Michael Murray

Michael Murray is a Lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences at the College of Science and Mathematics, with additional affiliations in the College of Allied Health Sciences and the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, supporting the Masters in Public Health program. His academic work bridges environmental science and public health, emphasizing water resources and ecological sustainability.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Water Resources Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1996
• M.S. in Water Resources Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1987
• B.S. in Geological/Geophysical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1982

Dr. Murray's research focuses on pressing environmental challenges, including eutrophication in the Great Lakes, environmental cycling of PFAS, ecological indicators, and sustainability across societal sectors. His teaching encompasses environmental biology, aquatic sciences, air pollution, and environmental policy, reflecting his interdisciplinary expertise. He has taught courses such as BIOL 1102 (Environmental Biology) and its laboratory component.

His recent publications highlight long-term stressors like climate change on Great Lakes fisheries, the re-eutrophication of Lake Erie due to harmful algal blooms, and stakeholder-driven agricultural conservation strategies. These works reflect a strong trend toward applied environmental problem-solving, integrating ecological science with policy and community engagement.

Scientific Awards:

• 2022 Honor or Award (unspecified)
• 2018 Honor or Award (unspecified)
• 1993 Honor or Award (unspecified)
• 1990 Honor or Award (unspecified)

Dr. Murray has contributed significantly to scholarship in environmental science, particularly in the areas of water quality and ecological risk assessment. While no formal advising or grant activities are detailed in the text, his publications and teaching indicate sustained scholarly engagement. He has authored or co-authored key works on mercury assessments and wildlife indicators, contributing to frameworks used in ecological monitoring and policy development.

His work is closely tied to large-scale environmental systems, particularly the Laurentian Great Lakes, and he emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches that link engineering, ecology, and public health. Though no formal lab or research team is mentioned, his research themes suggest collaboration across environmental science, public health, and policy domains.