Dr. Michael Flinn

Dr. Michael Flinn, Assistant Professor of Biology is leading a critical part of a new collaborative project to conduct research on water quality and to understand aquatic ecosystems across North America.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded eight universities (Kansas State University, Murray State University, University of Kansas, University of Vermont, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, University of Georgia, University of New Hampshire and Southern Illinois University) $3.3 million to conduct experiments and complete the Stream Consumers and Lotic Ecosystem Rates (SCALER).

Dr. Flinn's research will explore the consequences of removing top predators on community structure and ecosystem function in streams. Dr. Flinn's experiments, which will be conducted 350 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska, will last up to four weeks, and include continuous sampling and manipulation of arctic streams.

Dr. David White

Dr. David White, Professor of Biological Sciences, Director of Hancock Biological Station, and Commonwealth Endowed Chair of Ecosystem Studies, recently received the Outstanding Academy Service Award for his tireless professional efforts and exceptional research contributions to the Kentucky Academy of Sciences. The award was bestowed on Dr. White during the recent KAS meeting in Murray.

For the last six years Dr. White has been a member of the Kentucky Academy of Sciences Governing Board as well as the Editor of the Journal of the KAS. Said one of his colleagues in a nomination letter of support, "David White has been a tremendous asset to our organization. …he has spent many hours working as Editor to make the JKAS a publication that KAS members can read with pride". Dr. White has also worked with BioOne, a non-profit collaboration of biological and environmental scientific research, so that the JKAS may have a professional and easily accessible online presence.

9/22/2011 - Dr. Loganathan edits book on global pollution trends

Dr. Bommanna Loganathan

Dr. Bommanna Loganathan, a Professor within the Department of Chemistry and WSI, jointly edited a book, Global Contamination Trends of Persistent Organic Chemicals, just released by Taylor and Francis Group- CRC Press.

Compiled by an international group of experts, this volume covers the history, present status, and projected future trends of environmental contamination by highly toxic synthetic organic chemicals used in industry, agriculture, and consumer products all over the world. The book provides information that will help students, researchers, legislators, and state and federal agencies, to understand the environmental and biological behavior of these chemicals and to facilitate and development of strategies and practices aimed at protecting the global environment for future generations.

Loganathan, as senior editor and contributing author of this book, appreciates the MSU Committee on Institutional Studies and Research (CISR) for awarding him the 2010-2011 Presidential Fellowship for support in preparing this book for publication.

9/1/2011 - New BIO/WSI Faculty Member

Dr. Paul Gagnon

WSI is pleased to announce the arrival of Dr. Paul Gagnon, a BIO/WSI joint faculty member, who joined Murray State this fall. Dr. Gagnon earned his Ph.D. from Louisiana State University with postdoctoral experience at LSU and the University of Florida. Much of his research focuses on the effects of both natural and human disturbances on wetland and terrestrial plants. Paul served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo, West Africa, and did his master's thesis from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies in a coastal mangrove reserve in Ecuador. This and other experience with international development work make Paul well suited for MSU's growing Sustainability Program.

6/7/2011 - Dr. Loganathan is recognized as a Top Cited Author in Water Chemistry Research in 2007-2011

Dr. Bommanna Loganathan

Dr. Bommanna Loganathan recently received top-cited author award from Elsevier Inc., Amsterdam, The Netherlands for a research article published in Water Research, a Journal of the International Water Association (IWA). Water Research is considered #1 Journal in Water Resources with an Impact Factor of 4.355. His research article on ‘Perfluoroalkyl sulfonates and perfluorocarboxylates in two wastewater treatment facilities in Kentucky and Georgia’ is one of the top 25 most cited in 2007-2011. Full article can be found at Water Research 2007, Volume 41, pages 4611-4620. Dr. Loganathan conducted this study in collaboration with Dr. K. Kannan, Professor, SUNY, Albany and New York State Department of Health and Dr. Kenneth Sajwan, Professor at Savannah State University. Dr. Loganathan states that perfluoroalkylsulfonates and perfluorocarboxylates are emerging new pollutants in the environment and are distributed globally. Environmental behavior, fate and effects of these compounds on wildlife and humans are under investigation.

Dr. Loganathan, Professor of Environmental/ Analytical Chemistry, holds joint appointment with the Department of Chemistry and Watershed Studies Institute, Murray State University. He has published over 100 research articles and several of them have his students as authors/coauthors. To date, his publications were cited over 1400 times in scientific journals and periodicals all over the world. Dr. Loganathan was a recipient of 2007 MSU Alumni Association’s Distinguished Researcher Award, 2010 MSU’s Service Learning Mentor of the Year, 2010 Sandra Flynn Professor of the Year, and the 2010-2011 MSU’s Presidential Research Fellowship Awards.