people | mysite

who we are

Jacob Allgeier

Assistant Professor

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

University of Michigan

jeallg "at" umich.edu

Jake is an ecologist with broad interests in how human-induced changes alter ecosystem processes and the services that they provide. His work is rooted in basic ecological theory, but motivated by increasing need for food security, particularly in coastal societies.

Jake has won international acclaim for his ability to sit on porches, stoops, and random curbsides in any given country.

Maximilian Hesselbarth (he/him/his) - Postdoc

mhessel "at" umich.edu

www.maxhesselbarth.com

Max is a computational ecologist interested especially in the spatially explicit characteristics of ecological processes. Max attended the University of Goettingen for his bachelor’s and master’s degree as well as his PhD. During his PhD research, Max used individual based simulation modelling and point pattern analysis to infer underlying ecological processes from spatial patterns. Furthermore, Max is an R enthusiast and author of several R packages. In his free time Max enjoys all different kinds of outdoor activities and almost all sports that involve a ball.

Bridget Shayka - PhD Student

bshayka "at" umich.edu

Bridget is a PhD student studying nutrient dynamics in tropical marine systems. She attended the University of Virginia as an undergraduate, and completed her masters at California State University, Northridge studying the impacts of nutrient runoff and ocean acidification on coral reef algae in Moorea, French Polynesia. Her PhD research at the University of Michigan is focused on the effects of nutrients on seagrass productivity and carbon storage in the Caribbean. Besides snorkeling and scuba diving, Bridget loves hiking and all other water-related activities.

Katrina Munsterman (she/they) - PhD Student

kmunster "at" umich.edu

katrinaskymunsterman.com

Katrina is a PhD student studying fish and fisher behavior. She attended UC Santa Barbara for her BS and MS degrees and spent a decade researching fish in French Polynesia. For her PhD, she's integrating fish population dynamics, fish movement, and social science to better understand how behavior affects production.

Katrina is a picnic enthusiast and can be found running or biking, most likely accompanied by her dog, Bandit.

Shreyann Seth - UROP Student

Hi! My name is Shreyaan and I’m a freshman in the LSA Honors program hoping to major in Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity. I am originally from Davenport, Iowa but have spent the last 15 years growing up in India. I am working on the project ‘Marine Ecology and Biodiversity: Examining Invertebrate Communities from Bahamas and Florida Seagrass Beds’ as part of my first year UROP experience! I hope to use this time to familiarize myself with the scientific research process, and hopefully begin my journey to becoming a researcher myself! I love traveling, exploring parks, and trying new foods!

Photo for Lab Website - Natalie Walton.jpg

Natalie Walton - UROP Student

Natalie is a first-year undergraduate student studying biochemistry at the University of Michigan. She is very interested in researching the effects of ocean acidification and warming on seaweeds and algal turfs. Additionally, she is intrigued by coral reefs and the detailed yet delicate relationships within them. When she’s not in a tree, you can find Natalie searching for the comfiest fleece jacket or falling off of a paddle board.

Micah Romaner - Undergraduate Researcher

Micah is an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan, majoring in Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity, with a minor in Environment. He is currently researching nutrient effects on tropical seagrass communities and their carbon sequestration abilities. He is interested in environmental biology and how conservationists can learn from natural processes to better protect the environment. Micah’s favorite things include sunny days, traveling, coffee, his hammock, music, and basketball.

Duran Mitchell - Field Assistant

Duran is an undergraduate student in the Small Island Sustainability Program at University of The Bahamas. Duran has experience conducting field ecology research on coral reefs and blue holes as well as social science research. He is working with PhD student Katrina Munsterman on a study to understand how people involved in Bahamian fisheries have responded to Hurricane Dorian and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sean Richards - Undergraduate Researcher

Sean (he/him) is a third-year undergraduate student double-majoring in Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity (EEB) and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB). He is broadly interested in modeling approaches to approximate marine coastal ecosystem function and its implications for conservation. He is currently researching the effects of species-level behavioral differences on artificial reef primary productivity. In his free time, Sean enjoys making coffee, fencing, and perfecting his stone-skipping form.