Dr. John Kominoski – Principal Investigator I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida International University (Miami, Florida, USA). I am an ecosystem ecologist and biogeochemist who studies how changes in water chemistry (elevated dissolved nutrients, saltwater intrusion) affect the rates of organic matter processes and the net effects on carbon storage in terrestrial, aquatic, and coastal wetland ecosystems. I am co-PI of the Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research Program for which I lead research projects investigating: 1) wet and dry season dynamics on aquatic ecosystem metabolism as driven by water column depth and flocculent organic matter, 2) subsidy-stress effects of saltwater intrusion on wetland soil ecosystems, and 3) long-term interactive effects of storm-induced phosphorus loading and drought on ecosystem productivity and nutrient dynamics spanning freshwater, brackish, and marine wetlands.
Curriculum Vitae Personal Website Google Scholar profile
Dr. Andrea Nocentini – Postdoctoral Research Associate Andrea is an ecosystem modeler with an expertise in carbon and nutrient modeling. His background in agricultural ecosystem models is being applied to wetlands in the Florida Everglades. Andrea is beginning a field manipulation that integrates phosphorus loading and fire intensity in short-hydroperiod marshes in collaboration with the Everglades National Park and the South Florida Water Management District. In addition, he will be modeling the effects of fire history on carbon and nutrient retention in freshwater wetlands throughout the region.
Chris Rizzie – Field and Lab Technician & Manager
Andreina Contreras – Undergraduate Lab Assistant
Diana Rodriguez – Undergraduate Field Assistant
Cristina Whelan, RET, Teacher, Biotech High School, Miami, Florida
Lab Alumni
Postdoctoral Associates
Aingeru Martinez, Ph.D. Former: University of The Basque Country, Bilbao, SpainCurrent: University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Dong Yoon Lee, Ph.D. Current: Scientist, South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, Florida
Mary Zeller, Ph.D. Current: Scientist, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Germany
Graduate Students
Sean Charles, Ph.D. Current: Postdoctoral Associate, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
Shelby Servais, Ph.D. Former: National Academies of Sciences Postdoctoral Fellow, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fairhope, Alabama. Current: Scientist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Kansas City, Missouri
Research Technicians
Mandy Kuhn, B.A. – Texas Mangroves Hurricane Harvey RAPID Project. Current: Ph.D. Environmental Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
Diana Johnson, M.Sc. – Northeast Shark River Slough, Everglades Restoration Project
Shishir Sarker, M.Sc. – Northeast Shark River Slough, Everglades Restoration Project. Current: Ph.D. Geological Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Michelle Robinson, M.Sc. – Salinity x Phosphorus Experimental Wetland Mesocosms Project. Current: Biologist, Planning and Environmental Resources, Monroe County, Florida
Michael Kline, M.Sc, – Salinity x Phosphorus Experimental Wetland Mesocosms Project. Current: Environmental Sensor Manager, Baruch Institute, Clemson University, South Carolina
Undergraduate Students, High School Students, Volunteers
Barbara Moahamed Current: MSc program at Charite Molecular Medicine Program, Berlin, Germany
Alexis Ramos Former: MSc program, Institute of Plant Breeding, University of Georgia. Current: Laboratory Technician II, Auburn University, Alabama
Julio Pachon (FCE-LTER REU 2013, Society of Wetland Scientists Undergraduate Mentoring Scholarship). Former: 2Seeds Network, Magoma-Kijano, Zanzibar, Tanzania. Current: PhD program, Soil and Water Sciences Department, University of Florida
Kristina Morales (FCE-LTER REU 2015, Society of Wetland Scientists Undergraduate Mentoring Scholarship). Current: MSc program, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Diana Segrera
Daniel Rivera
Andrew Menendez
Andrea Gutierrez (Felix Varela High School 2015)
Emma Singer
Gabrielle Cabral Former: MSc program, University of Miami, Rosenthiel School of Marine Science. Current: Biological Science Technician, Biscayne National Park, Miami, Florida
Venus Garcia
Beatriz Sampaio
Patricia Leroy
Francisca Olmos de Aguilera
Marco Fernandez (FCE-LTER REU 2016, Society of Wetland Scientists Undergraduate Mentoring Scholarship, McNair Foundation Fellowship). Current: Ph.D. Biology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
Daniel Read (UREx SRN REU 2017)
Suzy Roebling (FCE-LTER REU 2017)
Jonathan Lau (FIU Dual Enrollment Program 2017-2018)
Cate Patriarca (Felix Varela High School 2017-2018)
Alessandra Puig-Santana (FCE-LTER REU 2018). Current: Social Media Spanish Translator, Joshua Tree National Park, Twentynine Palms, California
Andreina Contreras (FCE-LTER REU 2019)
Andrew Huang
Diana Rodriguez
High School Teachers
Cristina Whelan, Biotech High School, Miami, Florida
Teresa Casal, Felix Valera High School, Miami, Florida
Catherine Laroche, Felix Valera High School, Miami, Florida
