个人简介

Professor Sluss was born in Ashland, Kentucky. She graduated from the University of Louisville in 2000 (B.S. Biology) and remained there for her graduate work as a university fellow (M.S., Biology; Ph.D., Biology). For her graduate work, she studied the population and community dynamics of zooplankton in large rivers, specifically the Ohio River. She studied the effects of navigation dams on zooplankton community structure and population growth rates and used mesocosms (large tanks) to test the effects of water turbulence on zooplankton community assemblages and their impact on algal grazing. She is extremely fascinated by the effects of hydrological variables (velocity, discharge, turbulence) on the ecology and behavior of aquatic organisms. Her other research interests include environmental science, stream ecology and restoration success, water quality, invertebrate biology, and carbon dynamics in lotic systems. Dr. Sluss has been researching long-term reservoir data and environmental science and applied ecological issues, particularly biofuel production with minimal environmental impact on forests and cropland. Dr. Sluss taught for several years at Jefferson Community College (JCTCS now) in Louisville, KY., while conducting her graduate research. Dr. Sluss joined the KSU biology faculty as an Assistant Professor in August, 2005 and became an Associate Professor in 2010. She teaches Life Science for non-majors, Modern Topics in Biology, Environmental Biology, Ecology, Aquatic Ecology and sometimes Anatomy and Physiology I and II for nursing students.