Ana Morales

Ana Morales (also known as Mindy) is an Associate Professor at the Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory within the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont. She serves as the Associate Dean of Faculty Development and teaches courses in Limnology, Freshwater Algae Ecology, and Environmental Science.

• Ph.D., Iowa State University, 2016
• M.S., Trent University, 2011
• B.S., Florida International University, 2009

Morales' research explores how anthropogenic disturbances like watershed land use and climate change influence algal community dynamics and cyanobacteria blooms in lakes. Her lab combines paleolimnological techniques, ecological modeling, and high-frequency environmental monitoring to study ecosystem-scale processes across temporal and spatial dimensions. She also investigates carbon flux patterns and trace metal stoichiometry in aquatic systems.

Her work integrates experimental manipulations with theoretical frameworks to establish community assembly rules and feedback mechanisms in lake ecosystems. She previously studied organic matter cycling in shallow lakes during her MSc and cyanobacteria bloom phenology in agricultural lakes for her PhD.

As part of her academic profile, Morales is affiliated with the Vermont Limnology Laboratory, where she applies interdisciplinary methods to address freshwater sustainability challenges.