06/03/2026
Earlier this year, Dr. Beth Stauffer was recognized as a Distinguished Professor Award recipient at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. has been a staple in Dr. Stauffer's lab since 2020, helping students automate phytoplankton analysis through high-speed imaging.
Specifically, her lab has used FlowCam to help understand what drives algal blooms in regional and local estuaries. “Freshwater is bringing seed populations of types of algae that can produce toxins,” said Dr. Stauffer. “We’re also trying to understand what might lead to that becoming more of an issue, especially when we think about how our estuaries are used for fishing [and] for recreation,” as well as oyster aquaculture.
These are incredibly challenging times with respect to research funding, but we want to take a moment to amplify the voices of faculty like Dr. Stauffer who are advancing our understanding of critical coastal systems, with students at the forefront.
“For my students,” says Dr. Stauffer, “I think being part of this research that is not just fundamentally important but also has applied impact is really important and valuable for them... I’m always very proud of my students when they go on to great jobs, and they all have.”
We couldn’t agree more with Dr. Azmy Ackleh, the dean of the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences, when he says: “Dr. Stauffer embodies the full meaning of a distinguished professor: excellence, impact, and leadership.”
Thank you, Dr. Stauffer!
