Kevin Rose

Kevin Rose is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and holds the Frederic R. Kolleck ’52 Career Development Chair in Freshwater Ecology. He serves as Acting Director of The Darrin Freshwater Institute and Director of The Jefferson Project, leading interdisciplinary research on freshwater ecosystems. His work bridges biology, ecology, biogeochemistry, and computational modeling to understand global environmental change.

• Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology (Miami University, 2011)
• B.A. in International Relations (Lehigh University, 2005)
• B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering (Lehigh University, 2004)

Dr. Rose’s research focuses on how climate change, land use, and anthropogenic stressors alter freshwater ecosystems. His lab, The Global Water Lab, investigates macrosystem dynamics, including aquatic deoxygenation, lake browning, and UV radiation effects. He employs advanced environmental sensors and modeling to forecast ecosystem shifts.

Recent publications highlight aquatic deoxygenation as a planetary boundary threat, climate-driven water clarity changes, and interdisciplinary collaborations. His work spans global lake biogeochemistry, harmful algal blooms, and climate-ozone interactions via the UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel.

Scientific contributions include:

• NSF CAREER grant for freshwater CO2 and oxygen research
• Leadership in UNEP assessments on ozone and plastic pollution
• Development of LakeEnsemblR for ensemble lake modeling

He teaches courses like Global Environmental Change, Biostatistics, and Advanced Topics in Ecology, emphasizing data analysis and ecological literature critique. His lab fosters collaboration, inclusivity, and interdisciplinary training in freshwater science.