Personnel at the Institute for Fisheries Research (IFR) include both University of Michigan (UM) faculty (Dr. Ed Rutherford) and UM adjunct faculty (Dr. Jim Breck, Dr. W. Carl Latta, Dr. Paul Seelbach, Dr. Kevin Wehrly). People at IFR collaborate with the University in several ways.

• PERM. Through the Partnership for Ecosystem Research and Management (PERM), the Fisheries Division of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources supports a faculty position in the UM School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) and additional PERM positions at Michigan State University. Dr. Edward Rutherford occupies the PERM position in UM SNRE; his office is located at IFR.

• Teaching. UM courses are taught by IFR personnel. The following courses are listed in the Program in the Environment (ENVIRON), a program jointly supported by the School of Natural Resources and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LS&A). Most of the following examples are cross-listed in the Program in the Environment (ENVIRON), SNRE, and LS&A’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB):
• Ecology of Fishes, ENVIRON 409, taught by Dr. Ed Rutherford (W2004)
• Biology of Fishes, ENVIRON 422, taught by Dr. Kevin Wehrly (F2003)
• Biology of Fishes Laboratory, ENVIRON 423, taught by Dr. Kevin Wehrly (F2003)
• Applied Population Ecology, ENVIRON 425, taught by Dr. Jim Breck (W2004)
• Fisheries Science, ENVIRON 460, taught by Dr. Ed Rutherford (F2003)

• Collaborative research. IFR personnel collaborate with UM faculty, staff, and students on research projects. Examples include:
  • Muskegon River Project
  • 3-State Stream Classification
  • USGS Aquatic Gap
  • Digital Water Atlas
  • Michigan River Inventory
  • Hydroacoustic Fish Assessment
  • Michigan Fish Atlas
  • Great Lakes GIS

• Graduate students. Several graduate students have offices at IFR (9 grad students in Fall 2003). In addition, adjunct faculty at IFR serve as members of master’s and doctoral student committees. Several graduate students are supported by research funding obtained by IFR faculty and staff. Since the establishment of IFR in 1930, many graduate students have worked at IFR [link to a list of former students]. An informal reading/discussion group forms each term.

• Research and lab facilities. IFR has research and lab facilities in the Museums Annex Building on Central Campus and experimental ponds, outdoor raceways, and a wet lab at the Saline Fisheries Research Station about 12 miles south of UM. These facilities have been used by UM faculty and grad students from several units, including SNRE, EEB, and the School of Public Health.

• Undergraduate students. IFR routinely provides opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in research projects through internships, work study, and other temporary positions.

• University Committees. IFR personnel have served on UM committees. Examples include SNRE search committees and SNRE staff committees.

• Seminars. IFR faculty and students have organized seminar series that included invited speakers from across the nation.