This week I was excited to speak with Dr. John Kominoski, Professor of Biological Sciences at Florida International University. I really enjoyed hearing about John’s journey, entering his Master’s program uncertain of what he wanted to do before discovering freshwater ecology. We discussed several of the research projects John has worked on including his role as the Lead Principal Investigator for the Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research Program, collecting data on the impacts of rising sea level and saltwater intrusion on coastal wetlands. I was really excited that John wanted to use our time together not just to emphasize his research, but also to discuss the importance of being an educator in his role as a professor. One of the points John emphasizes is the importance of supporting early career researchers and vulnerable scientists that are part of his lab, as undergraduate and graduate students. For links to the research John is doing both at his lab at FIU and as the lead principal investigator of the Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research Program:

John’s Ecosystem Ecology Lab at FIU:  kominoskilab.com

FIU’s Institute of Environment: www.https://environment.fiu.edu

Florida Coastal Everglade’s Long Term Ecological Research Program Instagram and Twitter: @fcelter; @fce_studentgroup