Past Graduate Students (date of graduation, current position, and thesis title)

    (note: all theses can be accessed at MSU library: www.lib.montana.edu

  • Ben Triano (MS, 2020), coadvisor with Kevin Kappenman, USFWS, Assessment of Denil Ladders for Fish Passage of Arctic Grayling in the Big Hole River, Montana.
  • Chris Clark, (MS 2019), coadvisor with primary advisor Robert al-Chokhachy-USGS. Biologist, Cramer Fish Sciences, WA. The Influence of Sampling Design on the Characterization of Instream Salmonid Habitat.
  • Kurt Heim, (PhD 2019), Postdoctoral fellow in marine science, SUNY-Stony Brook, NY.  Mechanisms of Rainbow Trout Hybridization with Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout in the Lamar River Drainage, Yellowstone National Park.
  • Kole Stewart, (MS 2016), Biologist, Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Thesis: Use of Otolith Microchemistry to Identify Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout and Lake Trout Natal Origins and Movement Patterns in Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming.
  • Mike Davis, (MS 2016), Associate Director, American Rivers, Central Valley River Restoration, Davis, CA. Thesis: Winter Survival and Habitat as Limiting Factors for Arctic Grayling at Red Rocks National Wildlife Refuge. 
  • David Dockery, (MS 2015), Wild Rivers Consulting, Livingston, MT.  Thesis: Relationships among Swimming Performance, Behavior, Water Velocity, Temperature,  and Body Size for Sauger Sander canadensis, and Longnose Dace Rhinichthys cataractae. 
  • Mariah Mayfield, (MS 2012),  Peace Corps Volunteer, Zambia.  Current: Fishery Biologist, Okanagan-Wenatchee National Forest, Winthrop, WA. Thesis: Limiting Factors for Trout Populations in the Upper Clark Fork River Superfund Site, Montana.  (EPA STAR Fellowship awardee, 2010-2012)
  • Joe Naughton, coadvisor with primary advisor Bob Gresswell, USGS (MS 2012). Fishery Biologist, RECEP Engineering, Missoula, MT.  Thesis:  Salmonid Response to Superfund Remediation in SIlver Bow Creek, Montana. 
  • Ted Sedell, coadvisor with primary advisor Bob Gresswell, USGS (MS 2013).  Fish Habitat Biologist, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, La Grande. Thesis: Predicting the Spatial Distribution of Post-FIre Debris Flows and Potential Consequences to Native Trout in Headwater Stream Networks. 
  • Clint Smith, (MS, 2011) Fishery Biologist, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, Lewistown. Thesis: Assessment of Altered Rearing Environments on Survival and Performance of Hatchery-Reared Trout: Implications for Cutthroat Trout Reintroduction Programs. 
  • Brian Ertel (MS, 2011), Fishery Biologist, Yellowstone National Park. Thesis: Distribution, Movements, and Life History Characteristics of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout in the Upper Yellowstone River Drainage. 
  • Clint Muhlfeld (PhD 2008), Research Aquatic Ecologist, US Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Moutain Science Center, Glacier National Park. Dissertation: Behavioral, Ecological, and Fitness Consequences of Hybridization between Native Westslope Cutthroat Trout and Nonnative Rainbow Trout. 
  • Andy Solcz (MS 2007) Fishery Biologist, Hydroacoustics Technology Inc. (HTI), Seattle, WA. Thesis: Assessment of Culvert Passage of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout in a Yellowstone River Spawning Tributary Using a Passive Integrated Transponder System.
  • Leo Rosenthal (MS 2007) fishery biologist, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Kalispell, MT. Thesis: Evaluation of Distribution and Fish Passage in Relation to Road Culverts in Two Eastern Montana Prairie Streams.
  • Nik Zymonas (MS 2006), research fishery biologist, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Corvallis, OR Thesis: Age Structure, Growth, and Factors Affecting the Relative Abundance of Life History Forms of Bull Trout in the Clark Fork River Drainage, Montana and Idaho. (Winner 2004 Student Writing Contest, American Fisheries Society for his article in Fisheries "Alternative Lifestyles: Bull Trout Strategies in the Northern Rockies")
  • Darin Watschke, (MS 2006), fishery biologist, Beaverhead-Deer Lodge National Forest, Ennis, MT. Thesis: Assessment of Tributary Potential for Wild Rainbow Trout Recruitment in Hebgen Reservoir, Montana. 
  • Clint Sestrich (MS 2005), fishery biologist, Custer-Gallatin National Forest, Livingston, MT. Thesis: Changes in Native and Nonnative Fish Assemblages and Habitat Following Wildfire in the Bitterroot River Basin, Montana. 
  • Beth Bear (MS 2005), fishery biologist, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Laramie, WY. Thesis: Effects of Temperature on Survival and Growth of Westslope Cutthroat Trout and Rainbow Trout: Implications for Conservation and Restoration. 
  • Drake Burford (MS 2005), fishery biologist/stream restoration specialist, Oasis Environmental, Livingston, MT. Thesis: An Assessment of Culverts as Fish Passage Barriers in a Montana Drainage Using a Multi-tiered Approach. 
  • Andrew Munro (PhD 2004), postdoctoral fellow in otolith microchemistry at University of Adelaide, School of Ocean Sciences, Australia. Present position: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Commercial Fisheries Division, Anchorage. Dissertation: Identification of Life History Variation in Salmonids Using Otolith Microchemistry and Scale Patterns: Implications for Illegal Introductions and for Whirling Disease in Missouri River Rainbow Trout.
  • Ryen Aasheim Neudecker (MS 2004), Blackfoot Watershed Restoration Coordinator, Trout Unlimited, Missoula, MT
  • Dan Downing (MS 2000), fishery biologist, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Wisdom, MT
  • Lee Nelson (MS 1999), Native Species Coordinator, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Helena, MT
  • Andrew Bowersox (MS 1998), Syracuse NY high school science teacher
  • Matt Handy (MS 1997), GIS specialist, Trout Unlimited national headquarters, Virginia
  • Carol Endicott (MS 1996), Yellowstone cutthroat trout recovery coordinator, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Livingston MT
  • Cecil Rich (MS 1996), Purdue University PhD, current position: Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico. 
  • Mike Jakober (MS 1995), fishery biologist, Bitterroot National Forest, Sula, MT
  • Steve Dalbey (MS 1994), Regional Fisheries Manager/Supervisor, Montana FWP, Glasgow, MT
  • Jim Magee (MS 1993), Arctic grayling recovery coordinator, Montana FWP, Dillon, MT
  • Sue Ireland (MS 1993), Director of fish and wildlife program, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho