The Upstate Freshwater Institute maintains a technical staff which holds degrees in the fields of biology, chemistry and environmental engineering. UFI also conducts cooperative research projects on freshwater systems with local scientists and engineers. A team of research associates, chosen from institutions across the country for their special expertise, provide additional support. Past and present research collaborations in water quality research include:

• Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
• State University of New York - College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY
• Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI
• Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
• Kent State University, Kent, OH
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
• Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
• University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
• Army Corp of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station, Vickburg, MS
• New York State Museum Biological Survey, Albany, NY
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY
• New York City Department of Environmental Protection, New York City, NY
• Naval Research Laboratory, MS

Employment Opportunities

Steven W. Effler
Director of Research, Ph.D.,
 Environmental Engineering,
Syracuse University, 1975

Professional Interests:
water quality and ecology of surface waters

MaryGail Perkins
Program and Grants Administrator,
Senior Research Scientist
M.S., Hydrogeology,
Syracuse University, 1990

Professional Interests:
optical water quality of lakes and reservoirs

Bruce A.Wagner
Senior Aquatic Biologist
M.S., Biology
College of Environmental Science and Forestry, SUNY, 1998

Professional Interests:
benthic and fish communities

Susan M. Doerr O'Donnell
Environmental Engineer and Mathematical Modeler
M.S., Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, 1991

Professional Interests:
 water quality modeling, equilibrium chemistry of lakes and reservoirs

Rakesh K. Gelda
Environmental Engineer and Mathematical Modeler
Ph.D., Environmental Engineering,
Michigan Technological University, 1994

Professional Interests:
 water quality modeling, statistical data analysis

David Matthews
Research Scientist
Ph.D., Water Resources Engineering
College of Environmental Science and Forestry, SUNY, 2002

Professional Interests:
ammonia toxicity, N cycling and redox chemistry

Michael E. Spada
Research Scientist
M.S., Environmental and Forest Biology
College of Environmental Science and Forestry, SUNY, 2000

Professional Interests:
zebra mussel and plankton studies

David M. O'Donnell
Senior Engineer
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 1987

Professional Interests:
in-situ instrumentation, software development,underwater optics

Emmet Owens
Senior Engineer
M.S. Civil Engineering
Colorado State University, 1978

Professional Interests:
hydrothermal and water quality modeling

Anthony Prestigiacomo
Research Scientist
M.S.,  Water Resources Engineering
College of Environmental Science and Forestry, SUNY, 2005

Professional Interests:
reservoir and lake process studies

Feng Peng
Senior Research Scientist
Ph.D., Environmental Chemistry
College of Environmental Science and Forestry, SUNY 2002

Professional Interests:
particle analysis, light scattering

Paul Brown
 Research Scientist
B.S., Environmental Scientist
 Syracuse University, 2002

Professional Interests:
ecology of surface waters

Lingsen Zhang
Research Scientist
M.S. Computer Science
Syracuse University, 2002

Professional Interests:
aquatic chemistry

Melanie Overy
Research Scientist
A.S. Aquatic Science
SUNY Morrisville 2003

Professional Interests:
fisheries, aquatic ecosystems

Gina Quaring
Research Scientist
B.S. Biology
SUNY Oswego, 2003

Professional Interests:
wildlife biology and conservation

Christopher Hoy
Research Scientist
B.S. Environmental Studies
University of Vermont, 2005

Professional Interests:
Onondaga Lake ecosystem

Craig Hurteau
Research Scientist
B.S. Environmental Science
College of Environmental Science and Forestry-SUNY, 2007

Professional Interests:
lake systems, sediment deposition

Mary Coppola
B.S. Biochemistry, 2006
Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Professional Interest
Nitrogen cycling in freshwater systems, aquatic biology

Whitney Forbes
B.S. Chemistry 2009
SUNY Geneseo

Professional Interest
Environmental Chemistry, phosphorus cycling in freshwater systems
 

Elizabeth Miller
Office Manager and Finanical Administrator

Katherine Goldstein
Administrative Assistant