But it wasn’t until she enrolled in UW-Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences that Choi realized the possibilities of lifelong work in water. At 51ÁÔĆć, she has already made meaningful contributions to lab work, snagging multiple awards for her research analyzing water dynamics and quality.

“There’s a whole career for science communication, outreach and helping people find resources,” Choi said. “I see myself teaching communities about water quality and water safety.”

Analyzing water dynamics

Choi’s contributions began even before her first freshman class at 51ÁÔĆć, thanks to the university’s summer research program for incoming students.

In that program, Choi worked alongside 51ÁÔĆć assistant professor and hydrologist Charles Paradis, who charged her with investigating how uranium behaves in soil during a flood.

That work could lead to new ways to clean and protect groundwater in polluted areas. Paradis applies similar research to understand the impacts of road salt on the natural environment.

For Choi, the unique experience revealed how scientific inquiry unfolds in real-time.

“It really taught me what research looks like,” she said. “Everybody doesn’t know exactly what will happen and it’s up to us as a team to figure it out. And even with no experience coming in, I made a contribution to it.”

Other professors and faculty have helped diversify her experience and success.

A freshwater science class with Laodong Guo immersed Choi in lab work, where she analyzed the chemical properties of wastewater that collects in oil fields during the extraction processes. As part of that work, she ran water samples through a spectrometer and learned how to use programming software to carry out the tests.

The aim of that research, in part, was to determine whether contaminated water in oil fields can be reclaimed for other uses, such as recycling produced water or recovering important metals.

Earning accolades

Choi’s cross-disciplinary studies have already earned attention from researchers in the field through presentations at the 51ÁÔĆć Research Symposium and the National Conference of Undergraduate Research.

In 2023, she received a 51ÁÔĆć Outstanding Performance in Introductory Chemistry Award. More recently, she entered the accelerated master’s program for high-achieving students in School of Freshwater Sciences. This means she can begin her graduate degree while finishing final requirements for her bachelor’s degree.

In 2025, Choi received an Outstanding Presentation award at the 51ÁÔĆć Research Symposium for a research project supported by Gina Seegers Szablewski, a senior teaching faculty member in 51ÁÔĆć’s geosciences department.

That work involved redesigning established geological diagrams in textbooks to be more visually appealing and engaging. And it helped Choi envision potential real-world work she’d like to do in the Milwaukee community.

Teaching the value of water

Choi imagines taking a multidisciplinary approach to her career, including collecting water samples, analyzing them (thanks to her chemistry minor) and teaching the public about water quality, health and safety. For example, she wants to make report cards that inform people when and where water is safe to swim in or consume.

Milwaukee Riverkeeper is one area nonprofit already doing this type of work; the organization has inspired Choi to volunteer in water cleanup events.

Her evolving expertise as a freshwater sciences student will allow her to dive even deeper into this passion. “I just want to teach people why water is valuable.”

Story by Tree Meinch | Explore more inĚýMake New Waves

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Her adaptability blossomed during her elementary years at a community-focused bilingual school in Milwaukee. Later, it drove her to earn a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and history as an undergraduate student at the College of Saint Benedict in Minnesota.

“I knew that biochemistry was a broad enough scientific track that I could use it as a foundation to do anything,” she said. “And I want to do it all.”

In 2021, Dennis joined the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences as a PhD student — propelled by a love of water and bugs.

She now specializes in expanding our understanding of antibiotic-resistant organisms so that the field of medicine can better equip people to survive bacterial infections. Her research advocates for more diverse treatments against the pathogens we are exposed to in our water systems and other public spaces.

“I’ve taken antibiotics,” Dennis said, “but I didn’t think about the fact that treatments could or could not work based on what organism you’re sick with and whatever resistance mechanisms they pick up.”

Following ‘creepy crawlers’

Dennis’ biochemistry studies for her bachelor’s degree planted the seeds for her work as a grad student today. “I was just thinking about parasites,” she said. “I’ve always been interested in creepy crawlers.”

Charged with writing a mock proposal for research, her capstone explored the development of a vaccine against a disease spread by freshwater parasites. The process introduced Dennis to disease transmission routes, dynamic food chains and freshwater environments, including public parks and green spaces.

Dennis was fascinated and hooked, and she started as a freshwater sciences grad student at 51ÁÔĆć less than a month after graduation. “I drove home, rested for maybe eight days, then started here,” she said.

Probing antibiotic resistance

Over the past four years, Dennis has plunged into the complexities of how certain pathogens — such as E. coli, which is prevalent in bodies of freshwater and beyond — evolve and adapt to resist antibiotic treatment.

The issues of antibiotic resistance and multidrug-resistant organisms have grown significantly since the 1980s, which has prompted concern and significant funding to prevent a future where .

For Dennis, some days her research looks like microscopic sequencing of gene families in the lab. Other days, it requires donning her history hat, while contemplating anthropology, sociology and other disciplines.

“You can’t solve this issue when you only look at a slice of where it occurs,” she said. “It’s out in the community. It’s in the hospitals. It’s in our food chain. It’s in the water.”

Bridging science and neighborhoods

With her lab hat on, Dennis immerses herself in the detailed genetics and mutation patterns of these microorganisms, as well as the freshwater environments that drive the evolution of the pathogens. Her findings will help develop new solutions to protect us from them.

Recently, though, she also discovered a love for public health. She hopes to educate communities about these issues in our world, bringing the science to everyday people.

“There’s usually a disconnect between the people doing the actual research and the people doing advocacy or the application of research,” she said. “I would like to do both.”

Story by Tree Meinch | Explore more inĚýMake New Waves

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Clay St. John grew up along the shores of Lake Michigan with a deep curiosity about freshwater ecosystems and a dream of making an environmental impact. Through 51ÁÔĆć’s School of Freshwater Sciences, he turned his convictions into a clear path forward.

For his capstone, he did water sampling in Port Washington to and in collaboration with Lakeshore Natural Resource Parternship. The students acted as a small consulting team, tasked with gathering and analyzing stream data to inform both the restoration process and future research opportunities.Ěý

Clay gained experience while in school as an intern at Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) over a couple years. There he assisted in the installation of residential green infrastructure and eventually led other interns in this installation during the summer months. During the fall and winter seasons, he supported outreach and land management work.

He also served as a co-chair for the 51ÁÔĆć chapter of Engineers Without Borders and design lead for a water distrubtion project in Vivitz, Guatemala. Along with other students, he traveled to Guatemala to install a water-distribution system to help communities get access to clean water. Clay is now a graduate student at Ball State University in the Master’s Landscape Architecture (MLA) program.

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Jena Choi’s experience in the undergraduate Freshwater Sciences program at 51ÁÔĆć School of Freshwater Sciences helped her build confidence, gain hands-on research experience and clarify how she wants to make a difference in Milwaukee. During her time as an undergraduate, Jena’s coursework combined fieldwork, lab research and real-world problem-solving. She has been heavily involved in the SURF program through the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) on campus and even worked for OUR as an administrative assistant. Additionally, she graduated with honors from the 51ÁÔĆć Honors College. Outside of academics, Jena volunteered her time to help Freshwater outreach efforts, often working annual events like the Harbor Fest open house.

Through countless research projects and national conference presentations, she learned how to take ownership of her work and share scientific knowledge with broader communities. Jena earned an Outstanding Presentation Award at the 51ÁÔĆć Research Symposium and plans to continue her education through the Accelerated Master’s Program at the School of Freshwater Sciences. Her goal is to graduate career-ready and contribute directly to freshwater research and impact in Milwaukee.

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Some people revel in the dog days of summer, but for a dozen aquaculture interns, the season was all about fish.

In partnership with Wisconsin Sea Grant and funded through a grant from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, the interns were stationed at aquaculture facilities across the state, working alongside mentors to get hands-on experience raising and caring for fish. According to Wisconsin Sea Grant food-fish coordinator Sharon Moen, who led the project alongside aquaculture specialists Emma Hauser and Dong-Fang Deng, the purpose of the internships was to build awareness of fish farming and offer training opportunities for young people.

“We couldn’t be happier with the way this first-time program unfolded,” said Moen. “The students and mentors gained so much during a short 10 weeks.”

Raising fish was not the only new skill the interns acquired. They learned how to manage projects, work on a team, and — importantly — embrace the many utilitarian wonders of PVC pipes and power tools.

Among the aquaculture facilities across the state, undergraduate interns worked with Kyle Freimuth, a graduate student at 51ÁÔĆć School of Freshwater Sciences, at Northey Farms in Deerfield, Wisconsin, a fish farm that uses both outdoor ponds and a recirculating aquaculture system to raise yellow perch.

Freimuth got a crash course in farm management. He developed a system for interns to track daily water quality, allocate tasks, and communicate with the farm owner. “I feel good about the work,” said Freimuth. “I was able to see all the little things that we were able to do to better care for the fish.”

Another set of interns kept busy learning about fish care and nutrition in the lab of Wisconsin Sea Grant aquaculture outreach and extension specialist Dong-Fang Deng. Interns worked on various tasks, including cleaning tanks, sorting fish, and pursuing individual projects, which ranged from the effects of microplastics on fish growth to incorporating novel ingredients like black soldier fly oil and soy cake into fish food.

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As part of Melissa Scanlan’s Water Consulting course, these students, along with Stephanie Gruenloh and Franco Ferrante partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to produce “Rising Waters, Rising Costs,” a report examining the human and environmental impact of urban flooding, including historically underserved neighborhoods like Metcalfe Park.

Their research highlights:

• Climate-driven flood risks
• Inequities in FEMA mapping
• The importance of green infrastructure
• The financial toll of inaction

We’re proud to see SFS students applying science to real-world applications — and getting recognized on a national platform for it!

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The video was shared during both commencement ceremonies on Sunday, May 18 to a packed 51ÁÔĆć Panther Arena.

Watch the .

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“This course is a bridge from graduate school into the workforce,” said Professor Melissa Scanlan, who leads the program. “Students work in teams to develop consulting skills, meet with industry professionals, and produce research with direct policy relevance.” 

This spring, students comprised two teams—the Shoreline Team and the Flood Team —each tackling distinct but interconnected topics to Wisconsin’s communities. Both teams collaborated closely with WDNR staff to craft reports to inform the agency’s planning, permitting, and public engagement efforts.Ěý

Great Lakes Shoreline Identification AnalysisĚý

The Shoreline Team took on a deceptively simple question: where exactly was Wisconsin’s Great Lakes shoreline when it became a state in 1848? 

Under Wisconsin Act 247, a 2023 law regulating the use of “longstanding fill” on Great Lakes lakebeds, this question has taken on new importance.    

Graduate students Elizabeth Modahl, Daniel Wroblewski, Dan Vrobel, and Mutadhid (Avid) Al Obaidi produced their report to navigate this issue. Their goal was to build a flexible, data-driven framework to approximate the statehood-era shoreline—supporting the WDNR’s legal responsibilities while protecting the public’s access to coastal waters. 

The students’ research blended historical lake level data, digital elevation modeling, and analysis of how other Great Lakes states define public trust boundaries. Using digital elevation modeling, they demonstrated how even slight changes in water levels can dramatically shift the shoreline, with visualizations illustrating how these shifts can move the boundary of public trust lands by dozens of feet. “We found no single method works across all landscapes and there are huge gaps in data from 1848,” said Elizabeth Modahl. “The team concluded that shoreline boundaries are best established on site on a case-by-case basis, drawing from the best data available in each location, particularly where historical maps or topography vary,” she added. 

A key takeaway from their comparative research is that no other Great Lakes state has a law like Act 247 and is attempting to identify statehood-era shorelines for current regulatory purposes.

Rising Waters, Rising Costs: Understanding Flood Risk, Insurance, & the Price of Inaction 

The Flood Team examined the evolving landscape of flood risk in Wisconsin—where intensified storms, outdated infrastructure, and environmental inequities are converging to create a perfect storm of vulnerability across the state. 

Graduate students Joe McCormack, Cami Armendariz, Frank Ferrante, Evelyn Grimm, and Stephanie Gruenloh focused their work on the growing risks posed by increasingly frequent and severe rainfall events. Using a mix of ecological, infrastructure, and socioeconomic data, the team observed Wisconsin’s flood-prone areas, paying special attention to neighborhoods outside FEMA-designated flood zones where flood risk is high, but insurance coverage is rare.  

“These gaps in coverage are often tied to long-standing systemic inequalities in income, housing, and access to information,” according to Cami Armendariz. The team provided side-by-side comparisons of the National Flood Insurance Program and private market policies, pointing out where coverage gaps and confusion still leave many Wisconsinites vulnerable. Their report offers recommendations for where the WDNR can take a more active role in encouraging mitigation strategies that reduce flood risk.    

“We truly appreciate the enthusiasm and the hundreds of hours the students dedicated to these projects. Their recommendations are thought-provoking, and the WDNR looks forward to reviewing them further and taking forward what we can for implementation,” said Michael Thompson, WDNR Southeast Secretary’s Director. 

Is your organization interested in being a client for an upcoming Water Consulting course? Contact Professor Melissa Scanlan at waterpolicy@uwm.edu to discuss whether your research needs would be a good fit. 

Written by Cami Armendariz, Water Policy and Science Communications Fellow, UW-Milwaukee Center for Water Policy 

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was titled “Seasonally-Dependent Stratification of Temperature and Conductivity in the Milwaukee Harbor.” His faculty mentor was Dr. Russell Cuhel, who was nominated as a great undergraduate research mentor.

was done within the Geosciences department in the College of Letters & Science. Her research was titled “Geological Process Drawings,” which focused on taking several geological diagrams and update them to be visually appealing and understandable for students.

Congrats to our stellar undergraduate research student presenters and finalists! And special congrats to Dr. Cuhel!

Freshwater Sciences and Atmospheric Science presenters: Kade Barkas, Grant Probst, Britta McKinnon, Kaitlyn Suchomel, Miles Carson, Nyla Connell, Kayla Peirick

Read more on each presentation on the .

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Spoiler: you don’t have to be a Freshwater Sciences major to take some of these courses! Some of them are Natural Science GER courses, open to anyone.

1. Ichthyology (FRSHWTR 511)

Get to know the fishes.

From tiny minnows to massive sturgeon, this course dives into the diverse biology of fishes focusing on behavioral, biomechanical, genetic, and physiological adaptions to diverse ecological systems. Whether you’re into research, conservation or just really love fish, this one’s for you.

• 3 credits, Mondays 11:30am-2:20pm at the School of Freshwater Sciences (not on main campus)
• Instructor: Brandon Gerig
• Prerequisites: junior standing and BIO SCI 152, consent of instructor, or graduate standing

2. From Feed to Fish: Science and Innovation (Special Topics) [UG: FRSHWTR 300, G: FRSHWTR 650G]

Where aquaculture meets health, science, and sustainability.

Dive into the science behind what fish eat—and why it matters. This course connects fish nutrition, physiology, and health to big-picture issues like sustainable aquaculture, ecosystem monitoring, and even human medicine. You’ll explore how feed impacts fish growth, immune function, and seafood quality, while also learning how fish serve as environmental bioindicators and biomedical models. A perfect fit for students interested in food systems, conservation, and cutting-edge research.

• 3 credits, Mondays 11:30am-2:20pm on main campus (one lab Saturday, October 4, 9am-5pm)
• Instructor: Dong-Fang Deng
• Prerequisites: BIO SCI 150 and CHEM 102, consent of instructor, or graduate standing

3. Elements of Water (FRSHWTR 101)

The science behind Earth’s most vital resource.

From drinking water to droughts, this course breaks down the role of freshwater in our world. You’ll explore how water supports life, shapes economies, and drives climate—plus what happens when the cycle is disrupted. No science background necessary—just curiosity and a desire to understand today’s most important resource. This is a core course within the Freshwater Sciences BS program. It’s also a Natural Science GER course! Fulfill your NS credit requirements with this unique course!

• 3 credits, Tuesday/Thursdays 10-11:15am on main campus
• Instructor: Sandra McLellan
• No prerequisites!

4. Survey of Meteorology (ATM SCI 100)

Understand the science behind the skies.

From sunny days to severe storms, this course unpacks how weather works and why it matters. You’ll learn to read weather maps, decode forecasts, and explore phenomena like tornadoes, cyclones, and climate trends. Includes a hands-on lab—no science background needed, just an interest in the world around you. This is a Natural Science GER course that fulfills the lab requirement. Open to anyone!

• 3 credits, Mondays/Wednesdays 10:30-11:20am in-person lecture on main campus OR asynchronous online lecture and in-person or online lab options
• Instructor: George Duffy
• No prerequisites!

5. Thunderstorms, Tornadoes and Hurricanes (ATM SCI 109)

Go inside the storm.

Explore how and why nature’s most extreme weather events form. From towering thunderstorms to devastating hurricanes, this course breaks down the atmospheric conditions that fuel them. Learn the science behind the storm systems that shape headlines (and history). This is a Natural Science GER course. Fulfill your NS credit requirements with this course!

• 3 credits, Online course
• Instructor: George Duffy
• No prerequisites!

6. The Origin, Composition, and Structure of Planetary Atmospheres (ATM SCI 110)

What makes a planet… a planet?

Travel through our solar system to explore how planets—and their atmospheres—form and evolve. From Earth to Jupiter, you’ll compare the chemistry, structure, and origins of planetary atmospheres, and uncover what makes each world unique. No rocket science required—just curiosity.

• 3 credits, Online course
• Instructor: James Frederick

So, which courses will you dive into?

These just barely scratch the surface of all the great courses offered within Freshwater Sciences and Atmospheric Science. Check out our to see what else will be offered!

Fall enrollment appointments have already began and your appointments will differ depending on your grade. If you haven’t already spoken with your academic advisor, we highly encourage you to do so and sign up for classes as soon as you are able to. Classes will fill up! Happy class shopping!

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