Thomas Binder

Thomas Binder serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife within the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources and directs the Great Lakes Acoustic Telemetry Observation System (GLATOS). Affiliated with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and Hammond Bay Biological Station, his work bridges academic research with practical fishery management across the Great Lakes basin.

His research specializes in acoustic telemetry applications for tracking fish movements and behavior, with core interests spanning freshwater ecology, Great Lakes ecosystem dynamics, and conservation-focused fisheries science. This technology-driven approach enables detailed studies of fish population connectivity, habitat use, and survival patterns critical for sustainable management.

Scientific awards: None documented in available sources.

As GLATOS Director, Binder oversees a collaborative telemetry network deploying acoustic receivers across all five Great Lakes, generating longitudinal movement data used by researchers and management agencies. This infrastructure supports ecosystem-based decision-making through real-time monitoring of key species like lake trout and walleye.