Ecological Diversity Group

The Ecological Diversity Group or “EDGe Lab” is a collaborative project led by Biological Sciences faculty members Dr. Michael Grove, Dr. Courtney Richmond, and Dr. Nathan Ruhl.  The primary mission of the EDGe Lab is to promote professional development of undergraduate students seeking research-oriented careers.  We accomplish this goal via engaging students in all aspects of real biological research, from study design to publication.  

What would I do in the EDGe Lab?

Students in the EDGe Lab are typically peer-mentored during their first spring semester, participate in guided studies in the field and lab during the summer, partner with faculty to analyze data and test hypotheses during the fall semester, and create/deliver poster/podium presentations during their second spring semester.

What do I get from the EDGe Lab?

Students in the EDGe lab gain research skills that are tailored to their career goals whenever possible, develop a close relationship with a small group of peers and faculty, often earn course-credit, and sometimes earn a pay-check. 

Student Testimonials:

Jessie Torrey (B.S. Biology, May 2020): Being a part of the EDGe lab has helped me improve my scientific writing skills, which will be vital in my career to come. Dr. Ruhl, Dr. Richmond, and Dr. Grove encourage me to take the lead when it comes to my work, but are always supportive every step of the way.

Pranav Patel (B.S. Biology, Dec. 2019): From microscopy to academic poster creation, the broad range of skills the EDGe Lab have taught me are an invaluable foundation for anyone hoping to pursue a career in research. Currently as I look for jobs during my off-year, the skills and demands that many biology careers require have all been taught to me through my time as a member of the EDGe Lab. Additionally, the EDGe Lab is conducive towards becoming invested into the research and taking an active role in its projects. This makes for an amazing learning experience, and something you cannot find in a normal college class.

Bailey Sanders (B.S. Biology, May 2020): Drs. Grove, Richmond, and Ruhl provide a unique support system that I wouldn't trade for the world. If you're interested in applying for graduate school, this lab provides you with a healthy dose of both field and lab work, introducing you to aquatic equipment, techniques, and honing in microscopy skills through zooplankton identification. That being said, be prepared to work independently as well, as you will be assigned to projects with fellow lab mates that offer you a chance to make posters and in some cases, get published. The EDGe Lab has added so much to my academic career, and I wouldn't be where I am today, currently interviewing with graduate programs, if it weren't for this opportunity. Being in this lab has helped me recognize a passion for research, and if you are unsure of what direction you want to go in, I highly recommend considering the EDGe Lab as an option to broaden your knowledge and experience in an interesting and relevant field.  

Caitlyn Czajkowski (B.S. Biology, May 2018): I think some of the most important skills I got from the lab was exposure to field work/collecting samples and recording data in the field….Learning about zooplankton and how to use a zooplankton net was also something that was very useful for me! Also poster making was an ESSENTIAL skill that I would not have learned without the lab! I’ve ended up having to make/edit posters for scientists at the lab I work at and having the previous experience making them really helped me. Along with everything that goes into paper/report writing; which is something I assist with regularly at my lab and am glad I had the experience of researching, gathering sources and science writing. Learning to work with everyone else in the lab was also a key skill that is and will always be a really important ability! The time I spent at the Ruhl lab was invaluable when it came to setting the foundations for skills I continue to build on and use on a daily basis in my career!

Who does research with the EDGe Lab?

Students usually enter the lab as second-semester Sophomores or Juniors but we also consider second semester Freshmen.  The students that get the most out of their experience with the EDGe lab are those that desire a career in ecological or environmental research (either as a lab/field technician or thesis-based graduate school) but many lab members are planning research careers in other areas of biology/science or are clinical-track.

What are we studying in the EDGe Lab?

A major area of study in the EDGe lab is understanding the ecological processes governing seasonal change in the plankton (zooplankton and cyanobacteria) within human-created polymictic reservoirs.  Another area of focus is how ecosystem function and reservoir-management strategies interact to modify resource availability in streams.  We are also active in the development of tools for teaching ecology and environmental science.

Recent publications from the EDGe Lab (undergraduate author in bold):

-        Spicer RL, Lugo A, and Ruhl N.  In Review.  Landform type mediates succession in a hurricane-damaged forest.

-        Ruhl N and Pimenta S.  In Press.  Are Humans Natural? Exploring human-nature relational values over time. Rowan Digital Works: Open Educational Resources

-        Ruhl N and Dobson T.  2019.  Are Humans Natural? Nature relatedness and the American Dream.  Rowan Digital Works: Open Educational Resources, 15.  https://rdw.rowan.edu/oer/15

-        Ruhl N, Haban D, Czajkowski C, Grove M, and Richmond C.  2019. Community composition of zooplankton exported from a shallow polymictic reservoir linked to wind conditions.  PeerJ, 7:e7611.  DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7611

-        Ruhl N and Sullivan N.  2017.  Disturbance-mediated cHAB formation in a small Ohio reservoir.  Lakes and Reservoirs: Research and Management, 22:2, 161-167.  DOI: 10.1111/lre.12172