Research Projects

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Toxic cyanobacterial blooms can close lakes, contaminate drinking water and pose risks to human health. A new project at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is exploring an unlikely tool for mitigating these blooms: virovory, the phenomenon of organisms eating viruses as a food source.

NSF-funded project explores potential ally against harmful algal blooms

Toxic cyanobacterial blooms can close lakes, contaminate drinking water and pose risks to human health. A new project at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is exploring an unlikely tool for mitigating these blooms: virovory, the phenomenon of organisms eating viruses as a food source. (6/9/2026)
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Long-term Nebraska Sandhills study reveals trends in grass growth

 (3/13/2026)
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Ian Ratcliffe, a specialist in geographic information systems at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, works behind the scenes to manage and analyze data and help visualize it with maps.

Ratcliffe maps out a career in natural resources

Ian Ratcliffe, a specialist in geographic information systems at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, works behind the scenes to manage and analyze data and help visualize it with maps. (1/22/2026)
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Hugh Ellerman offers cities and towns low-cost maps of their tree canopies. A University of Nebraska-Lincoln postdoctoral researcher, Ellerman found a way to make the maps inexpensively during doctoral work with the Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies.

CALMIT offers low-cost tree maps to towns and cities

Hugh Ellerman offers cities and towns low-cost maps of their tree canopies. A University of Nebraska-Lincoln postdoctoral researcher, Ellerman found a way to make the maps inexpensively during doctoral work with the Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies. (1/5/2026)
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A new study led by Nebraska

Roads, development disrupt movement of young mountain lions in California

A new study led by Nebraska's John Benson and Kyle Doughtery shows young mountain lions in California struggle to disperse between populations because they avoid developed areas and busy roads, limiting the gene flow needed to keep populations healthy. The study shows that freeways and human development isolate vulnerable populations, while small habitat patches and potential wildlife crossings could help restore connectivity. Nebraska in the national news: November 2025 University of Nebraska–Lincoln faculty members were interviewed about the impacts of tariffs and “forever chemicals” for national and international news stories in November. The articles were among 30-plus such stories featuring Husker faculty, staff, students, centers and programs during the month.  (12/3/2025)
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Irrigation canal maintenance in western Nebraska is taking a giant step forward thanks to an innovative, non-invasive method by Husker geoscientist Mohamed Khalil to check canal integrity.

Conservation and Survey Division geoscientist's innovative approach aims to safeguard irrigation canals

Irrigation canal maintenance in western Nebraska is taking a giant step forward thanks to an innovative, non-invasive method by Husker geoscientist Mohamed Khalil to check canal integrity.  (10/30/2025)
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Troy Gilmore, hydrology professor, and John Stranzl, doctoral student, have opened the gates on water research through the launch of GRIME AI online Sept. 16, 2025

Huskers launch GRIME AI, boosting research using camera networks

Troy Gilmore, hydrology professor, and John Stranzl, doctoral student, have opened the gates on water research through the launch of GRIME AI online Sept. 16, 2025 (10/28/2025)
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Sruti Das Choudhury has seen how generative AI has turned the world into a new type of Wild West . . . with no sheriff in sight.

Das Choudhury explores ethical use of GenAI in new book and classes

Sruti Das Choudhury has seen how generative AI has turned the world into a new type of Wild West . . . with no sheriff in sight.  (10/7/2025)
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Nebraska's John Benson is part of a multinational team of scientists who studied how the 2020 COVID-19 shutdown influenced animal movement in America's national parks and preserves. Overall, animals tended to avoid human infrastructure — but results varied across populations, species and even individual animals.

Wildlife shows wide range of responses to human presence in U.S. national parks

Nebraska's John Benson is part of a multinational team of scientists who studied how the 2020 COVID-19 shutdown influenced animal movement in America's national parks and preserves. Overall, animals tended to avoid human infrastructure — but results varied across populations, species and even individual animals. (8/5/2025)
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Significant Workshops

Implications of a Changing Arctic on the Water Resources and Agriculture in the Central U.S. (2015)

The focus of this workshop was on how the significant climatic and environmental changes being observed in the Arctic may be affecting changes in mid-latitude weather and the implications of these changes on the frequency of extreme weather and climate events (e.g., severe weather, droughts, floods, heat waves) in the Central U.S.

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Climate Change Implications for Nebraska (2014-2016)

In September 2014, the University of Nebraska published a report summarizing climate change impacts to the state. This comprehensive report summarized the current understanding of climate change science, projected changes in climate for Nebraska and the implications of these changes for some of the state’s primary sectors. Eight roundtable discussion focusing on areas such as wildlife, human health, energy availability were conducted and summarized.

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