Invasive Insights

Interview with Gregg Schumer

In this episode, I interviewed Gregg Schumer, Vice President and Director of Lab Services at Cramer Fish Sciences. Gregg is a senior molecular biologist whose expertise in environmental DNA (eDNA) has been instrumental in advancing research on invasive species. During our conversation, Gregg shared fascinating insights into his work monitoring endangered aquatic species, his innovative projects using metabarcode analysis, and his unique career path from gene therapy and virology to large-scale ecosystem monitoring. I was truly inspired by Gregg’s passion for scientific discovery, his resilience in the face of research challenges, and his vision for more holistic approaches to ecosystem health. I learned so much from his experiences and advice for aspiring scientists!

Interview with Dr. Amy Fowler

In the sixth episode, I interviewed Dr. Amy Fowler, Associate Professor at George Mason University's Department of Environmental Science and Policy. Dr. Fowler is a Fulbright Scholar currently conducting pioneering research at Finland's Archipelago Research Institute studying invasive crab species' impacts on the Baltic Sea ecosystem. While speaking with her, I was extremely impressed by the amount of varied research she had done and the amazing places that she had been. She was so knowledgeable, and I learned so much from her myriad of experiences conducting research on invasive species!

Interview with Dr. James T. Carlton

In the fourth episode, I interviewed Dr. James T. Carlton, Professor Emeritus of Marine Sciences at Williams College, Director Emeritus of the Williams College-Mystic Seaport Maritime Studies Program, Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, founding Editor–in–Chief of Biological Invasions, and a distinguished Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation.   Since 1962, Dr. Carlton has been a pioneering force in marine ecology and biological invasions research. His nine congressional testimonies have directly shaped national invasive species legislation. I was extremely excited to speak to someone with such knowledge and experience. Dr. Carlton taught me so much and I'm confident that he will do the same for you!

Interview with Gerard Urbanozo

In the third episode, I interviewed Gerard Urbanozo, the Senior Water Quality Specialist for Lake County, Illinois. Mr. Urbanozo works to make the waterways of Lake County healthier and he often deals with invasive species, such as invasive carp. He is also an accomplished fisherman. It was very important to have him on this podcast because I live in Lake County, and I think that it’s very important to learn and teach others about my local ecosystem as well as those that are around the world.

Interview with Dr. April Blakeslee

In the second episode, I interviewed Dr. April Blakeslee. Dr. Blakeslee is a professor of parasite ecology at East Carolina University, and she has worked on many fascinating projects having to do with different types of parasites. For example, she worked on a project about a parasite whose host is mud crabs that have moved out of their natural habitat in the Gulf of Mexico, causing it to have a much easier time parasitizing crabs further north. Dr. Blakeslee also helped me connect with many of the other guests, allowing this project to hear from so many incredible people.