UW Oshkosh faculty and students to research solutions.

“The collaboration between a local university and industry is an exciting adventure,” says Gary Griessmeyer, Sadoff’s environmental compliance manager. “We are in the scrap industry not chemistry or biology. Students help us learn while they learn.”

Pilot Research to Test Solutions

A grant from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin provided funding for Associate Professor Marcel Dijkstra to hire three undergraduate students to conduct pilot studies to test various processes of contaminant removal.

Dijkstra says the goal is to develop a cost-effective way to separate oil, cutting fluids and particulate matter containing heavy metals from the stormwater collected in scrap metal containers. This would allow Sadoff to clean the water on site – saving them money and reducing their carbon footprint while protecting the environment.

The Sadoff partnership is one of the Water Technology Enterprise projects at UW Oshkosh. These projects, funded through a larger Freshwater Collaborative grant, foster new research partnerships between the university’s Environmental Research and Innovation Center (ERIC) and external companies. Dijkstra notes that companies often don’t have the time or in-house expertise for smaller research projects. Having students work on them is cost effective and provides real-life experience to the students.

“This isn’t a class project,” he says. “It brings the educational component to a completely different level.”

Tyler Peskie, a UW Oshkosh undergraduate, says working directly with an industry partner was an eye opener in terms of career possibilities. He graduates in May 2025 with a degree in environmental engineering technology.

“The first benefit of working on this experiment is that it gives me possible employment opportunities for more waste-related jobs,” he says. “Secondly, it benefited the university … it puts a lot more emphasis on research and application for industrial use.”

Tim Sommer, who graduated from UW Oshkosh in December 2023, notes that many companies in the area work closely together, so experience working as a partner with a company can lead to further job opportunities. He secured a job as a consulting environmental scientist after graduation. Now he’s a corporate environmental engineer at Green Bay Packaging. He says having this project on his resume got his foot in the door.

“It is crucial to seek out experience outside of the classroom,” he says. “This is where many ‘soft skills’ are learned and many networking opportunities can be found.”

Creating Ongoing Partnerships

The students have finished the pilot research funded through the grant, and Dijkstra is continuing to work with Sadoff to refine the processes. He incorporates the project data into his classroom activities, and students enrolled in his class tour the Sadoff facility. The most recent tests are promising.

Griessmeyer is pleased with the progress and would encourage other business to partner with universities on research.

“When people think about water, they think about agriculture and phosphorus. They don’t think about other businesses that need help,” he says. “Even if we don’t get to the end game, I think it’s something that we really can put it in our quiver for now. And as technology gets better, we could pull it back out.”

For more information about working with faculty at the UW Oshkosh ERIC, contact (920) 424-3148 or eric@uwosh.edu.

Written by Heidi Jeter, Freshwater Collaborative.