people | mysite

who we are

Jacob Allgeier

Associate 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.

Lanie Esch - Postdoc

mmesh "at" umich.edu

Lanie is a marine ecologist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow, primarily studying coral reef fishes. She earned a Bachelor of Science from Coastal Carolina University and graduate degrees from Florida International University. Lanie’s PhD focused on the invasion risk of current and future alien marine fishes to the reefs of south Florida. Her current research investigates the effect that community structure of primary producers and fishes have on production. Outside of work, Lanie enjoys most outdoor activities -land and water based- and trying new local restaurants!

Sarah Luongo - Postdoc

slung "at" umich.edu

Sarah is a marine ecologist with broad interests in how physiology influences marine fishes' behavior and movement patterns. She earned her Bachelor of Science from California State University Long Beach and her PhD from Florida International University. Sarah’s PhD focused on the energetics, behavioral strategies, and space use of marine predators in pelagic and coral reef ecosystems. She is currently investigating what factors are driving space use patterns of coral reef fishes around artificial reefs in The Bahamas. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, watching movies, and traveling!

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.

Nepsis García (she/they) - PhD Student

nepsisgl "at" umich.edu

Nepsis is from a small town called Baní in the southwest of the Dominican Republic. She did her undergrad at PUCMM (in the DR) and got her masters in Marine Biology at NSU Florida. Before coming to U of M she worked on the assisted sexual reproduction of stony corals, their larval rearing and recruit grow out. For her PhD, she is interested in understanding how coral assemblages on artificial reefs can help us recover coral reef function, and finding less active solutions to restore coral reefs. In her spare time, Nepsis loves cooking, having picnics at parks, and snuggling with her wife and her cats to watch TV.

Sean Richards - PhD Student

sprich "at" umich.edu

Sean (he/him) is a fourth-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.

Shreyann Seth - UROP Student

Hi! My name is Shreyaan and I’m a junior in the LSA Honors program majoring 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 a continuation 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 third 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.

Joanna Livingston - Undergraduate Researcher

Joanna is an undergraduate student studying Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity at the University of Michigan. She is currently researching nutrient effects on a species of tropical seagrass, Syringodium. In her free time, Joanna loves to read, be around animals, and be near any body of water.

Michael McGuigan - lab technician extraordinaire

mmcguig "at" umich.edu

Mike is a technician whose research interests lie in the effects of anthropogenic impacts on aquatic ecosystems and the conservation of these systems. He attended Cornell University for his undergraduate degree where he conducted research on the role of invasive mussel species in phosphorus cycling in Oneida Lake in Upstate New York. He then worked as a field technician for a long-term monitoring project on lakes and streams in northern Wisconsin through the University of Notre Dame before coming to U of M. When he's not in the lab, Mike enjoys running, watching and playing hockey, and befriending any dog that he comes across.