Beth Ogata

“I knew I wanted to spend my time here.”

Biology and ecology PDRF Beth Ogata said she was initially drawn to USU to work with faculty adviser Michelle Baker, because of the exciting opportunity to be part of an interdisciplinary group of researchers focused on water sources.

Specifically, Ogata’s research involves studying stream nutrient dynamics along an urbanization gradient. Ogata tests whether nitrogen and phosphorous limit algal growth, as well as if urbanization alleviates nutrient limitation of stream biofilms.

“I am interested in algal nutrient uptake response to elevated nutrient concentrations, and would like to asses how nutrient saturation points may differ between mountain and urban biofilms.”