Our Trainees

Our trainees come from diverse backgrounds and exhibit a wide range of skills and interests. We embrace diversity, problem solving, and collaboration.

Postdoctoral Associates

Carly Olson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Carly joined the STOICH project in May 2022 as a postdoctoral researcher. She is working with Dr. Jessica Corman at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Her research focuses on identifying and quantifying the role, and interaction, of multi-scale drivers in dictating patterns of lake biogeochemistry. She is particularly interested in using ecological stoichiometry to link the limitation-status of organisms to ecosystem-scale processes such as primary production and respiration.

Felicia Osburn

University of Central Arkansas

Felicia joined as a postdoctoral fellow for the STOICH project in January 2022, working with Dr. Hal Halvorson at the University of Central Arkansas. Her background in ecological stoichiometry has focused on how nutrient ratios influence cyanobacteria growth, nitrogen fixation, and cyanotoxin production. She also has a passion for teaching, and will be working on developing teaching modules utilizing the STOICH dataset.

Ben Tumolo

University of Wyoming

Ben is a postdoctoral researcher on the STOICH project. His work focuses on the linkages between organisms, their environments (both physical and resource), and ecosystem processes. As part of the STOICH project, he will be researching ecological and evolutionary patterns of stoichiometric constraints on aquatic food webs. He is working with Amy Krist and Sarah Collins at the University of Wyoming.

Graduate Students

Spencer Cruz

PhD Student, University of Wyoming

Spencer is seeking a PhD under Dr. Amy Krist in the Department of Zoology and Physiology at the University of Wyoming. He received his bachelor’s degree in Biology at the University of North Georgia and his master’s degree in Biology at Columbus State University. As a part of the STOICH project team, Spencer will be working to build a database on ecological stoichiometry and to conduct empirical research to help understand ecological stoichiometry in Wyoming lakes and rivers.

Reilly Farrell

Master’s Student, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Reilly joined the STOICH project in August of 2021. He is working to complete his master’s degree under Dr. Jessica Corman at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he intends to focus on biogeochemical distinctions between streams surrounded by different land uses. He completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of Georgia in Fall of 2020. There, he assisted in ecological research projects in mountain streams, marshes, and apple orchards and ultimately acquired a passion for ecosystem ecology.

Daniel Gschwentner

PhD Student, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Daniel is seeking a PhD under Dr. Corman at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He received his BSc from Loughborough University (UK) where he investigated environmental changes during the 20^th century at a Ugandan crater lake from sediment cores. Daniel is principally interested in inferring environmental changes from lake sediments and how biogeochemical cycles in lakes and streams have changed during the Anthropocene. As a member of the STOICH team Daniel hopes to apply ecological stoichiometry to the field of palaeolimnology.

Uchechukwu Ogbenna

PhD Student, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Uchechukwu was born in Umuahia, but raised in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria. He obtained his Bachelor’s of Technology degree in 2014 from the Department of Environmental Technology in the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria, and also returned there for his master’s degree. He is interested in developing the scientific context of stream biogeochemistry as it relates to hydrologic connectivity and nutrient dynamics in urban watersheds and streams.

Learn More: https://ogbennauchechukwu.weebly.com/

Anthony Pignatelli

Master’s Student, University of Central Arkansas

Anthony joined the STOICH project in June 2021 as a master’s student working under Dr. Hal Halvorson in the Department of Biology at the University of Central Arkansas. As a part of the STOICH team, Anthony will assist in building the database and gathering literature on ecological stoichiometry. His research interests are centered around freshwater stream ecosystems and using GIS and remote sensing techniques to look at the effects of land use on nutrients and organisms in streams.

Linnea Rock

PhD Student, University of Wyoming

Linnea is seeking a PhD under Dr. Sarah Collins in the Department of Zoology and Physiology at the University of Wyoming. She received her Master’s Degree at the University of Wisconsin’s Center for Limnology where she researched chloride loading in the Upper Yahara River Watershed.

Learn more: https://linnearocklimnology.weebly.com/research.html

Cooper Stiglitz

Master’s Student, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Cooper joined the STOICH project in August 2021 where he assists Dr. Katie Anania in her Art, Data, and Environment/s program. He is currently working on a master’s degree in art history from the School of Art, Art History & Design at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He earned his B.A. in art history from California State University, Fullerton and has recently relocated to Nebraska from his hometown in Orange County, Ca. Cooper’s research interests include critical re-examinations of the art historical canon and intersections of art and environmentalism.