Director of the Clean Water Institute, Research and Teaching Associate of Biology
Areas of Expertise: Aquatic Ecology, Wildlife Conservation & Management, Ecology and Conservation of Reptiles and Amphibians
Matt Kaunert is a conservation ecologist focused on evaluating effects of anthropogenic change on aquatic systems and wildlife populations to inform future conservation efforts. Matt primarily works in stream systems and focuses on imperiled herpetofauna as focal taxa.
Matt joined Lycoming College in May 2023 as the Director of the Clean Water Institute & Research and Teaching Associate in Biology. Before Lycoming, Kaunert earned his B.S. in biology from Allegheny College, M.S. in biology from Georgia Southern University, and Ph.D. in biological sciences from Ohio University. Matt has also worked as a biological scientist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s American Alligator Research Section and conducted threatened and endangered species research with the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Since 2010, Matt has contributed to a variety of research projects focused on the ecology and conservation of the Eastern Hellbender, a species of fully aquatic giant salamander endemic to the eastern United States. Most recently, Matt has established a long-term artificial nest box monitoring framework across western and northcentral Pennsylvania. Through the use of novel monitoring techniques, this ongoing work aims to bridge information gaps in Cryptobranchid demography, behavior, and reproductive ecology to inform conservation strategies for the Pennsylvania State Amphibian.
Matt looks forward to continuing the tradition of the Clean Water Institute by providing unique experiential learning opportunities to undergraduates and conducting innovative research aimed at conserving Pennsylvania’s vast network of freshwater systems.