Embedded Files
Meet the researchers behind the Stoll Applied Aquatic Ecology Lab
Meet the Lab
Meet the Lab
The Stoll Applied Aquatic Ecology Lab is a collaborative and student-centered research group at Grand Valley State University. Our team brings together students, faculty, conservation practitioners, and community partners to investigate freshwater ecosystems and apply ecological research to real-world conservation and management challenges.
Meet Jordyn.
Meet Jordyn.
Dr. Jordyn Stoll
Dr. Jordyn Stoll
Assistant Professor of Environmental Science
Grand Valley State University
Dr. Jordyn Stoll is an aquatic ecologist whose research examines how nutrients, physical habitat, and human activities shape freshwater ecosystems. Her work spans lakes and streams, with particular interests in algal ecology and harmful algal blooms, macro- and micronutrient limitation, coldwater stream ecology and restoration, cyanotoxins, and groundwater–surface water interactions.
Jordyn earned her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Kent State University, where her research investigated how macro- and micronutrient availability influences algal community composition and ecosystem function. Her research has taken her from the Laurentian Great Lakes to Lake Victoria, Kenya, while her current work focuses heavily on freshwater ecosystems throughout Michigan.
A central goal of the Stoll Lab is connecting ecological research with practical freshwater conservation and management. Jordyn works closely with students, conservation organizations, natural resource professionals, and other researchers to develop applied research that addresses pressing questions facing freshwater ecosystems.
Ph.D., Ecology & Evolutionary Biology — Kent State University
B.S., Environmental Science & Biology — Cleveland State University
Undergraduate Researchers
Undergraduate researchers are integral members of the Stoll Lab and contribute to all stages of the research process. Students develop independent research skills while working collaboratively on projects addressing real-world questions in aquatic ecology, conservation, and freshwater management.
Meet Clemmie.
Meet Clemmie.
Clementia “Clemmie” Kelly
Clementia “Clemmie” Kelly
Natural Resource Management & Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences | Class of 2028
Research: Coldwater Stream Ecology & Stormwater Bioretention Cell Functionaility
Clemmie studies the ecological condition of coldwater streams across Southwest Michigan, integrating physical habitat, water quality, and biological assessments to better understand the characteristics of healthy stream ecosystems. She is also beginning a project investigating how bioretention cells influence stormwater temperatures and the delivery of warm surface water to small coldwater streams during storm events.
Meet Caitlyn.
Meet Caitlyn.
Caitlyn Sojka
Caitlyn Sojka
Natural Resource Management | GIS Certificate | Class of 2027
Research: Algal Community Ecology & Nutrient Limitation
Caitlyn studies nutrient limitation in marl lakes across Michigan’s Leelanau region, with a focus on how algal community composition responds to differences in nutrient availability. Her research uses nutrient-diffusing substrate experiments to examine how macro- and micronutrients shape benthic algal communities across lakes with distinct environmental conditions.
Meet Keely.
Meet Keely.
Keely Carlson
Keely Carlson
Biology — Ecology & Evolutionary Biology | Class of 2028
Research: Riparian Vegetation & Stream Habitat
Keely investigates relationships between riparian vegetation and in-stream habitat condition in streams. Her research examines how the composition and structure of streamside vegetation relate to in-stream physical habitat characteristics, helping identify connections between riparian condition and the ecological health of stream ecosystems.
Meet Zoe.
Meet Zoe.
Zoe Gondeck
Zoe Gondeck
Biology | Class of 2027
Research: Molecular Aquatic Community Ecology
Zoe is expanding the Leelanau marl lakes nutrient-limitation study using amplicon sequencing to characterize microbial and algal community composition. Her project complements Caitlyn’s microscopy-based assessment by applying molecular approaches to investigate how communities respond to experimental macro- and micronutrient additions, providing a more comprehensive picture of nutrient-driven community change.
Meet Christian.
Meet Christian.
Christian Prinzevski
Christian Prinzevski
Wildlife Biology | GIS Certificate | Class of 2029
Research: Coldwater Stream Assessment
Christian studies the ecological condition of coldwater streams across Southwest Michigan, examining relationships among stream habitat, water quality, and biological communities. As a 2026 Michigan Sea Grant Summer Fellow, he contributed to extensive field assessments designed to identify factors associated with healthy coldwater ecosystems and support future conservation and restoration efforts.
Collaboration Is Central to Our Science
Collaboration Is Central to Our Science
Applied aquatic ecology requires collaboration across disciplines and organizations. The Stoll Lab works with university researchers, conservation organizations, natural resource professionals, and community partners to develop research questions, share expertise, and translate ecological data into meaningful conservation and management outcomes.
Our collaborations provide students with opportunities to see how ecological research moves beyond the university and contributes to real-world environmental decision-making.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse