Biography

Michael Twiss is a Yankee who grew up in northern Ontario, became a dual citizen, and arrived at Clarkson in 2002, following a brief tenure at Ryerson University and a post-doctoral fellowship at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. He became engaged with limnology during his baccalaureate when he found out there was a science of the study of lakes (limnology!). Michael has published field work on every Laurentian Great Lake, and the Saint Lawrence River. Current research is focused on winter limnology as well as the development of novel approaches to year-round remote sensing of water quality. Extracurricular activities involve volunteering as an appointee on Great Lakes science advisory boards (US EPA, International Joint Commission), gardening, hunting, cooking, playing hockey, watching Clarkson hockey, and being a minor hockey referee on winter weekends. I like hockey.

Education

Limnology Ph.D. - 1996
Université du Québec – INRS-ETE (Eau)
Botany & Environmental Studies M.Sc - 1989
University of Toronto
Biology & Environmental and Resource Science Hon. B.Sc - 1987
Trent University

Areas of Expertise

Aquatic Biogeochemistry
Aquatic Chemistry
Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River water quality

Courses Taught

Limnology + Lab
Microbiology + Lab
Great Lakes Water Protection
Plant Science of Northern New York
Adirondack Ecology & Environmental Science + Lab

Research Interests

Interactions of microbes with chemicals (nutrients, toxic substances) in lakes and rivers and the use of advanced technologies for assessing phytoplankton community structure and health. Studies focus on the North American Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River ecosystems, and involves work on research vessels and in the laboratory.

Awards

2016, Fulbright Specialist Program, Council for International Exchange of Scholars

2016, Anderson-Everett Award, International Association for Great Lakes Research

2010, Million Dollar Club, Clarkson University

2002, Premier's Research Excellence Award, Province of Ontario

2000, Chandler-Misener Award, International Association for Great Lakes Research

1997, DIALOG II (Dissertations Initiatives for the Advancement of Limnology and Oceanography) Participant, American Society for Limnology and Oceanography

1996, Governor General of Canada Gold Medal for Academic Excellence, Governor General of Canada

1998-1996, NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship, Natural Sciences and Eng. Research Council of Canada

1998-1996, FCAR Postdoctoral Scholarship (declined)

1994-1993, IAGLR Scholarship, International Association for Great Lakes Research

1996-1993, Eco-Research/Green Plan Fellowship, Government of Canada

1993-1991, NSERC/FCAR Postgraduate Scholarship, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/Fonds pour la Formation des Chercheurs et l'Aide a la Recherche, Quebec.

1990-1989, C.S. Mott Foundation-IAGLR Fellowship, International Assoc. for Great Lakes Research

1989, George Burwash Langford Prize, Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Toronto

1989-1988, NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

1986, NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

Grants

Grants (past 7 years)

  1. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation - Invasive Species Rapid Response and Control: Norwood Lake Invasive Watermilfoil Eradication Project, White, D.(PI), J. Martin (Co-PI) and Twiss, M.R. (Co-PI), 2017-2020; $58,554

  2. Great Lakes Research Consortium/New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Great Lakes Program: Mercury Mobilization from Wetlands Along the Upper St. Lawrence River in Support of Ecosystem-Based Management, Twiss, M.R. (PI), Holsen, T.M. (Co-PI), 2017-2019; $20,338.

  3. National Science Foundation: REU Site: Advancing Sustainable Systems and Environmental Technologies to Serve Humanity (ASSETs to Serve Humanity), Rogers, S. (PI), Twiss, M.R. (Co-PI), 2017-2020; $326,138.

  4. Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change – Best in Science: Source-Tracking Mercury (Hg) Mobilization from St. Lawrence River Wetlands, Ridal, J.J. (PI); $99,865 (CAD); Subcontract to Twiss, M.R. = $60,050 (CAD).

  5. New York State Water Research Institute: Support for Student Researchers in the River Environment and Sensor Observational Network Project; Twiss, M.R. (PI), Skufca, J.D. (Co-PI); 2016-2017, $10,000.

  6. New York Sea Grants Great Lakes Action Agenda: Smart Infrastructure to Support Adaptive Management of the St. Lawrence River, Twiss, M.R. (PI), Skufca, J.D. (Co-PI); 2016-2017, $18,630.

  7. National Science Foundation: REU Site: Advancing Sustainable Systems and Environmental Technologies to Serve Humanity (ASSETs to Serve Humanity), Rogers, S. (PI), Twiss, M.R. (Co-PI), 2014-2017; $359,233.

  8. New York State Water Research Institute: Water Quality Assessment using Advanced Technology to Improve Adaptive Management of the St. Lawrence River; Twiss, M.R. (PI), Skufca, J.D. (Co-PI); 2014-2015, $20,000.

  9. University of Michigan Water Center: Environmental and Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Public-Private Partnership Wetland Restoration Projects Benefiting Wildlife in the Great Lakes Watershed; Langen, T.A., (PI), Heintzelman, M. (Co-PI), Welsh, R. (Co-PI), Chandler, D. (Co-PI), Twiss, M.R. (Co-PI), 2013-2015; $390,000.

  10. New York Sea Grant: Investigate the Paradox of Nitrogen Limitation in Nitrate-rich Lake Ontario; Twiss, M.R. (PI), 2013-2014; $10,884.

  11. US Environmental Protection Agency - P3: Utilization of Byproducts from a Solid Waste Landfill for the Sustainable Production of Algae Biodiesel; Powers, SE (PI), Twiss, MR (Co-PI); 2011-2012; $15,000.

  12. New York State Water Research Institute: Two-Dimensional River Model for Predicting Bacterial Contamination of Bathing Beaches in the St. Lawrence River; Twiss, M.R. (PI), Skufca, J.D. (Co-PI); 2011-2012, $20,000.

  13. Development Agency of the North Country: Feasibility Analysis - Utilizing Waste Resources at DANC's Rodman Landfill for Algae Biodiesel Production; Powers, SE (PI), Twiss, MR (Co-PI); 2011, $20,000.

  14. St. Lawrence River Research and Education Fund – New York Power Authority: Comparison of Plankton Dynamics in Nearshore and Main Channel Areas of the St. Lawrence River in Support of a Two-Dimensional Ecosystem Model of Plankton Community Development; Twiss MR (PI), Skufca, JD (Co-PI); 2011-2012; $20,000

  15. ALCOA.  Analytical Services for Biology. Twiss MR (PI); 2010; $500.

  16. St. Lawrence River Research and Education Fund – New York Power Authority: Plankton Dynamics in a Large River System: Investigating Plankton Growth and Grazing Rates in the International Section of the St. Lawrence River, M.R. Twiss (PI); 2008-2009, $19,965.

  17. Raisin River Conservation Authority: Evaluation of Tributary Impacts on St Lawrence River Water Quality in Lake Saint Francois and in the Massena and Cornwall Areas of Concern; Twiss, M.R. (PI); 2008-2009; $7,200.

  18. Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC: Managing Ecosystems of Regulated Rivers and Watersheds: A Conference Series Highlighting 50 years of Hydroelectric Power Development and the Construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway on the International Section of the St. Lawrence River - Economic, Social and Environmental Consequences of the St. Lawrence Seaway; Twiss, M.R. (PI), Heintzelman, M., (Co-PI), Ridal, JJ. (Co-PI); 2009-2010; $10,000.

  19. New York Sea Grant -Winter Assessment of Microbial Biomass And Metabolism: Testing the Importance of Winter Productivity to Summer Hypoxia in Lake Erie R-CE-29; Twiss M.R. (PI) and Wilhelm, S.W. (Co-PI); 2009-2011; $129,129.

Publications

Past 5 Years of Publications

  • Hampton, S. E., & sixty-co-authors. 2017. Ecology under lake ice. Ecology Letters, 20(1), 98-111.
  • Twiss, M.R. and Stryszowska, K.M. 2016. State of emerging technologies for assessing aquatic condition in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River system. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 42:1470-1477.
  • Twiss, M.R.2016. Standardized methods are required to assess and manage microplastic contamination of the Great Lakes system. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 42: 921-925, DOI: 10.1016/j.jglr.2016.07.032.
  • Beall, B.F.N., Twiss, M.R., Smith, D.E, Oyserman, B., Rozmarynowycz, M.J., Binding, C., Bourbonniere, R.A., Bullerjahn, G.S., Palmer, M., Reavie, E.D., Waters, M.K., Woityra, W.C., McKay, R.M.L. 2016. Ice cover extent drives phytoplankton- and bacterial community structure in a large north temperate lake: Implications for a warming climate. Environmental Microbiology, 18: 1704-1719. DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12819
  • Reavie, E., Cai, M., Twiss, M.R, Carrick, H.J., Davis, T., Johengen, T., Gossiaux, D., Smith, D.E., Palladino, D., Burtner, A., and Sgro, G. 2016. Winter–spring diatom production in Lake Erie is an important driver of summer hypoxia. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 42: 608-616. DOI:10.1016/j.jglr.2016.02.015
  • Stryszowska, K.M., Twiss, M.R. and Langen, T.A., 2016. Evaluating Beneficial Use Impairments in wetlands of the Massena Area of Concern using biotic, water quality, and landscape indicators. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 42: 708-716. DOI:10.1016/j.jglr.2016.02.013
  • Silsbe, G.M., Smith, R.E.H., and Twiss, M.R. 2015. Quantum efficiency of phytoplankton photochemistry measured continuously across gradients of nutrients and biomass in Lake Erie (CA, US) is strongly regulated by light but not by nutrient deficiency. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 72(5): 651-660, DOI: 10.1139/cjfas-2014-0365
  • Kring, S.A, Figary, S.E., Boyer, G.L, Watson, S.B. and Twiss, M.R. 2014. Rapid in situ measures of phytoplankton communities using the bbe FluoroProbe: evaluation of spectral calibration, instrument intercompatibility and performance range. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 71(7): 1087-1095, DOI: 10.1139/cjfas-2013-0599.
  • Twiss, M.R., Smith, D.E., Cafferty, E.M., and Carrick, H.J. 2014. Phytoplankton growth dynamics in offshore Lake Erie during mid-winter. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 40: 449–454. DOI: 10.1016/j.jglr.2014.03.010.
  • Kring, S.A., Xia, X., Powers, S.E., and Twiss, M.R. 2013. Crustacean zooplankton in aerated wastewater treatment lagoons as a potential feedstock for biofuel. Environmental Technology, 34: 1973-1981. DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2013.795985
  • Wilhelm, S. W., LeCleir, G.R., Bullerjahn, G.S., McKay, R.M., Saxton, M.A., Twiss, M.R., Bourbonniere, R.A. 2013. Seasonal changes in microbial community structure and activity imply winter production linked to summer hypoxia in a large lake system. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 87(2): 475-485, DOI: 10.1111/1574-6941.12238
  • Binding, C.E., Greenberg, T.A., Bukata, R.P., Smith, D.E. and Twiss, M.R. 2012. The MERIS MCI and its potential for satellite detection of winter diatom blooms on ice-covered Lake Erie. Journal of Plankton Research 34: 569-573. doi: 10.1093/plankt/fbs021
  • Havens, S.M., Hassler, C.S., North, R.L., Guildford, S.L., Silsbe, G., Wilhelm, S.W., and Twiss, M.R. 2012. Iron plays a role in nitrate drawdown by phytoplankton in Lake Erie surface waters as observed in lake wide assessments. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 69:(2) 369-381, doi: 10.1139/f2011-157
  • Jin, Z., Harvey, A.M., Mailloux, S., Halámek, J., Bocharova, V., Twiss, M.R., Katz, E. 2012. Electrochemically stimulated release of lysozyme from alginate matrix cross-linked with iron cations. Journal of Materials Chemistry 22: 19523-19528, doi: 10.1039/C2JM32008H.
  • Twiss, M.R. and Marshall, N.F. 2012. Tributary impacts on nearshore surface water quality detected during a late summer circumnavigation along the 20 m isopleth of Lake Ontario. Journal of Great Lakes Research 38: 99-104, doi: 10.1016/j.jglr.2012.02.012
  • Twiss, M.R. and Smith, D.E. 2012. Size-fractionated phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing rates in the upper St. Lawrence River. River Research and Applications, 28: 1047-1053. published on line, Jan. 2011, DOI: 10.1002/rra.1484
  • Twiss, M.R., McKay, R.M.L., Bourbonniere, R.A., Bullerjahn, G.S., Carrick, H.J., Smith, R.E.H., Winter, J.G., D’souza, N., Furey, P.C., Lashaway, A.R., Saxton, M.A., and Wilhelm, S.W. 2012. Diatoms abound in ice-covered Lake Erie: An investigation of offshore winter limnology in Lake Erie over the period 2007 to 2010. Journal of Great Lakes Research 38(1):18-30; doi: 10.1016/j.jglr.2011.12.008
  • Twiss, M.R., Ulrich, C., Zastepa, A., and Pick, F.R. 2012. On phytoplankton growth and loss rates in the epilimnion and metalimnion of Lake Ontario in mid-summer. Journal of Great Lakes Research 38: 146-153, doi.10.1016/j.jglr.2012.05.002