Katherine D. McMahon

Dr. Katherine D. McMahon is a Professor of Bacteriology and Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She holds academic ranks of Professor since 2013, progressing from Assistant (2003) to Associate (2008) Professor. Her education includes a BS and MS from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a PhD from UC Berkeley. Her research focuses on microbial ecology, biogeochemical cycles, and engineered systems like wastewater treatment, with a strong emphasis on phosphorus cycling in freshwater ecosystems. She leads studies in Lake Mendota and the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON).

Dr. McMahon teaches courses such as Environmental Microbiology (Microbiology 425) and Biological Interactions (Biocore 587). She has received prestigious awards, including the Schlesinger Award (2021), Kellett Mid-Career Award (2018), and Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology (2018). Her lab includes researchers like Shaomei He and graduate students Krys Kibler, Keeley Kuru, and others.

Her articles span microbial ecology, viral dynamics, and environmental engineering, with a focus on methylmercury formation, long-term lake studies, and bioremediation. Grants and advising highlight her leadership in microbial systems research. Her lab’s work integrates metagenomics, sensor networks, and ecological modeling to address global environmental challenges.