Our interest is in the distribution of groundwater communities. As apart of TRIAGE, we are working to understand how interactions between groundwater and surface water, occurring with the hyporheic zone, influence subsurface communities and riverine ecosystem functions.

We are also interested in how local and regional basin characteristics influence hyporheic community structure, ecosystem function, and community responses to climate change are active areas of research.

Dr. Benjamin Schwartz

Benjamin is a karst hydrogeolgist. He is Director of the Edwards Aquifer Data And Research Center and a Professor in the Department of Biology at Texas State University.

Meet the Lab

  • Dr. Benjamin Hutchins

    Groundwater and Hyporheic Ecologist

  • Ashley Casarez

    Research Associate & Lab Manager

  • Zoey Chanin

    Grant Specialist

  • Caroline Mierzejewski

    PhD Student

  • Eryl Austin-Bingamon

    PhD Student

  • Taylor McNair

    Lab Technician

Previous Students:

Lucas Pustka - MS, Texas State University

Kenneth Sparks - MS, Texas State University

Previous Staff:

Michaela Bowlsby - Grant Specialist

Katherine Riley - Grant Specialist

Alyssa Livernois - Grant Specialist

Michael Kohl - Research Intern