معرفی
Timothy Hoellein, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Loyola University Chicago (LUC) within the School of Environmental Sustainability. He holds a PhD from the University of Notre Dame (2008) and specializes in aquatic ecology, focusing on ecosystem processes, biogeochemistry, and anthropogenic impacts such as microplastic pollution and litter dynamics. His research spans urban rivers, estuaries, and Great Lakes ecosystems, addressing nutrient cycling, invasive species effects, and citizen-science applications.
Key research themes include: 1) Microplastic and litter ecology in rivers and lakes, exploring their transport, microbial interactions, and human impacts; 2) Biogeochemical roles of bivalves (e.g., mussels, oysters) in nutrient removal; 3) Collaborative citizen-science projects analyzing Great Lakes beach litter using Alliance for the Great Lakes data. Hoellein’s work bridges ecological science with art, creating installations from collected litter to highlight environmental issues.
He advises graduate and undergraduate students on projects like microplastic in fish, urban stream restoration, and microbial communities on plastics. His lab, the Hoellein Aquatic Ecology Lab, emphasizes fieldwork and interdisciplinary approaches. Hoellein teaches ecology, aquatic ecology, and research methods at LUC.
