| Project Title |
Diversity and dynamics of harmful cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Mendota |
| PI Name |
Trina McMahon
trina.mcmahon@wisc.edu |
| PI Affiliation |
UW-Madison, Civil and Env Eng |
| Project Description |
Lake Mendota in Madison, WI, is plagued with noxious blue green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms each summer. These blooms are known to produce toxins in varying abundance and chemical composition. This student will conduct an independent project to collect water samples multiple times per week and measure water quality characteristics (e.g. nutrient concentrations, cyanobacterial pigments). They will learn field sampling skills, microscopy, water chemistry analysis, and general microbiology skills. They will work with a team of graduate students and other undergraduates studying the lake. |
| Qualifications Required |
At least one year of courses including STEM topics |
| In-Person Tasks |
Field sampling and lab analyses |
| Virtual / Remote Tasks |
The student will use a spreadsheet program (Excel and/or Google Sheets) to calculate/graph data using an existing database. The student will also be asked to do literature search and extract certain numerical parameters from published tables/works. |
| Approx. Participation Suggested / Week |
10-20 hours |
| Keywords |
Freshwater, desalination, energy use, carbon footprint, arid regions |
