Lake Superior Research Institute

Men examining machinery

Applied Research, Student Experience and Community Outreach

The Lake Superior Research Institute (LSRI) was created in 1967 and formally recognized by the University of Wisconsin’s Board of Regents in 1969. LSRI’s mission is to conduct environmental research and provide services that directly benefit the people, industries and natural resources of the Upper Midwest, the Great Lakes Region and beyond; provide non-traditional learning and applied research opportunities for undergraduate students; and foster environmental education and outreach in the Twin Ports and surrounding communities.

Students conducting experiment

Student Involvement

LSRI has employed nearly 600 undergraduate students and provided research experience for countless other students at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Many of the students who have participated in research projects have gone on to pursue post-graduate education and/or careers in the sciences.

Current and prospective students of UW-Superior who would love to gain valuable experience in a scientific research setting should seek out opportunities and positions that may exist as a student research assistant, work-study student, internship, or limited-term employee (available to recent graduates only).

LSRI lab

LSRI Services

Examples of the various sampling, analytical and technically oriented services that the Lake Superior Research Institute can provide.

Superior Floating Classroom

The LSRI Superior Floating Classroom The Sadie Ann. 

Sadie Ann Floating Classroom exterior
A ship leaving from Wisconsin Point

Great Waters Research Collaborative

GWRC’s main focus is on preventing new ballast water introductions of invasive species in the Great Lakes and other Great Waters.

Contact Us

Please contact LSRI for more information about LSRI or to reach out about potential projects, research or other services.

Gerald Shepard
Researcher I
Nathan Schwartz
Researcher I – Field Biologist
Michael Nagel
Researcher II
Daniel Brumm
Researcher I – Field Biologist
Matthew TenEyck
Research Center Director
Reed Schwarting
Researcher I
Christine Polkinghorne
Research Program Manager
Lana Fanberg
Researcher II
Ardeen Stoll
Financial Manager
Margaret Brown
Researcher I – Chemist
John Phelan
Captain, Sadie Ann
Alan Brew
Outreach Program Manager
Amy Eliot
Center Associate Director
Payton Kittaka
Researcher I – Chemist
Roberta Grube
Financial Specialist II
Gabrielle Lien
Researcher I – Chemist
Sophie Levi
Researcher I – Field Biologist
Gwendolyn Ough
Researcher I – Field Biologist
Kurt Schmude
Scientist III