In this blog segment we will be meeting another PhD student in the lab, Mark Lueders. Mark completed his undergraduate degree at Minnesota State University Moorhead, with a B.S in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Within these fields, Mark found a passion and skill for Behavioral Ecology – conducting varied research in zebrafish, marine ecology, and even onion cells! During his undergrad, Mark help found the Marine Ecology Club, now complete with live camera feeds! (https://www.mnstate.edu/academics/colleges-schools/biosciences/oceanarium/). Mark also participated in an NSF funded undergraduate research experience looking at inhibitory effects of the chemical lawsone on rapidly reproducing cells – such as onion cells. At the start of Mark’s time at Baylor in the McManamay lab, he hit the ground running with work on writing a book chapter on “Earth’s Imperiled Rivers and Stream” in the 2021 edition of Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences. Currently Mark’s research is working on a predictive risk model for stakeholders to use as a management tool when planning on undergoing a project that might change the hydrology of a river. The risk of negative effect is computed for fish, currently only Endangered or Threatened fish, based on their natural behaviors. This research is in part informed by a metanalysis conducted by other members of the lab. This metanalysis compiled and extracted information from relevant literature on how environmental flows and thresholds impact fish communities across Texas. Mark is utilizing this data to generate a real-world application tool to help mitigate risk to these river ecosystems. In addition to the risk model, Mark is working on a geospatial analysis of these thresholds of hydrologic alteration that result in negative effects on river ecosystems. Outside of his computer-based research, Mark also participates in field work for an ongoing project with a device called the Zooplankton Optical Imaging System (ZOIS). Another PhD student we will meet later is heading that project, but in general, the ZOIS is an automatic aquatic sampler that uses imaging and AI to identify organisms that pass through the system. Mark is currently a member of the Bernard Ramm Scholars Program, a cross-disciplinary program for doctoral STEM students and M.Div. students from the seminary that encourages the engagement between Christianity and the Sciences through intellectually rich discussions about faith, science, and issues both historic and contemporary. We are so excited to see what else Mark will achieve at Baylor! Keep your eye on the publications page, and feel free to reach out to Mark if you have any questions or interest in his work ([email protected]). |
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May 2024
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