As a graduate student studying Biology with an aquatic sciences emphasis at Grand Valley State University, LaRue is doing research that truly impacts the public and Michigan’s beloved Great Lakes.

For her thesis research, LaRue is working with researchers at the Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute to study how invasive freshwater plants, specifically Eurasian watermilfoil, become resistant to chemicals that are designed to kill them. Her research will help freshwater managers prevent Michigan’s lakes from being taken over by invasive aquatic weeds.

“I love that I’m able to get in the field and do experiments,” LaRue said. “I really feel like I’m able to apply what I do in the lab to the real world.”   

LaRue displays an experiment being done in the Mesocosm lab located in the current field station.

Ideally, LaRue wants to become a professor, continue to conduct freshwater research, and apply her knowledge about ecology to real life problems. In the fall LaRue will be attending Purdue University to work on her PhD, but she would ultimately like to end up back in Michigan.

“There are so many freshwater resources here,” she said. “It’s just the perfect place for me to live and work.”

LaRue knows the job market is highly competitive, but she feels as though her experience at Grand Valley has prepared her well.

“This experience has given me a wide variety of skills,” LaRue said. “Lately I’ve done a lot of writing and I’ve gained experience in presenting. Grand Valley has really prepared me to get my PhD, apply for jobs, and do my own research.”

With the new field station, AWRI will continue to provide exceptional experiences for graduate students.

“So much more research could be done with more lab space,” LaRue said. “The former field station was not heated and its use was limited to the summer months. With the new building, AWRI will have the space and the time to be able to do many more experiments.”

LaRue believes there are so many problems with freshwater resources that people aren’t aware of and that every bit of research helps to make the Great Lakes the best they can be.

“There are so many questions that need to be answered by research, and that’s where I come in,” she said.

LaRue is doing research to prevent watermilfoil, pictured here, from becoming resistant to herbacides.

LaRue and a coworker collect samples of watermilfoil from an experiment.