Catherine (Cat) Schlenker is a second-year PhD student in Biology at the University of South Carolina, where she specializes in phytoplankton ecology. Her research is based within the Institute for Clean Water and Healthy Ecosystems and is conducted in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services.
Cat is currently leading three major projects:
- A statewide phytoplankton monitoring program across 30+ sites in South Carolina, examining biomass, community composition, and photosynthetic capacity to better understand spatiotemporal variation and resource use efficiency.
- A series of bioassays testing the effects of contaminants of emerging concern on natural phytoplankton communities.
- A long-term study evaluating the efficacy and selectivity of a harmful algal bloom (HAB) treatment, specifically targeting cyanobacteria.
Her passion for marine science began in middle school with a project on the endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle and deepened through a high school internship investigating how sunscreen ingredients affect phytoplankton. She’s been hooked on these microscopic powerhouses ever since. While still exploring her long-term path, she’s interested in both teaching-focused roles in higher education and research positions within government, industry, or non-profits.
Outside the lab, Cat enjoys running, baking, and reading mystery novels—a nod to her natural curiosity and love for puzzles, both scientific and fictional.