Ai Nihongi

Dr. Ai Nihongi is an Adjunct Scientist at the School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a Biology Instructor at Milwaukee Area Technical College. She also served as a postdoctoral fellow at Skidaway Institute of Oceanography and worked at Discovery World as an associate scientist. Her research focuses on zooplankton ecology, oil spill impacts, and invasive species management in aquatic environments.

Education:

• BSc in Marine Biology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology (2000)
• PhD in Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2006)

Research Interests: Dr. Nihongi investigates planktonic crustacean behaviors, the effects of environmental stressors (e.g., oil spills), and invasive species dynamics. She collaborates with microbiologists, physicists, and mathematicians to advance aquatic ecosystem understanding.

Grants & Projects:

• LED two EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants for developing optical systems to monitor invasive species in ballast water.
• Member of the DROPPS I and II Consortium studying Gulf of Mexico oil spill impacts on zooplankton.

Professional Background: Holds certifications in high school biology teaching and natural history museum curation (Japan). Her work bridges research, education, and public engagement through institutions like Discovery World.