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THE JONES LAB
Annis Water Resource Institute - Grand Valley State University
STUART JONES, PHD
Principal Investigator
Stuart is Executive Director of the Annis Water Resources Institute and an aquatic ecologist. His ideal research project leverages information across scales to advance our theoretical understanding of aquatic ecosystems and their watersheds while also providing management-relevant information or predictions. Stuart’s primary goal is to facilitate the research and careers of others and to have fun while doing so. He is happiest building simple mathematical models or at the hockey rink with his family.
DANIEL GSCHWENTNER, PHD
Research Scientist
THE LAB
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BENNETT MCAFEE, MS
Data Scientist
EMMA CAMPBELL
Research Technician
Daniel Gschwentner is a research scientist and limnologist in the Jones Lab. Daniel uses ecosystem modelling, experimentation and observational data to ask questions about how lakes change throughout time and space, and how nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus influence water quality and lake primary production. Daniel received his PhD from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he worked on lake water quality and lake ice dynamics in the Nebraska Sandhills.
At the intersection of limnology and technology, you’ll find Bennett: a data scientist with experience in ecosystem modeling, synthesis of open data, and knowledge-guided machine learning. Bennett is here to support AWRI with computation-heavy projects, software development, and data management. He can typically be found either running code or out for a run.
Emma is a research technician and lab manager for the Jones Lab who spends her time working on multiple different research, admin, and community outreach projects. Her previous research has primarily focused on freshwater thermal dynamics and primary productivity, but she has also dabbled in botany, wildlife ecology, and fish ecology. Outside of the lab, she is often crocheting, gardening, or painting.
MAX LARSON
Graduate Student
Max is a graduate student in the Jones Lab, with primary research interests in fish and fisheries. His work combines field sampling, laboratory analysis, and sample processing to investigate questions about fish behavior, hybridization, and interactions within freshwater ecosystems.
RUTH MORARA
Graduate Student
Ruth is a graduate student in the Jones lab, whose research interests include the role of microorganisms in nutrient cycling in freshwater ecosystems and the effects of climate change on freshwater ecosystem processes. She was born in Arkansas but grew up in Kenya—giving her dual citizenship. Consequently, her long-term goal is to foster collaborative research in freshwater ecology between the USA and Africa. She loves Great Lakes; her favorite being Lake Victoria, an African Great Lake that has a coast in Kenya.
BRIDGETTE GORG
Graduate Student
Bridgette is a graduate student in the Jones Lab who is researching lake-stream networks and seeking to better understand AUV applications in water quality research. She enjoys field work that keeps her outdoors and thinking of creative approaches to new environmental challenges.
JOSEPH GREENDYK
Graduate Student
Joe is a graduate student in the Jones Lab researching Lake Michigan salmonine population and angling dynamics. He has a passion for all things fish, with fish ecology and management being his primary research interests. In the past, however, he has also spent time working with macroinvertebrate and freshwater mussel communities. In his spare time you can find usually find him outside fishing (shockingly), disc golfing, or kayaking.
ADDISON YERKS
Graduate Student
Addison is a graduate student in the Jones Lab who is researching nutrient availability and plankton community composition of Lake Michigan's Drowned River Mouth Lakes. In her spare time you can find her crocheting, making lattes, or at the beach.
ZOE GONDECK
Undergraduate Student
Zoe is an undergraduate Biology student at Grand Valley State University, also minoring in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. Before joining the team, she worked on molecular ecology research focused on using genetics to aid in conservation. As a laboratory technician for the Jones Lab, Zoe contributes to day-to-day lab operations and enjoys being part of projects that connect science, sustainability, and real-world impact.
GRACIE WILLETT
Undergraduate Intern
Gracie is an undergraduate chemistry student at Grand Valley, with a minor in mathematics. During the academic year, she work at the university’s Writing Center as a receptionist as well as a research intern for ExciPlex, working with ergot alkaloids.
PEYTON JOHNSON
Undergraduate Intern
Peyton is an undergraduate student at Michigan State University majoring in Environmental Studies and Sustainability. Her academic work focuses on freshwater systems and watershed management, with experience delineating watersheds and developing watershed management plans through coursework. Peyton is particularly interested in water quality, nonpoint source pollution, and protecting Michigan’s lakes and streams, and is excited to apply these skills through field and lab work with the Jones Lab.
Interested in joining the team?
We are currently finished recruiting graduate students to start in 2026, but we are still always open to discussing employment opportunities with students interested in our research! If you're interested in joining, reach out to Stuart at jonesstu@gvsu.edu
Graduate students are often funded from AWRI Graduate Research Assistantships or through grant funding. Graduate students at AWRI are pursuing a Master of Science in Biology with an emphasis in aquatic sciences. Graduate assistantships include a 12-month stipend and a tuition stipend that is eligible for annual renewal.
For more information, check out the links below!
Jones Lab Alumni
School | Name | Role | Years | Project |
|---|---|---|---|---|
GVSU | Jailyn Jacob | Undergraduate Researcher | 2025 | |
UND | Randi Notte | Research Technician | ||
UND | Stephen Jane | Postdoc | ||
UND | Brian Ankrapp | Undergraduate Researcher | 2025 | Largemouth bass diet |
UND | Avi Neumann | Undergraduate Researcher | 2025 | Bluegill life history |
UND | Matthew Woo | Ph.D. | 2024 - present | Fish growth and life history traits |
UND | Greyson Wolf | M.S. | 2022-2024 | Life history and recreational fisheries |
UND | Brittni Bertolet | Ph.D. | 2016-2021 | Methanogen community ecology and methane cycling |
UND | Colin Dassow | Ph.D. | 2016-2021 | Recreational fisheries and catch-and-release practices |
UND | Carly Olson | Ph.D. | 2016-2022 | Regulators of lake productivity and ecosytem stoichiometry |
UND | Ceara Talbot | Ph.D. | Landscape carbon biogeochemistry | |
UND | Amaryllis Adey | Ph.D. | Regulators of lake consumer productivity | |
UND | Camille Mosley | Ph.D. | 2019-2024 | Recreational fisheries |
UND | Gilberto Cerda | Undergraduate Researcher | 2023 | Largemouth bass diet |
UND | Frankie Gonzalez | Undergraduate Researcher | 2023 | Recreational Fisheries |
UND | Riri Wikara | Undergraduate Researcher | 2023 | Largemouth bass diet |
UND | Stacey Vogel | Undergraduate Researcher | 2022 | Recreational Fisheries |
UND | Jack Stecker | Undergraduate Researcher | 2022 | Recreational Fisheries |
UND | Ben Orchekowski | Undergraduate Researcher | 2022 | Recreational Fisheries |
UND | Taylor Parker | Undergraduate Researcher | 2021-2022 | Recreational Fisheries |
UND | Beth Hoots | Undergraduate Researcher/Research Technican | 2021-2022 | Recreational Fisheries |
UND | Ana Lopez | Undergraduate Researcher | 2019-2020 | Fishscapes |
UND | Gaby Marines-Chio | Undergraduate Researcher | 2019 | UNDERC monitoring |
UND | Katie Conese | Undergraduate Researcher | UNDERC monitoring | |
UND | Sydney Louden | Undergraduate Researcher | 2019-2020 | Methane |
UND | Noah Gonring | Undergraduate Researcher | Long Lake terrestrial carbon experiment | |
UND | Katherine Franz | Undergraduate Researcher | UNDERC monitoring | |
UND | Jack Boyle | Undergraduate Researcher | Long Lake terrestrial carbon experiment | |
UND | Hildamarie Caceres Velazquez | M.S. | 2012-2019 | Bacterial Traits |
UND | Carmella Vizza | Ph.D. | 2012 - 2018 | Arctic wetland biogeochemistry |
UND | Jake Zwart | Ph.D. | 2012 - 2017 | Terrestrial carbon |
UND | Patrick Kelly | Ph.D. | 2011 - 2015 | Terrestrial carbon |
UND | Will West | Ph.D. | 2010 - 2015 | Methane |
UND | Dan Liu | M.S. | 2011 - 2013 | Bacterial ecogenomics |
UND | Joshua Livermore | Postdoc | 2012 - 2014 | Bacterial ecogenomics |
UND | Dave Armitage | Postdoc | 2017 - 2019 | Species interactions and coexistence |
UND | Katie Saunders | Senior Research Technician | 2017 - 2019 | Everything |
UND | Jim Coloso | Senior Research Technician | 2010 - 2014 | Everything |
UND | Matt Farragher | Research Technician | 2018 | Terrestrial carbon |
UND | Francie Fink | Undergraduate Researcher | 2017 - 2020 | UNDERC monitoring/Recreational fisheries |
UND | Mary Solokas | Undergraduate Researcher | 2018 - 2020 | Recreational fisheries |
UND | Danny Szydlowski | Undergraduate Researcher | 2017 - 2020 | UNDERC monitoring/Recreational fisheries |
UND | Faith Taylor | Undergraduate Researcher | 2018 - 2020 | UNDERC monitoring |
UND | John Caffarelli | Undergraduate Researcher | 2017 - 2020 | Recreational fisheries |
UND | John Hlavin | Undergraduate Researcher | 2018 - 2019 | UNDERC monitoring |
UND | Matt Millado | Undergraduate Researcher | 2018 - 2019 | UNDERC monitoring |
UND | Henri Chung | Undergraduate Researcher | 2016 - 2019 | Terrestrial carbon |
UND | Joey Aulino | Undergraduate Researcher | 2018 | Recreational fisheries |
UND | Nate Heili | Undergraduate Researcher | 2018 | Methane |
UND | Mary Commins | Undergraduate Researcher | 2018 - 2019 | Terrestrial carbon |
UND | Jacquie Whalen | Undergraduate Researcher | 2017 - 2019 | Recreational fisheries |
UND | Theresa Kim | Undergraduate Researcher | 2017 - 2018 | Bacteria-phage interactions |
UND | Josie Martinez | Undergraduate Researcher | 2018 | Methane |
UND | Kelson Pike | Undergraduate Researcher | 2015-2017 | Bacterial Traits |
UND | Michael O'Rear | Undergraduate Researcher | 2017 | Terrestrial Carbon |
UND | David Brown | Undergraduate Researcher | 2016 - 2017 | UNDERC monitoring |
UND | Courtney Weston | Undergraduate Researcher | 2016 - 2017 | UNDERC monitoring |
UND | Rachael Walsh | Undergraduate Researcher | 2016 - 2017 | Bacterial Traits |
UND | Ellen Mather | Undergraduate Researcher | 2014 - 2017 | Terrestrial carbon, UNDERC monitoring |
UND | Joey Vanderwall | Undergraduate Researcher | 2014 - 2017 | Terrestrial carbon |
UND | Mariel Cuellar | Undergraduate Researcher | 2015 - 2017 | Terrestrial carbon |
UND | Brandon Sura | Undergraduate Researcher | 2014 - 2017 | Bacterial Traits |
UND | Katie Georgi | Undergraduate Researcher | 2015 - 2016 | Terrestrial carbon |
UND | Matthew Grothaus | Undergraduate Researcher | 2014 - 2016 | Bacterial traits |
UND | Liz Wildenhain | Undergraduate Researcher | 2015 - 2016 | Early warning signs of regime shifts |
UND | Katy Dawson | Undergraduate Researcher | 2014 - 2016 | UNDERC monitoring |
UND | Anna Poteraj | Undergraduate Researcher | 2014 - 2016 | Terrestrial carbon |
UND | Elyssa Schwendy | Undergraduate Researcher | 2013 - 2015 | Methane |
UND | C.J. Humes | Undergraduate Researcher | 2014 - 2015 | UNDERC monitoring |
UND | Stephen Elser | Undergraduate Researcher/Research Technican | 2012 - 2014 | Terrestrial carbon, UNDERC monitoring |
UND | Jessica Schaefer | Research Technician | 2014 - 2015 | Terrestrial carbon, limnology |
UND | Shayna McCarthy | Undergraduate Researcher/Research Technican | 2013 - 2015 | Methane, UNDERC monitoring |
UND | Robert Read | Undergraduate Researcher | 2013 - 2015 | Bacterial traits |
UND | Brian Connor | Undergraduate Researcher | 2013 - 2015 | Terrestrial carbon, Ionic liquids |
UND | Kayla McReynolds | Undergraduate Researcher | 2013 - 2015 | Terrestrial carbon, limnology |
UND | Elizabeth Golebie | Undergraduate Researcher | 2013 | UNDERC monitoring |
UND | Michael Kipp | Undergraduate Researcher | 2013 - 2014 | Methane |
UND | Trixie Amorado | Undergraduate Researcher | 2012 - 2014 | Bacterial traits, Ionic liquids |
UND | Ali Searle | Undergraduate Researcher | 2012 - 2014 | Terrestrial carbon, zooplankton |
UND | Lisa Raaf | Undergraduate Researcher | 2013 | UNDERC monitoring |
UND | Joey Kim | Undergraduate Researcher | 2012 - 2013 | Methane |
UND | Nick Williams | Undergraduate Researcher | 2013 | Ionic liquids |
UND | Kevin Creamer | Undergraduate Researcher | 2011 - 2013 | Methane, Terrestrial carbon |
UND | Rachel Pilla | Undergraduate Researcher | 2011 - 2013 | Terrestrial carbon, limnology |
UND | Katie Baglini | Undergraduate Researcher | 2011 - 2013 | Terrestrial carbon, zooplankton |
UND | Isaac Evans | Undergraduate Researcher | 2012 | Terrestrial carbon, zooplankton |
UND | John Clifford | Undergraduate Researcher | 2011 - 2012 | Ionic liquids |
UND | Katie Piepr | Undergraduate Researcher | 2011 - 2012 | Bacterial ecogenomics |
UND | Linnea Fechtner | Undergraduate Researcher | 2011 - 2012 | Molecular characterization of plankton diets |
UND | Jessica Choi | Undergraduate Researcher | 2010 - 2012 | Methane oxidation |
UND | Ashley Baca | Undergraduate Researcher | 2011 | Terrestrial carbon, zooplankton |
UND | Beth Cotter | Undergraduate Researcher | 2011 | Methane |
UND | Lauren Garatoni | High School Student | 2011 | Methane |
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