Graduate Students
Aaron Coons
Joshua Cary
Brittany Bajo |
Email: acoons42@students.tntech.edu Phone: (937)-564-4003 Originally from Ohio, Aaron earned undergraduate degrees at Hocking College and Ohio University. As an undergraduate, his focus was on stream remediation, particularly regarding acid mine drainage. He completed research projects on macro-invertebrate feeding rates in acidic water and methods of removing dissolved iron from stream water without alkaline additions. During this time he also complimented his education with a variety of work experience. This included working a non-profit organization, the Ohio Division of Wildlife, and the Ohio EPA. In 2016 he moved to Tennessee and worked in Great Smoky Mountains National Park with both the fisheries and wildlife crews. This was followed by a season as the aquatics technician at the National Ecological Observatory Network. In August 2018 he began an M.S. program at Tennessee Tech studying the habitat use of Longnose Darters in Missouri. In his free time, Aaron enjoys hunting, fishing, and hiking with his wife Mallory. Email: jcary42@students.tntech.edu Phone: (301) 537-9568 Josh is a native of Maryland but attended Clemson University where he earned a B.S. in Environmental and Natural Resources (’17). After graduation he worked as a stream restoration project manager for a non-profit in Maryland and a fisheries technician at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Josh started at Tennessee Tech in fall 2019 and is researching the habitat associations of Blotchside Logperch (Percina burtoni) and their potential reintroduction into Abrams Creek. |
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Email: babajo42@students.tntech.edu
Phone: (269)-993-0766 Brittany grew up in rural, southwest Michigan and attended Grand Valley State University where she received her B.S. in Aquatic Biology in 2017. Before jumping back into school, she worked as an aquatic technician for Colorado Parks and Wildlife where she assisted with several endangered and threatened species efforts like the Greenback Cutthroat Trout and the Boreal Toad. In 2018, she accepted a research technician position with the University of Tennessee for the Amphibian Disease Laboratory focusing on chytrid fungus (Bsal) research. She began her M.S. in Fall 2019 here at Tenn Tech where she is currently working on developing a suitable habitat model for freshwater mussels of the Duck River system. In her free time you can find her hiking, fishing, and camping! |
Jack Fetters
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Email: Jfetters@tntech.edu Phone: (513)-255-2226 Originally from Ohio, Jack earned his undergraduate degrees from Hocking College and Eastern Kentucky University. While in school, Jack worked with a private consulting firm researching the affects of coal mining outflows on local streams and rivers of eastern Kentucky. After graduating he worked for 2 years with a private hatchery transporting game fish and assisting customers with pond and lake management techniques. He started as a Technician in spring 2019 assisting Aaron Coons with his research. He began his M.S. in January 2021 and is currently working on a fresh water mussel survey and analysis of the Wolf River. Jack is also working on a comparative water quality study on the Cumberland and Duck Rivers. The purpose of this study is to determine ideal growing conditions for fresh water mussels based on water chemistry and food availability. In is free time, Jack enjoys snorkeling, hiking, mountain biking, and camping! |
Researchers and Staff
Kristin Womble |
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Email: kirwin@tntech.edu Phone: (615)-308-8094 I earned my master's in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2018, and I am currently a Project Coordinator for the Rosenberger lab. My research interests center on freshwater mollusks with a focus on bivalves. I am interested in freshwater mussel distributions and population demographics, especially in under-sampled areas such as small, headwater streams. I also use GIS to conduct spatial analysis on freshwater mussels and their habitat preferences to predict their distributional limitations. In her free time, Kristin enjoys hiking, camping, kayaking, and gardening! |