Lian Anderson is a PhD Student in the Alofs Freshwater Conservation Ecology Lab at the University of Michigan. Her work looks at the impacts of aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes basin, specifically in their tributaries. Her undergraduate research looked at the taxonomy and morphology of an extinct clade of echinoderms, known as Blastoids. Her master’s thesis investigated the temporal dynamics of an invasive fish, the Round Goby, in the Rouge River watershed in collaboration with a local non-profit, Friends of the Rouge. She is broadly interested in invasion ecology, ecomorphology, and the impacts of environmental filtering on community structure. Outside of research, Lian enjoys fiber arts, caring for her indoor plants, and spending time with her cat, Shimmer.