Researchers from Grand Valley State University's Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI) are reaping a bumper crop of grant awards this summer. In total, AWRI researchers have received $1.5 million dollars in federal, state, and private funding over the past two months.
Selected highlights include:
• 2 National Science Foundation grant
awards to Ryan Thum, AWRI's molecular ecologist, to purchase a gene
sequencer ($275,000) and examine the affects of the spread of a
problematic, invasive aquatic plant in Michigan ($135,000)
•
$122,750 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Gun Lake
Tribe to Carl Ruetz, AWRI's fishery biologist, to assess lake sturgeon
in the Kalamazoo and Grant Rivers
• 2 grants from the Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality to Rick Rediske to study benthic
invertebrates in the White Lake Area of Concern ($53,210) and to
examine how toxins released from blue-green algae are affected by the
application of algaecides
• $67,735 from the Michigan Department of
Environmental Quality to Ryan Thum to continue his work on how to
control invasive aquatic plants
In addition, AWRI will be doing the scientific monitoring as part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) habitat restoration project in Muskegon Lake. The labs of Alan Steinman and Ruetz will receive $215,000 for this work. Also, contributions from a private donor will allow AWRI to establish a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in order to work exclusively on water quality problems facing the Muskegon region.
These grants will result in new jobs, provide cutting-edge training opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students, and enable AWRI to meet its mission of integrating research, education, and outreach to enhance and preserve freshwater resources.
For media interviews contact: Alan Steinman, AWRI Director, (616) 331-3749.
About the Annis Water Resources Institute:
The Robert B. Annis
Water Resources Institute (AWRI) is a multidisciplinary research
organization committed to the study of freshwater resources. The
mission of the institute is to integrate research, education, and
outreach to enhance and preserve freshwater resources. More
information is available online at www.gvsu.edu/wri.
