Jennifer A.H. Koop, Principal Investigator (she/her)
Associate Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Northern Illinois University
1425 W. Lincoln Hwy
DeKalb, IL 60115
jkoop [@] niu [dot] edu

Research Interests: Host-parasite interactions; invasive parasite ecology; evolution; population genetics; conservation; avian biology; animal behavior

Education and Training
Assistant Professor, 2015-2019, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Post-doctoratal NIH fellowship, 2011-2014, University of Arizona
Ph.D. in Biology, 2011, University of Utah
B.S. in Zoology, 2004, University of Wisconsin

Elise Jordahl, M.S. Student

Hi, I’m Elise! I’m from Fargo, North Dakota, and I graduated from Bemidji State University in May of 2023 with a B.S. in Wildlife Biology. My Research is on the survival of the Metacercarial life stage of Sphaeridiotrema spp. and Cyathocotyle bushiensis Trematodes after their host, the Faucet Snail (Bithynia tentaculata), has died. I got my start in the wildlife field with birds, before gradually switching into a parasite and disease focus (I’m still a huge bird nerd though)! When I have free-time, I enjoy drawing, hiking, playing video games, reading, and playing with plants.

Scott Herman, M.S. Student

Hi, my name is Scott Herman, I grew up in a Northwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois where I spent my free time outdoors. I completed my undergraduate education at Purdue University where I earned two B.S. degrees in Wildlife and Aquatic Sciences with a Fisheries concentration. Post-graduation I earned a graduate certificate in Waterfowl Habitat and Recreation Management at University of Arkansas Monticello. While attending school in Arkansas I guided clients on duck hunts and conducted waterfowl research at Five Oaks Agriculture Research and Education Center. I am a naturalist by trade and have a strong background in habitat management. I will be working on research focused on the spring migration of lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) in the Illinois River Valley and Upper Mississippi River. More broadly my research interest includes waterfowl ecology in the Great Lakes Region and Upper Mississippi River. 

Tristan Chavez-Poeschel, PhD student,
I am originally from Panama City, Panama but grew up in Wisconsin.  I am a US Army veteran and received my undergraduate degree in biology from The University of Texas at El Paso, along with a Masters in Environmental Science.  I have had the opportunity to conduct research in the Arctic, Desert Southwest, and now temperate regions.  My research interests include population genetics, aquatic ecosystems, conservation, and anthropogenic impacts on wildlife and habitats.  The focus of my research will be investigating patterns of dispersal of the invasive Faucet snail (Bithynia tentaculata) and trematode parasites (Sphaeridiotrema spp. and Cyathocotyle bushiensis) from source populations in Europe to habitats in North America, using molecular methods.  I enjoy hiking, traveling, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.  

Active Lab Members (not shown)
Ben Lunaburg (undergraduate, Environmental Studies)
Josh Nelson (undergraduate Biology)
​Anthony Hanks (undergraduate, Biology)
Gabe Reynolds (undergraduate, Environmental Studies)
​Katelin Wolken-Wright (undergraduate, Biology)

Former Lab All-Stars
​Cheyenne Beach, PhD student
Alex Medina, B.S. Biology
​Kathryn McCabe, M.S. Biology, Class of 2024
Grant Hattendorf, B.S. Biology, Class of 2024
​Michael Yager, B.S. Biology, Class of 2023​
Lorena Flores, B.S. Biology, Class of 2024
Ethan Dye, B.S. Environmental Studies, Class of 2023
Richelle Watson, summer research assistant, B.S. Biology
Jacob Sachs, B.S. Biology, Class of 2023
Grace Lunaburg, B.S. Biology, Class of 2023
Ashton Johnson, B.S. Biology, Class of 2023
Carly Crow, M.S. Biology, Class of 2022
Emma Grindle, M.S. Biology, Class of 2022
Michaela (Misha) Plagwitz, B.S. Biology, Class of 2021
Alexis Traylor, B.S. Biology, Class of 2022
​Amanda Biesk, B.S. Biology, Class of 2022
Mikayla Gorzeman-Mohr (undergraduate, Biological Sciences)
Ikea Henderson (undergraduate, Biological Sciences)
Jessica Mathew, B.S. Biology, Class of 2022
Jasmine Mathew, B.S. Biology, Class of 2022
Chiedu Okonmah, B.S. Biology, Class of 2021
Rebecca Bachtel, M.S. Biology, UMassD, Class of 2020 
Angel Depuy, B.S. Environmental Studies, Class of 2020
Nicholas Foster, B.S. Environmental Studies, Class of 2020
Steven Rudzitis, B.S. Biology, UMassD, Class of 2020
Harrison Tobi, M.S. Biology, UMassD, Class of 2019
​Nicole Sardelis, B.S. Biology, UMassD, Class of 2020
Arielle Enos, B.S. Biology, UMassD
Alana McGraw, B.S. Biology, UMassD
Mallory Keirnan, B.S. Biology, UMassD, Class of 2020
​Joseph Cronan, B.S. Biology, UMassD, Class of 2019
Gretchen Johnson, Summer REU Student
Stephanie Almeida,  B.S. Biology, Graduated UMassD Class of 2017
Madison Bailey-Schofield, B.S. Biology and B.A. English, UMassD, Class of 2017
Allison Cambra, B.S. Biology, UMassD, Class of 2017
Kaci Dumas, B.A. Graphic Design, UMassD, Class of 2016
Jillian Reichert, B.S. Biology, UMassD Class of 2018
Suzanne Sussman, B.S. Biology, UMassD Class of 2017

Interested??  
If you are interested in learning more about the lab, please contact me at jkoop [@] niu [dot] edu.  If you are an undergraduate interested in joining the lab, please send me a brief statement of your research interests and how they relate to my lab, your current GPA, and your undergraduate major.  If you are a potential graduate student interested in joining the lab, please provide me with your CV inlcuding a list of relevant coursework,  a writing sample, and a brief statement of your research interests. ***Please note that at this time I am only accepting PhD students and Postdocs***