Itasca Welcomes New Station Biologist

January 22, 2016
Lesley Knoll brings a background in aquatic ecology to her new role as the field station's resident expert. 

Lesley Knoll

Lesely Knoll stands by a snow-covered Lake Itasca earlier this month.


Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories' new station biologist Lesley Knoll took up her post earlier this month. Previously, Knoll served as director of research and education at Lacawac Sanctuary Field Station in Lake Ariel, PA. Her research focuses on aquatic ecology with an emphasis on how global change through land use and climate change control aquatic ecosystem function.

Knoll received her master's degree from Michigan State University in fisheries and wildlife studying zebra mussels and toxic cyanobacteria in dozens of Michigan lakes. She spent two years as a manager in an aquatic ecology lab and completed her doctorate at Miami University in Ohio, where studied how watershed land use and lake productivity influences lake carbon and nutrient fluxes.

In her new role, Knoll will teach in the Nature of Life program, develop an aquatic ecology course for the field biology program, support the day-to-day operations of the station and pursue her own research. “Itasca has a long, rich history as a field station and also has great new programs and facilities,” says Knoll. “I enjoy working at field stations because they provide a unique environment for learning about the natural world and they foster interactions, collaborations and experiences that are not possible in the traditional campus setting. I am excited by the chance to be involved at such an active station!”

Faculty and staff interested in connecting with Knoll can reach her at LBKnoll@umn.edu.


“I enjoy working at field stations because they provide a unique environment for learning about the natural world."