Environmental Science Research

Ashland University science faculty research isn’t just for faculty. Students who participate in research projects learn to use lab and field equipment, perform group work, present findings and dig deep to discover the truth of their assigned topic.

They present at conferences, meet experts in their field of interest and co-author articles for publication. These experiences are vital to personal and professional development and contribute to a future in science-related careers. Many students gain additional career opportunities as a result of their hard work.

Soren Brauner

Plant genetics and evolution
Invasive species

Cindy Perkovich

Ecology and evolution of plant-insect interactions
Chemical ecology
Phylogenetic and statistical analyses

Mason Posner

Ichthyology
Evolution and function of the vertebrate eye

William Reinthal

Natural resources
Sustainability
Geology and precious metals

Patricia Saunders

Aquatic food-web dynamics
Plankton ecology
Dynamics of temporary pool communities in forested floodplains

Andrew Trimble

Environmental toxicology
Pesticides
Contaminant mixtures
Aquatic invertebrates

Jeffrey Weidenhamer

Chemical ecology
Heavy metal contamination of consumer products

Ashland University’s Kettering Science Center houses two departments: Biology and Toxicology Department and Chemistry and Physics. Together, they offer the interdisciplinary Environmental Science Program.

Students who study in the Kettering Science Center will quickly discover that analyzing environmental samples is easy when they have access to:

A GC/mass spectrometer
An X-ray fluorescence spectrometer
Atomic absorbance spectrometers
UV/VIS spectrometers
A gas chromatograph
An ion chromatograph
High-performance liquid chromatographs
A microplate reader (UV/VUS, fluorescence, luminescence)
A variety of microscopes with digital and photographic capabilities (phase, polarizing and fluorescence)
A research-grade inverted microscope with phase, DIC and fluorescence optics and digital image capture technologies
A variety of growth chambers and a 2,500-sq.-ft. greenhouse
Instrumentation for molecular studies of proteins and DNA
A variety of field-sampling and analytical-preparation equipment
Other specialty rooms, facilities and equipment

Ashland University also manages five environmental preserves that support undergraduate and faculty research and habitat conservation.

Environmental Science Research

Faculty Research Areas

Research Facilities and Instrumentation