WilsonLab
Aquatic Ecology – Water Quality – Drinking Water
Aquaculture – Harmful Algal Blooms – Limnology
Studying ecological factors influencing cyanobacterial bloom formation in recreational reservoirs, aquaculture ponds, and other systems along with studying factors leading to taste, odor, and toxicity issues in drinking water reservoirs.
0
Current PhD & MS Students
0
Past PhD & MS Students
0
Current Undergrad Researchers
0
Past Undergrad Researchers
0
Lab Publications
$0
Historic Grant Funding (Millions)
Latest News
April 1, 2025
Nisham’s hard work has paid off! She just published her meta-analysis project in the Journal of Forestry. Nice job, Nisham!
Thapa, N., L. L. Narine, and A. E. Wilson. In press. Forest aboveground biomass estimation using airborne LiDAR: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Forestry.
February 27, 2025
Matt Gladfelter was the recipient of the Best Presentation Award at the American Fisheries Society and US Aquaculture Society Symposium held at the E.W. Shell Fisheries Center in Auburn. Matt’s talk was part of his dissertation focused on the importance of heavy metal cycling in subtropical ponds. Congrats, Matt!
February 18, 2025
Harsha Galkanda-Arachchige, Allen Davis and I were recently awarded the 2025 College of Agriculture Outstanding Publication Award for Harsha’s past meta-analysis class project. This paper has been collecting citations. Congrats, Harsha!
February 8, 2025
The Robotics team got through Super Regionals and made it to the First Lego League State championship at Georgia Tech where they placed 2nd (out of 24 teams!) in core values. Incredible group of future engineers and scientists. I am very happy to support them along their journey.
January 24, 2025
Auburn is finally thawing after the big winter storm. We actually got about 3″ of snow, which shut down the city schools the whole week!
January 20, 2025
Just got back from my first college tour trip ever. Wonderful time in California with my daughter. As a special bonus, we got to see a friend from college who took Lily surfing in Santa Cruz!
January 13, 2025
Three accepted papers in one week! This is a record for the lab. Nice job, everyone. The hard work is paying off.
Le, V. V. and A. E. Wilson. In press. A handheld fluorometer evaluates freshwater cyanobacterial blooms across a broad productivity gradient. Lake and Reservoir Management
January 1, 2025
My family just got back from a terrific trip to Germany to see my wife’s family. We ate tons of wurst, drink gluhwein and hot chocolate, saw many beautiful places, and spent much time with family and friends. We will return in the summer when the sun is out!
December 18, 2024
Ashley was honored with the 2024 David Partridge Memorial Award for an MS student! Matt, Peyton, and Anna Claire represented Ashley to collect the award! Congrats, Ashley.
Follow us on Social Media!
We are still looking for a new Postdoctoral Researcher!
Interested prospective postdocs are encouraged to contact Alan at wilson@auburn.edu
We are looking for new Ph.D. or M.S. students to join us in 2026!
Interested prospective students are encouraged to contact Alan at wilson@auburn.edu Learn more about these openings here!
Looking for a harmful algal bloom forecasting model?
About the Lab
Our approach to research is multidimensional. First, we use large-scale observational studies and meta-analysis of existing data from the literature to discover patterns in nature. Then, we identify mechanisms mediating these patterns through laboratory and field-based experimentation.
As a community ecologist, I am generally interested in consumer-prey interactions and identifying the ecological and evolutionary consequences of intraspecific genetic and phenotypic variation on aquatic communities and ecosystems. My current research focuses on the ecology of cyanobacterial blooms with an emphasis on understanding how biotic and abiotic factors influence cyanobacterial bloom formation in a variety of systems including recreational reservoirs and aquaculture ponds. In tandem with our harmful algal bloom research, the lab is also studying the factors leading to taste, odor, and toxicity issues in drinking water reservoirs.
Want to Join the Lab?
I am always looking for hard-working, honest, and self-motivated graduate and undergraduate students to join our group. I encourage individual thinking, so it is not critical that we share identical research interests. But, it is important that you are fascinated by science and want to explore how the natural world works. Please email me your resume, transcripts, GRE scores (if applicable), research interests, and contact information for three references and we will try to find a spot for you in the lab.
Image Gallery
