Professor and Associate Dean in the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies, Department of Biology, College of Science and Mathematics
I'm a freshwater ecologist interested in the role that consumers play in organic matter processing and how they may influence stream ecosystem functioning. My research is directed towards understanding the ecology of freshwater systems, particularly focusing on food web structure and organic matter dynamics. Most of my recent and ongoing work has focused on tropical headwater streams. Additionally, my colleagues and I are involved in research efforts to explore the ecology of coastal plain streams, rivers and wetlands in southeastern Georgia.
Teaching Interests: Environmental Biology, Ecology, Graduate Research Methods
Research Interests: Research in my lab focuses on the ecology of freshwater ecosystems. Most of my recent and ongoing work has focused on tropical headwater streams in Puerto Rico and Panama. Additionally, my students and I are involved in research efforts to explore the ecology of coastal plain streams, rivers and wetlands in southeastern Georgia. Major themes in my projects and those of my students include the effects aquatic consumers (invertebrates, fish, amphibians) in organic matter dynamics, nutrient cycling, and energy flow in streams and other freshwater habitats.
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About J. Checo Colón-Gaud
I'm a freshwater ecologist interested in the role that consumers play in organic matter processing and how they may influence stream ecosystem functioning. My research is directed towards understanding the ecology of freshwater systems, particularly focusing on food web structure and organic matter dynamics. Most of my recent and ongoing work has focused on tropical headwater streams. Additionally, my colleagues and I are involved in research efforts to explore the ecology of coastal plain streams, rivers and wetlands in southeastern Georgia.
Teaching Interests: Environmental Biology, Ecology, Graduate Research Methods
Research Interests: Research in my lab focuses on the ecology of freshwater ecosystems. Most of my recent and ongoing work has focused on tropical headwater streams in Puerto Rico and Panama. Additionally, my students and I are involved in research efforts to explore the ecology of coastal plain streams, rivers and wetlands in southeastern Georgia. Major themes in my projects and those of my students include the effects aquatic consumers (invertebrates, fish, amphibians) in organic matter dynamics, nutrient cycling, and energy flow in streams and other freshwater habitats.
| July 2020 - Present | Associate Dean, Georgia Southern University ‐ Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies | |
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| July 2020 - Present | Professor, Georgia Southern University ‐ College of Science and Mathematics | |
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| January 2015 - Present | Graduate Program Director, Georgia Southern University ‐ Department of Biology | |
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| 2013 - Present | Affiliate, Georgia Southern University ‐ Institute for Interdisciplinary STEM | |
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| July 2015 - June 2020 | Associate Professor, Georgia Southern University | |
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| August 2010 - July 2015 | Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University | |
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Disciplines
Research Interests
Grants
| 2020 - Present | National Science Foundation Division of Environmental Biology – |
| National Science Foundation | |
| Towards a more diverse community of freshwater scientists | |
| Role: Co-PI | |
| Colleague(s): A. Rosemond, D. McGarvey, P. Mendez, and A. Rugenski | |
| $2,006,746 | |
| 2021 - 2022 | Georgia Southern University College of Science and Mathematics Faculty Incentive Grant |
| Georgia Southern University | |
| $5,900 | |
| 2021 - 2022 | National Science Foundation Directorate for Biological Sciences Research Experience for Post-Baccalaureate Students (REPS) in the Biological Sciences Supplemental Funding |
| National Science Foundation | |
| $32,850 | |
| 2019 - 2022 | Society for Freshwater Science Board of Directors/President’s Discretionary Fund |
| Society for Freshwater Science | |
| Instars Mentoring Program to Broaden Participation of Undergraduates from Under-represented Groups and Ethnic Minorities | |
| $45,000 | |
| 2021 | Georgia Southern University College of Science and Mathematics Diversity and Inclusion Collaborative Mini Grant |
| Georgia Southern University | |
| $5,000 | |
| 2021 | Georgia Southern University Office of Research Undergraduate Student Assistant Award |
| Georgia Southern University | |
| $1,280 | |
| 2020 - 2021 | U.S. Geological Survey/Department of Interior, Water Resources Research Program 104B, Georgia Water Resources Institute |
| U.S. Geological Survey/Department of Interior | |
| Assessing drought effects on consumer-mediated ecosystem processes using experimental wetlands | |
| $54,127 | |
| 2019 - 2021 | National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates |
| National Science Foundation | |
| Interdisciplinary research Experiences in Coastal Plain Science | |
| Role: Co-PI | |
| Colleague(s): D. Gleason | |
| $368,561 | |
| 2018 - 2021 | National Academies of Science Gulf Research Program |
| National Academies of Science | |
| Okefenokee - Understanding Real-world Relevance through Suwannee Watershed Assessment and Monitoring Project (OUR2 SWAMP) | |
| Role: Co-PI | |
| Colleague(s): L. Huffling [lead], H. Scott, K. Greer, and S. Landge | |
| $763,897 | |
| 2020 | Georgia Southern University Office of Research Undergraduate Student Assistant Award |
| Georgia Southern University | |
| $1,280 | |
| 2011 - 2019 | Society for Freshwater Science Board of Directors/President’s Discretionary Fund |
| Society for Freshwater Science | |
| Instars Mentoring Program to Broaden Participation of Undergraduates from Under-represented Groups and Ethnic Minorities | |
| Role: Co-PI | |
| Colleague(s): J. Li, P. Mendez, T. Sluss, and M. Ardon-Sayao, K. Capps | |
| $90,000 | |
| 2017 - 2018 | Georgia Southern University Research Seed Funding Award |
| Georgia Southern University | |
| Assessing the Ecosystem Level Effects of Climate Induced Flooding/Drought in Inland Wetlands of the Southeastern United States | |
| $9,259 | |
| 2017 | Professional Travel Award |
| Georgia Southern University Faculty Development Committee | |
| $1,475 | |
| 2016 - 2017 | Georgia Southern University Center for Sustainability |
| Sustainability Fee Project: Rehabilitation of Beautiful Eagle Creek (Phase 2) | |
| Role: Co-PI | |
| Colleague(s): J. Roberts, A. Harvey, and J. Grigg | |
| $27,850 | |
| 2014 - 2017 | GA Environmental Protection Division and King America Finishing |
| GA Environmental Protection Division and King America Finishing | |
| Supplemental Environmental Project: Assessment of Hydrological, Biological and Environmental Components of the Lower Ogeechee River Ecosystem | |
| Role: Co-PI | |
| Colleague(s): D. Aubrey, R. Cohen, J. Lewis, V. Sittaramane, J. Kelly, J. Van Stan, J. Reichard, W. Tu, J. Underwood [lead PI], and S. Vives [lead PI] | |
| $1,067,491 | |
| 2016 | Georgia Southern University College of Science and Mathematics Award of Excellence in Teaching |
| Georgia Southern University | |
| $500 | |
| 2016 | Georgia Southern University Office of the Provost |
| Georgia Southern University | |
| Faculty Service Award for Professional Travel | |
| $1,500 | |
| 2015 - 2016 | Georgia Environmental Protection Division |
| Columbia County Board of Commissioners and the Phinizy Center for Water Science | |
| Regional Water Plan Seed Grant: Filling needed water quantity and quality gaps for the Savannah River Basin to facilitate implementation of future management practices | |
| $69,550 | |
| 2015 - 2016 | Georgia Southern University Center for Sustainability |
| Georgia Southern University | |
| Sustainability Fee Project: Bio-Assessment and Monitoring at Beautiful Eagle Creek | |
| Role: Co-PI | |
| Colleague(s): J. Roberts, and M. Abid Shaikh | |
| $31,787 | |
| 2013 - 2014 | Interdisciplinary Pilot Funds Grant |
| Georgia Southern University College of Science and Mathematics | |
| Colleague(s): Abid Shaikh | |
| $5,000 |
Professional Service and Affiliations
| 2021 - Present | Member, Faculty Governance Committee, COSM, GS | 2021 - Present | Member, First Destination Survey Working Group, GS | 2021 - Present | Member, General Education Core Curriculum, Mission/Vision subcommittee, GS | 2021 - Present | Member, SACSCOC Compliance Certification Team – Educational Requirements Committee, GS | 2021 - Present | Member, University D&I Hiring Committee Workforce, GS | 2020 - Present | Member, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Committee, GS | 2020 - Present | Member, Graduate Executive Council, COGS, GS | 2020 - Present | Member, President’s Diversity Advisory Council, GS | 2020 - Present | Member, University Research Council, GS | 2019 - Present | Member, COGS Bylaws Working Group, GS | 2019 - Present | Chair, Environmental Science MS Program Development Committee, COSM, GS | 2018 - Present | Member, Advisory Board, Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program, COSM, GS | 2012 - Present | Member, Graduate Admissions and Policy Committee, GS | 2015 - 2020 | Chair, Graduate Admissions and Policy Committee, GS | 2017 - 2018 | Chair, Landscape Ecologist Search Committee, GS | 2011 - 2018 | Member, Research Committee – College Office of Undergraduate Research (COUR), COSM, GS | 2013 - 2017 | Faculty Representative, Real STEM Team 2; i2STEMe, GS | 2016 | Panelist, Third Annual Assessment Symposium | 2013 - 2015 | Faculty Advisor, Phi Iota Alpha, GS | 2011 - 2013 | Member, SOAR, GS |
Honors and Awards
- Recipient, NSF Minority Graduate Student Travel Award (2008-2009)
- Recipient, Southern Illinois University, Department of Zoology Richard E. Blackwelder Award (2009)
- Recipient, American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) – Early Career Travel Award (2010)
- Recipient, Georgia Southern University Faculty Development Committee – Professional Travel Award (2011)
- Recipient, Georgia Southern University Office of the Provost – Faculty Service Award for Professional Travel (2012)
- Recipient, Georgia Southern University Faculty Development Committee – Professional Travel Award (2012)
- Recipient, Entomological Society of American Program Enhancement Funds Award (2012)
- Recipient, Georgia Southern University Office of the Provost – Faculty Service Award for Professional Travel (2013)
- Recipient, Georgia Southern University Office of the Provost – Faculty Service Award for Professional Travel (2016)
- Recipient, Georgia Southern University College of Science and Mathematics Award of Excellence in Teaching (2016)
- Recipient, Ogeechee/Canoochee Riverkeeper Award for Educational Partnership of the Year (2016)
- Recipient, Georgia Southern University Faculty Development Committee – Professional Travel Award (2017)
- Recipient, Georgia Southern University Research Seed Funding Award (2017-2018)
- Recipient, Georgia Southern University Office of Research Undergraduate Student Assistant Award (2020)
- Recipient, Society for Freshwater Science Inaugural Leadership Award (2021)
- Recipient, Georgia Southern University Office of Research Undergraduate Student Assistant Award (2021)
Courses
- Ecology of Southeastern US Rivers (BIOL 7610)
- Graduate Research Methods (BIOL 7099)
- Aquatic Ecology (BIOL 5542)
- Foundations of Ecology (BIOL 7610)
- Ecology (BIOL 5540)
- Evolution and Ecology (BIOL 3133)
- Honors Research Methods (BIOL 2320H)
- Principles of Biology 2 Laboratory (BIOL 2108L)
- Environmental Biology (BIOL 1230)
- Inquiry in Natural Science (UHON 1133)
| 2003 - 2008 | Ph.D. in Zoology, Southern Illinois University | |
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| 2000 - 2003 | M.S. in Fisheries, Louisiana State University | |
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| 1997 - 2000 | B.S. in Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso | |
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Links
Contact Information
P.O. Box 8042
Statesboro, GA 30460
Phone: (912) 479-0053
Office: Bio Sci 3328
Email: