Katherine Johnson

I am a PhD student in Dr. Evelyn Gaiser's Aquatic Ecology Lab at Florida International University. I study living algae in periphyton mats for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. It's wonderful being part of a group that wants to make the world a better place...and with algae!

My love of diatoms stems from past work for a non-profit organization (www.phinizycenter.org) that conducts continuous monitoring along the Savannah River. Exploring diatom assemblages in the Savannah River to better understand water quality led me to pursue a master's degree at Georgia College & State University with the amazing Dr. Kalina Manoylov! Before training under her, I remember going into her office to ask about some diatom identifications. I brought my notebook full of notes and VERY bad hand drawings. Ha! She was patient and politely encouraged me to take both the diatoms and soft algae courses at Iowa Lakeside Lab (highly recommend). From there, my interest in diatoms and soft algae grew more and more.

The beauty of soft algae and the morphological plasticity of diatom species like Gomphonema taxa continue to draw me in. I could spend a lifetime studying and appreciating these tiny organisms and I am so glad they found me!