The Upper Mississippi Center (UMC) advances community-engaged research by connecting Augustana students with local governments, nonprofits, and community organizations throughout the Quad Cities region. Through the UMC, students from all disciplines engage in hands-on, real-world projects that integrate fieldwork, applied research, service learning, and internships. These collaborative partnerships address pressing environmental, health, and sustainability challenges—benefiting both student learning and community well-being.
Students assess macroinvertebrate populations in a local stream--one factor involved in determining the overall health of a watershed.
What can an internship with the UMC do for me?
- Gain experience working on real-world community-led sustainability projects which connect classroom learning to professional development.
- By working closely with community partners, you can expand your network leading to additional professional opportunities, internships, and full-time jobs. This can help you discover more interests and strengths, as well as what type of work environment you thrive in.
- Build your resume and develop skills directly transferable to the workforce.
How can I participate?
Contact Alyssa Klauer, UMC Sustainability Program Manager, at alyssaklauer@augustana.edu to find out how you can volunteer, pursue an independent study, or apply for a research internship!
2026-2027 Ecological Team
Avery Denius, junior
Avery (he/him) is from Aurora, Illinois, and is majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. He is interested in pursuing a career in genetic research and is fascinated by how genetics shapes the function of living organisms.
Avery's research focuses on using environmental DNA (eDNA) to determine whether odonate species observed in the Milan Bottoms area can be detected through eDNA sampling.
Caitlin Rossi, sophomore
Caitlin Rossi (she/her) is from Lombard, Illinois. She is majoring in Environmental Studies and Geography (ESGE), as well as a second major in Geology, and a minor in Geographic Information Systems and Technology (GIST).
She is on the Milan Bottoms Ecological Research Team with a focus on bird biodiversity surveys. This summer, she travelled to Oregon's Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge to help SageSTEP and Oregon State University with their research. She participated in field work and collected data to study the impacts of wildfires on sagebrush ecosystems.
Caleb Bishop, junior
Caleb (he/him) is a Biology major with a minor in Psychology from New Boston, Illinois.
Through the UMC & CACHW, Caleb has been examining the City of Davenport's biofiltration system researching solutions to improve water quality and reduce bacterial contamination in local streams. His favorite part of the work is seeing how research can directly benefit local communities, and he is passionate about developing practical, science-based solutions that promote healthier ecosystems and safer waterways.
Carter Lavold, junior
Carter (he/him) is from Brea, California, and is majoring in Geology, Environmental Studies, and GIS. He hopes to pursue a career in environmental consulting, helping landowners better understand their properties and the environmental factors that may affect them.
Carter is researching how water quality influences habitat health in wetland ecosystems. He especially enjoys fieldwork, including kayaking through Milan Bottoms and observing local wildlife. His interests in spatial analysis and environmental patterns drive his curiosity about how natural systems shape landscapes and ecosystems.
Emily Pearson, senior
Emily Pearson (she/her) is a Biology and Environmental Studies major with a minor in GIS from Addison, Illinois. She hopes to pursue a career in conservation planning, focusing on protecting natural resources and habitats across diverse ecosystems.
She is studying the diversity of bats in the Milan Bottoms, comparing communities across different wetland habitats to better understand ecosystem health. She enjoys collaborating with fellow students and faculty and is passionate about conserving biodiversity, recognizing its essential role in maintaining healthy, resilient ecosystems.
Emma McVicker, senior
Emma (she/her) is from North Riverside, Illinois, and is majoring in Geology with a minor in Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIST). She plans to pursue graduate studies in structural geology and hopes to work as a field geologist studying active faults. She worked for the UMC as a summer intern in 2025 exploring how flooding impacts stream sediment transport and macroinvertebrate populations and returned as a part-time intern in 2026. Through the UMC, Emma has gained valuable experience in field and lab techniques, GIS, and hydrological & ecological research. She was able to obtain her ‘26 REU internship researching lithologic heterogeneity affecting fault friction using many of the skills she learned while working for the UMC. She enjoys the collaborative environment and appreciates the opportunity to build skills that support her academic and professional goals while contributing important environmental data for the city of Davenport.
Isaac Loyo, senior
Isaac (he/him) is from Oak Lawn, Illinois, and is majoring in Environmental Studies and Geology. He is working toward a career as an environmental consultant or government conservationist, driven by a passion for environmental stewardship.
Interning two summers with the UMC, Isaac has conducted research on urban coyote ecology (2025) and the effects of urban stream flashiness on benthic macroinvertebrate communities in Duck Creek (2026). Through these projects, he has gained hands-on experience in ecological field research while developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. He especially enjoys fieldwork and the collaborative community the program fosters.
Izzy Estes, junior
Izzy (she/they) is from Moline, Illinois, and is majoring in Environmental Studies with a minor in GIST. She is working towards a career in wildlife biology and is hoping to specialize primarily in birds, amphibians and smaller mammals in the Midwest. Izzy’s summer research explores avian diversity across the different habitats within the East and West sides of the Milan Bottoms, utilizing acoustic meter and bird point count data that was collected over the course of the year’s seasons. Izzy is grateful for the opportunity to have been able to spend her summer outdoors, and to have been able to hone in on her bird identification skills.
Kelsey Olsen, senior
Kelsey (she/her) is from Elgin, Illinois, and is majoring in Environmental Studies with a minor in Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIST). Returning for a second year with the UMC, her research investigates water quality parameters within Pheasant Creek over time, identifying notable changes and possible causes.
Kelsey has gained valuable knowledge, increased confidence, and a clearer sense of her future career direction. She also appreciates how the program encourages exploration beyond individual research topics.
Mallek Newkirk, senior
Mallek (he/they) is from Geneseo, Illinois, and is majoring in Environmental Studies and Biology. He aspires to become a plant ecologist specializing in native plants of the Upper Midwest.
His summer research explores invasive reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) distribution and ecological relationships within different habitats in the Milan Bottoms wetland. The UMC experience has given Mallek valuable field and lab skills while deepening his motivation to pursue his academic and career goals. He especially appreciates the team atmosphere and the balance between outdoor and lab work.
Myles Smith, senior
Myles Smith (he/him) is a senior from Hooppole, Illinois majoring in Biochemistry and Theater History. He is pursuing a career in teaching Biology and Chemistry at a community college and is interested in all things research!
Myles's research focuses on using environmental DNA (eDNA) to study the species of fish present in the Milan Bottoms, as well as the efficacy of eDNA in a wetland ecosystem.
Peyton Hack, junior
Peyton (she/her) is from Peotone, IL, and is double majoring in Environmental Studies and Geology with a minor in GIST. While still investigating possible career paths, she is considering working with wildlife or water quality. Peyton’s summer research looks at avian diversity across different habitats within the Milan Bottoms area using data from acoustic meters and point counts. Through the UMC, Peyton has been able to gain field experience, lab experience, and learned to work with excel sheets. She has enjoyed the opportunity to work in a collaborative environment and experiment in different areas to help hone her skills and find a potential career path.
Thaddeus Bednard, junior
Teddy (he/him) is a Geology and Biology major from Downers Grove, Illinois. He is researching soil health, saturation, and particle grain size at the Milan Bottoms and how these factors influence riparian wetland vegetation communities. His research aims to better understand the soil conditions that support healthy wetland habitats and the species that depend on them, contributing to efforts to understand and preserve the area.
Zoe Snell, senior
Zoe (she/her) is from Arlington Heights, Illinois, and is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Environmental Studies. While working toward a career in School Counseling, she loves to learn more about the environment and how it impacts the people who live in it. Zoe's research focuses on Ghost forests and the pattern of tree mortality in Milan Bottoms and how that relates to historical flooding. She wants to better understand why the trees are dying in the wetland system. She especially loves learning more about the community surrounding the Milan Bottoms and how much they value this wetland system.
2026-2027 Stakeholder Team
Emilia Ocenasek, sophomore
Emilia (she/her) is a Biology and Environmental Studies & Geography major from Joliet, Illinois. As part of the Milan Bottoms stakeholder team, Emilia conducts qualitative fieldwork to better understand community perspectives on the proposed water and land reserve, with a particular interest in how the project may impact wildlife and their habitats. She values the opportunity to connect with community members and help ensure their voices are heard throughout the planning process.
Emma Bowes, senior
Lillie Oliveri, junior
Lillie (she/her) is an Environmental Studies and Sociology & Anthropology major from Roanoke, Illinois, with a minor in Geography. Lillie has gained experience connecting her academic interests with community-based research. She is working with local stakeholders to better understand what community members want for the future of the proposed nature reserve. She values the opportunity to hear directly from people throughout the Quad Cities and learn how they connect with and care for the natural areas around them.