Grouping: Ph.D. Students

Matthew Gladfelter

Ph.D. Student
(Current Auburn University Presidential Graduate Research Fellow)

2021-Present (Ph.D.)

Research Statement

My research focuses on nutrient cycling in phytoplankton communities. My Master’s work focused on nitrogen utilization in cyanobacteria and I have shifted to examining micronutrients and trace elements for my doctoral research. I enjoy taking a holistic approach to study systems which often incorporates rigorous field sampling, molecular analyses, and even electrochemistry.

1. Buley, R. P., M. F. Gladfelter, E. G. Fernandez-Figueroa, and A. E. Wilson. In press. Complex effects of dissolved organic matter, temperature, and initial bloom density on the efficacy of hydrogen peroxide to control cyanobacteria. Environmental Science and Pollution Research
2. Buley, R. P., M. F. Gladfelter, E. G. Fernandez-Figueroa, and A. E. Wilson. 2022. Can correlational analyses help determine the drivers of microcystin occurrence in freshwater ecosystems? A meta-analysis of microcystin and associated water quality parameters. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 194:493. - Dowload Publication (PDF)
3. Gladfelter, M. F., R. P. Buley, A. P. Belfiore, E. G. Fernandez-Figueroa, B. L. Gerovac, N. D. Baker, and A. E. Wilson. 2022. Dissolved nitrogen form mediates phycocyanin content in cyanobacteria. Freshwater Biology 67(6): 954-964. - Dowload Publication (PDF)
4. Belfiore, A., R. P. Buley, E. G. Fernandez-Figueroa, M. Gladfelter, and A. E. Wilson. 2021. Zooplankton as an alternative method for controlling phytoplankton in catfish pond aquaculture. Aquaculture Reports 21:100897. - Link to Publication
5. Buley, R. P., A. Kelly, L. Roy, E. G. Fernandez-Figueroa, M. Gladfelter, A. Belfiore, and A. E. Wilson. 2021. Controlling Microcystis blooms in Alabama catfish aquaculture. Alabama Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet ANR-2757.  5pp. - Link to Publication
6. Fernandez-Figueroa, E. G., R. P. Buley, M. U.G. Barros, M. F. Gladfelter, W. D. McClimans, and A. E. Wilson. 2021. Carlson’s trophic state index is a poor predictor of cyanobacterial dominance in drinking water reservoirs. AWWA Water Science 3(2):e1219. - Dowload Publication (PDF)
7. Buley, R. P., C. Adams, A. P. Belfiore, E. G. Fernandez-Figueroa, M. F. Gladfelter, B. Garner, D. L. Straus, and A. E. Wilson. 2021. Field evaluation of seven products to control cyanobacterial blooms in aquaculture. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 28:29971-29983. - Dowload Publication (PDF)
8. Barros, M. U.G., J. I.R. Leitão, T. R.B.T. Aranha, S. Simsek, R. P. Buley, E. G. Fernandez-Figueroa, M. F. Gladfelter, A. E. Wilson, and J. Capelo-Neto. 2020. Icyano: A cyanobacterial bloom vulnerability index for drinking water treatment plants. Water Supply 20(8):3517-3530.  - Dowload Publication (PDF)
9. Buley, R. P., Z. Yang, M. F. Gladfelter, and A. E. Wilson. 2019. Controlling blue-green algal blooms in aquaculture ponds using hydrogen peroxide. Fish Farming News 2019(1):3-5. - Dowload Publication (PDF)

 

Honors and Awards

2022    Best Oral Presentation by a Student, Honorable Mention – 11^th US Symposium on Harmful Algae

2022    AU USAS & AFS subunits Travel Award ($250)

2022    NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Travel Award ($650)

2021    Featured Graduate Researcher – Auburn University Graduate School

2021    AU USAS-subunit Travel Award ($135)

2021    Auburn University Presidential Graduate Research Fellowship ($45,000)

2020    Swingle Memorial Award for academic excellence, scholarship, and leadership ($2,000)

2020    Best Presentation in Session – Auburn University College of Agriculture Virtual Poster Showcase ($250)

2019    NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Travel Award ($700)

2018    Best Undergraduate Research Poster – Hudson-Delaware Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry ($300)

2017    Featured Undergraduate Researcher – Rowan University College of Science and Mathematics

 

Presentations and Posters

2022    11^th US Symposium on Harmful Algae, Albany, NY. Transcriptional response of Microcystis and co-occurring bacteria to supplementation and starvation of three nitrogen forms (Presentation; Best Oral Presentation, Honorable Mention)

2022    Arkansas Water Resources and Watersheds Conference, Fayetteville, AR. The diazotroph, Raphidiopsis, dominates after reduced and oxidizes nitrogen additions (Poster)

2022    Arkansas Water Resources and Watersheds Conference, Fayetteville, AR. Dissolved nitrogen forms mediates phycocyanin content in cyanobacteria (Presentation)

2021    ASLO 2021 Aquatic Sciences Meeting. Available dissolved nitrogen form mediates phycocyanin content in cyanobacteria (Presentation; Virtual Conference)

2021    10.5 US Symposium on Harmful Algae. Available dissolved nitrogen form mediates phycocyanin content in cyanobacteria (Presentation; Virtual Conference)

2021    Auburn University Auburn Research: 2021 Student Symposium. Available dissolved nitrogen form dictates pigment content in cyanobacterial cells (Presentation; Virtual Conference)

2020    Auburn University College of Agriculture Virtual Poster Showcase. Nitrogen form dictates uptake and use in cyanobacterial communities (Poster; Virtual Conference; Best in Session).

2020    Auburn University School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences Student Research Symposium. Dissolved nitrogen-form dictates uptake and metabolic efficiency in phytoplankton (Presentation; Virtual Conference).

2019    10^th US Symposium on Harmful Algae, Orange Beach, AL. Changes in supportive bacteria assemblages in response to nutrient form and concentration in cyanobacterial communities (Presentation)

2018    Hudson-Delaware Chapter of the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry meeting, Glassboro, NJ. Timing is everything: the impact of time since urbanization on aquatic turtle population structures (Poster; 1^st Place undergraduate poster)

2018    Rowan University’s STEM Symposium, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ. Timing is everything: the impact of time since urbanization on aquatic turtle population structures (Poster)

2017    Rowan University’s STEM Symposium, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ. Impact of urbanization on aquatic turtle population structures (Poster)

2017    East Coast Chapter of the Ecological Society of America meeting, Stockton University, Galloway, NJ. Impact of urbanization on aquatic turtle population structures (Poster)

 

Students Mentored

JT Mumber                  Undergraduate research for credit project                              Fall 2022

Olivia Montoya           NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates Project          Summer 2022

Isabel Bela                  NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates Project          Summer 2022

Isabel Bela                  Independent undergraduate research project                          Spring 2022

Jessica Chan                Undergraduate senior research project                                    Fall 2021