Student and Alumni Stories

Is achieving net zero emissions in the water sector possible? That’s the question UW-Milwaukee students hoped to answer during the School of Freshwater Sciences spring “Freshwater Practicum” graduate-level course. The course simulates working in a water consulting firm and connects students to a public sector client to research real-world water challenges and offer recommendations. “Alongside …

"There's a lot of opportunities for hands-on work here. A lot of the professors are really passionate about what they do, and they really want to teach the next generation". Charlie, a freshwater program student, shares about his research and experiences at the School of Freshwater Sciences.

Students share their firsthand experiences with hands-on research opportunities, the close relationships they've built with faculty, and how the school prepares them for impactful careers.

Freshwater science students and an alumnus share how the hands-on coursework prepares undergraduates for the workforce.

UW-Milwaukee alumnus Austin Harris has wanted to be a meteorologist since age 8. Originally from Oklahoma City, his doctoral and postdoctoral work with UWM’s Atmospheric Science Distinguished Professor Paul Roebber helped him land a prestigious ASP Postdoctoral Fellowship at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo. What interested you in studying atmospheric science? Though …

The R/V Neeksay is the only year-round research vessel on the Great Lakes, and it’s been a busy season far with 60 expeditions so far. The first expedition took place January 18, with the Cuhel/Aguilar labs collecting samples for their ongoing project that monitors the rivers, harbor and near Milwaukee offshore. They also led a …

As states and municipalities develop long-term, cost-effective and fuel-efficient energy plans, many are evaluating renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal and hydropower. Wind has become the most prominent, generating more than 10 percent of energy in the U.S. Offshore wind projects on the East Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico are expanding, …

José Basaldua, a 2018 graduate of the professional master's program, shares how the School of Freshwater Sciences connected him to others in the community who are working on water issues. He is now an environmental educator with Reflo, where he works on green infrastructure projects at Milwaukee Public Schools.

What’s it like to work in water? Lisa Sasso, one of our first alums, talks about jobs in freshwater and how the School of Freshwater Sciences prepared her for her career at the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District.

Pierce VanValkenburg grew up on the St. Croix River, which flows along the border of Wisconsin and Minnesota and down into the Mississippi. Springs and summers were full of boating with family, swimming and watching sunfish the way other kids watched TV. Now a UW-Milwaukee Freshwater Sciences graduate student, VanValkenburg teaches children about freshwater systems …

Tyler Kunze '23 spent the past two years diving in Lake Michigan and analyzing samples in Professor Harvey Bootsma's lab to look at how invasive mussels are affecting the lake and other organisms. His research earned him a Master of Freshwater Science and Technology this spring.

Yellow perch may be able to grow more with less food. That's what Will Sullivan '23 discovered during his graduate-level research in our fish labs.