Heather joined the Carey lab during the summer of 2019 to begin her PhD research. She is interested in using both experimental and modeling approaches to study ecosystem function in reservoirs. By framing her questions around zooplankton community dynamics and behavior, Heather hopes to understand how these organisms respond to changing environmental conditions. Additionally, Heather plans to incorporate zooplankton data into forecasting models to enhance the accuracy of water quality predictions in freshwater reservoirs.

Heather graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a BS in Biology during the fall of 2018. While she has always loved learning about science and the environment, she first discovered her interest in freshwater ecology after her first summer of field work in 2016. This experience allowed her to take a leading role in developing research questions, conducting experiments, analyzing data, and practicing her science communications skills by preparing manuscripts and presenting research at conferences.During her time as an undergraduate, Heather was involved in a variety of projects, including studies on fish introductions, zooplankton community dynamics, and phytoplankton nutrient limitation in northeastern U.S. lakes. These research experiences combined with Heather’s curiosity for the natural world led her to the Carey lab to understand the effects that climate change has on freshwater communities.

As a graduate student, Heather looks forward to exploring new questions and using interdisciplinary approaches to understand ecosystem function in freshwater systems. Heather is excited to study how climate change affects community interactions and ultimately ecosystem dynamics at a broader scale as she begins her PhD research in the Carey lab!