Amy M. Marcarelli

Amy M. Marcarelli is a Professor of Biological Sciences and Director of the Ecosystem Science Center & Aquatic Analysis (AQUA) Shared Facility at Michigan Technological University. She holds a PhD from Utah State University and a BA from Colgate University. Her research focuses on biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem processes in freshwater habitats, including streams, rivers, wetlands, and Great Lakes littoral zones. She integrates basic and applied approaches to study nutrient dynamics, invasive species management, and restoration ecology.

Her research spans four key areas: nitrogen fixation-denitrification interactions, stream-lake-watershed linkages, restoration impacts on aquatic systems, and cross-habitat resource subsidies. She has secured major grants, including an NSF CAREER Award, and leads the NSF-funded Aquatic Nitrogen Fixation Research Coordination Network (ANF-RCN). Her work emphasizes spatial and temporal variability in nutrient processes and the role of microbial communities.

Teaching responsibilities include undergraduate and graduate courses in Ecology, Limnology, and professional development. She advises numerous graduate and undergraduate students, many of whom have pursued academic and applied careers in ecology and environmental science. Awards include the NSF CAREER Award and Michigan Sea Grant fellowships.

Key labs and facilities under her direction include the Ecosystem Science Center, Aquatic Analysis Lab, and collaborations with the Large Lakes Observatory and USGS. Current projects include drone-based monitoring of invasive species, microbial fuel cell development, and long-term Great Lakes tributary studies.