New graduate fellowship established to support fisheries

SPIRIT LAKE — A new endowed graduate fellowship has been created to advance research in fisheries biology, water quality and watershed management within the Iowa Great Lakes ecosystem.

The Edward Thelen Graduate Fellowship in Fisheries Biology and Water Science Research will provide funding and field opportunities for graduate students to conduct hands-on research in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, operated by the University of Iowa.

Funded through private donors, the fellowship honors Edward Thelen’s career and contributions to the Iowa DNR, where he dedicated his life’s work to maintaining, protecting, and enhancing Iowa’s fisheries and aquatic habitat.

The program will be jointly supported by the Iowa DNR’s Fisheries Bureau and the Iowa Lakeside Lab, combining field expertise, scientific rigor and local stewardship to address the most pressing fisheries and ecological questions in the Iowa Great Lakes region.

“This fellowship represents a remarkable opportunity to attract the brightest graduate students to our unique and valuable ecosystem,” said Mike Hawkins, NW Regional Fisheries Management supervisor with the Iowa DNR.

“The Iowa Great Lakes are not only a natural treasure for our state but also a living laboratory for understanding aquatic systems. This program ensures that future scientists will have the resources, mentorship and access they need to continue protecting these waters for generations to come.”

The Iowa Lakeside Lab, located on the shores of West Okoboji Lake, has long served as a hub for research, education and outreach in the region.

“By pairing the strengths of the DNR’s field programs with the academic resources of Lakeside Lab, this fellowship will give graduate students unparalleled opportunities to conduct impactful research,” said Mary Skopec, executive director of Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.

“It’s an investment not just in science, but in the future health and sustainability of our lakes, rivers, and watersheds.”

Focus on the Iowa Great Lakes Ecosystem Participants in this new program will engage in projects addressing topics such as fish population dynamics, invasive species management, water quality monitoring and watershed health. Research outcomes will inform conservation and management strategies for the Iowa Great Lakes and other freshwater systems in the Midwest.

Graduate students pursuing degrees in fisheries biology, aquatic ecology, environmental science or related fields are encouraged to apply by contacting Andrew Carlson, Fisheries Biologist at the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery by emailing him at andrew.carlson@dnr.iowa.gov.