Title: Assistant Scientist, Stream Ecologist
Employer: University of Illinois, Prairie Research Institute, Illinois Natural History Survey
Previous Role: Senior Field Ecologist; National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON)
Lauren graduated from Integrative Biology Honors in 2011 and then began a Master’s in Environment & Natural Resources at Ohio State University. She worked as a Senior Field Ecologist for NEON (National Ecological Observatory Network), which is an expansive network of scientists with 81 field sites, over 200 seasonal field ecologist positions, and an infrastructure designed for community collaboration.
In her current position as a Stream Ecologist at INHS, Lauren is a project manager and co-PI on a contract from Illinois Department of Natural Resources that looks at the impacts of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) on the aquatic life of wadeable streams in the Illinois River and Kaskaskia River Basins. Her team conducts stream surveys each summer to assess the fish community, macroinvertebrate community, water chemistry, discharge, and available aquatic habitat. They use this information to monitor how aquatic communities are changing in response to CREP enrollment and Illinois' progress towards the goals of increasing native fish and biological significant insects.
"Professionally, I would not be where I am today without the IB program. The topics I was exposed to and techniques I got to experience in the IB Honors concentration program are unmatched to other biology programs. My experience gave me an incredibly strong foundation and fundamental research skills that have allowed me to grow and flourish into a career in ecology. The relationships I developed with professors and researchers, especially through my involvement in undergraduate research, were pivotal to sending me on my career trajectory."
Lauren would be a great person to talk to about opportunities to work in ecology outside of academia. Contact Christina Swanson at alumnimentor@sib.illinois.edu if you would like to connect with Lauren.