People in the Lab
David Costello
Dave received his BS from Hobart College in 2004 and his PhD from the University of Notre Dame in 2009. After finishing his PhD, Dave was a postdoc at the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources & Environment. Broadly, Dave is interested in how human activities affect the functioning of rivers and streams. Current interests include expanding our perspective on limiting nutrients beyond N and P, understanding whole-ecosystem effects of contaminants, and developing techniques for studying streams at a global scale.
Google Scholar page
CV (updated Aug 2020)
Taylor Michael - PhD Student
My research interests focus on how aquatic invertebrate communities and nutrient biogeochemistry intersect. My current research looks at how benthic invertebrates (specifically bioturbating invertebrates) modulate sediment oxygen availability and sediment-surface water nutrient exchange and transformation processes. This work takes place in the Great Lakes and their surrounding coastal wetlands. I am broadly interested in aquatic ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry at ecosystem interfaces.
Taylor Michael - PhD Student
My research interests focus on how aquatic invertebrate communities and nutrient biogeochemistry intersect. My current research looks at how benthic invertebrates (specifically bioturbating invertebrates) modulate sediment oxygen availability and sediment-surface water nutrient exchange and transformation processes. This work takes place in the Great Lakes and their surrounding coastal wetlands. I am broadly interested in aquatic ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry at ecosystem interfaces.
Renn Schipper - PhD Student
Renn received his BS in 2020 and MS in 2021 from Michigan Technological University while being a part of the Marcarelli Aquatic Biogeochemistry Lab, as well as a short stint in the Paterson Ecotoxicology Lab. Broadly, Renn is interested in how streams and rivers are affected by the terrestrial systems that surround them as well as the nutrient cycling that happens within the aquatic systems. Current interests include examining the linkages between autotrophs and heterotrophs within stream biofilms, the ecological stoichiometry of biofilms with respect to trace nutrients/metals, and the effects of trace metal limitation on nitrogen cycling.
Renn Schipper - PhD Student
Renn received his BS in 2020 and MS in 2021 from Michigan Technological University while being a part of the Marcarelli Aquatic Biogeochemistry Lab, as well as a short stint in the Paterson Ecotoxicology Lab. Broadly, Renn is interested in how streams and rivers are affected by the terrestrial systems that surround them as well as the nutrient cycling that happens within the aquatic systems. Current interests include examining the linkages between autotrophs and heterotrophs within stream biofilms, the ecological stoichiometry of biofilms with respect to trace nutrients/metals, and the effects of trace metal limitation on nitrogen cycling.
Olufemi Akinnifesi - PhD Student
Olufemi completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nigeria where he researched heavy metals and water quality of an urban stream system. His current interest focuses on trophic interactions of macroinvertebrates and stream biofilm exposed to trace metals. Olufemi hopes that outcomes from this study and similar work hold potentials for better management tools for contaminants in freshwater ecosystems. Outside of core science, he enjoys mixing influences of photography, graphics, or poetry to communicate science.
Talia Pope - Research Technician
Talia co-manages the Kinsman-Costello and Costello labs. She is involved in all the ongoing projects in the lab including field sampling and running all the analytical equipment.
Current undergraduates
Claire Ebner
Ruth Morara
Samuel Large
Kathryn Shrake
Grant Fry
Claire Ebner
Ruth Morara
Samuel Large
Kathryn Shrake
Grant Fry
Lab alums - Graduate students
Jordyn Stoll (PhD 2023) - Aquatic Ecologist at Michigan Trout Unlimited
Raissa Mendonca (PhD 2022) - Research Coordinator for H2Ohio wetland monitoring program
Andi Fitzgibbon (PhD, ABD) - Biologist with US Army Corps of Engineers
Andrew Blinn (MS 2022) - PhD student at University of Georgia
Sean Nussle (MS 2018) - Environmental Specialist at Davey Resource Group
Erik Hartung (MS 2017) - Environmental Scientist at SWCA Environmental Consultants
Lab alums - Undergraduates
Hunter Sopher (BS 2023)
Haley Racioppo (REU 2022) - MS student at Central Arkansas University
Elizabeth Johnson (REU 2022)
Paisley Kostick (NSF REPS Fellow 2022)
Tabitha Ludwiczak (BS 2022)
Anthony Pignatelli (BS 2021) - PhD student at Univeristy of South Carolina
Devan Mathie (BS Honors 2020) - PhD student at Ohio State University
Ali Zahorec (BS 2017) - PhD student at Michigan State University
Jennie Brancho (BS Honors 2017)
Maggie Spangler (REU 2015)
John Brandt (REU 2014)
Jordyn Stoll (PhD 2023) - Aquatic Ecologist at Michigan Trout Unlimited
Raissa Mendonca (PhD 2022) - Research Coordinator for H2Ohio wetland monitoring program
Andi Fitzgibbon (PhD, ABD) - Biologist with US Army Corps of Engineers
Andrew Blinn (MS 2022) - PhD student at University of Georgia
Sean Nussle (MS 2018) - Environmental Specialist at Davey Resource Group
Erik Hartung (MS 2017) - Environmental Scientist at SWCA Environmental Consultants
Lab alums - Undergraduates
Hunter Sopher (BS 2023)
Haley Racioppo (REU 2022) - MS student at Central Arkansas University
Elizabeth Johnson (REU 2022)
Paisley Kostick (NSF REPS Fellow 2022)
Tabitha Ludwiczak (BS 2022)
Anthony Pignatelli (BS 2021) - PhD student at Univeristy of South Carolina
Devan Mathie (BS Honors 2020) - PhD student at Ohio State University
Ali Zahorec (BS 2017) - PhD student at Michigan State University
Jennie Brancho (BS Honors 2017)
Maggie Spangler (REU 2015)
John Brandt (REU 2014)