This story is part of a UToledo Faculty and Staff Spotlight series, where we feature uplifting stories of the remarkable achievements and contributions of hidden champions who call the University of Toledo home, fostering connections across campus. Cover graphic by Juice House. Image courtesy of Dr. Thomas Bridgeman.
Dr. Thomas Bridgeman is a professor of ecology at the University of Toledo and the director of the UToledo Lake Erie Center. His research focuses on the ecology of the Great Lakes, particularly harmful algal blooms and other environmental challenges facing Lake Erie. The JuicePress Team recently interviewed Bridgeman to learn more about his role and contribution to campus.
Q: How long have you worked at the university? Can you summarize what you do in your role at UT?
A: I started at UT in the fall of 2001 as a post-doctoral associate.
Q: What are your degrees in and where did you study?
A: Miami University (B.S. in Zoology); Ohio State University (M.S. in Zoology); University of Michigan (Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology).
Q: What field or research area do you focus on? What initially sparked your interest?
A: I do research on the ecology of the Great Lakes. My family lived near the shore of Lake Erie and I spent a lot of time sailing, swimming and scuba diving around the Bass Islands.
Q: Tell us about your academic journey, what were some pivotal moments for you?
A: I started college as a pre-med [student], but with no real interest in being a physician. In the summer of my junior year I spent several weeks taking classes and living at OSU’s Stone Lab field station at Put-In-Bay. It was great science and great fun — combining my interests in science and enjoyment of being around water. After graduating, I joined the Peace Corps in southern Africa as a science teacher. Returning to Ohio, I completed a master’s degree on Lake Erie ecology, based at Stone Lab. I spent a few more years as a scientist working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Ann Arbor studying all of the Great Lakes, then resumed graduate studies — completing my Ph.D at the University of Michigan with research on Lake Victoria in Africa. After I graduated, I came to UToledo for [a] two-year Post-doc position, but I’ve been here ever since.
Q: Who or what has been a significant influence on your professional journey?
A: My first professor at Stone Lab made studying Lake Erie seem like the most fun job you could have. Later, my supervisor at NOAA made me realize that if I wanted to have any independence on what I studied, I needed to have a Ph.D. degree.
Q: What excites you most about the future of your field?
A: Freshwater resources are only going to become more important for everyone on the planet. Our Great Lakes are [a] global treasure that we need to understand and better protect. I’m looking forward to seeing continued advances in technology in remote sensing, water quality sensors and the application of AI to help us better understand these vast bodies of water beyond what we can see from a boat or through a microscope.
Q: What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a career in your field?
A: Take all the aquatic science and ecology classes you can. Also, with autonomous sensors and samplers, the amount of data that is now being collected is huge. Take classes to learn how to manipulate and analyze very large data sets. Introduce yourself to a professor who does the kind of studies you think you might be interested in. See if you can spend part of a summer working in their lab or in the field to see if you like it. You may find yourself working with state and federal agencies and policy makers. [T]herefore, a course in public administration would be helpful. You may find that your non-majors courses are the ones that make the difference in your career path.
Q: Can you share about a project or research initiative you’re particularly proud of?
A: I’m proud that I brought a renewed awareness of the threat of harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie to the scientific community and the public. I was also the first to make the connection between the severity of annual blooms on Lake Erie and the spring/summer flow of the Maumee River. This has led to bloom predictions and quantitative goals to reduce nutrient runoff to Lake Erie by 40% to reduce blooms.
Q: What are some of your most significant achievements at the university?
A: I think I have helped to make Lake Erie and water research one of the “Areas of Excellence” at the university. This is also an area where university research benefits Toledo in a tangible way and strengthens ties between the university and the community.
Q: In what ways have you contributed to the broader university community?
A: I spend most of my time at the UToledo Lake Erie Center, about 30 minutes east of campus. Therefore, unfortunately, I probably haven’t contributed to the university community as much as I otherwise would have liked.
Q: How do you support students outside of the classroom?
A: I try to get as many students as possible involved in summer research at the Lake Erie Center. After spending a summer on the boat and in the lab, many of them want to come back the next summer. After they graduate, I have helped them get jobs in their field. In fact, several of my students are now full-time staff scientists working in my lab.
Q: What is a meaningful or favorite memory you have of being an undergraduate or graduate student?
A: There are a lot of great memories and friends from my graduate school days. I did my Ph.D. research on Lake Victoria in Uganda. Working in Africa was often challenging, but the people were wonderful and the natural beauty was incredible. I remember skin diving to collect mud from the lake bottom while local helpers stood guard watching for crocodiles. Probably not the smartest thing for me to be doing!
Q: What do you enjoy about living in the Toledo area?
A: There’s a lot to like about living in this area. I love that I can enjoy all the city attractions — museums, zoo, Mudhens, restaurants — but still be out in the countryside within a few minutes. There are beautiful natural areas just outside of Toledo, like Oak Openings, Ottawa National Wildlife Reserve and of course, Lake Erie. The cost of living is inexpensive relative to other parts of the country, and we’re close to the Detroit airport which will get you to anyplace in the world.
Q: What hobbies or interests do you pursue outside of work?
A: A few years ago, we moved to a rural area where the skies are dark and the stars are brilliant. I bought a telescope and have been enjoying learning the night sky, seeing things like star clusters, nebulae, distant galaxies and double stars for the first time. My wife and I also like to kayak and birdwatch in the local rivers. I learned how to roast coffee after I was gifted 10 pounds of green coffee beans in Africa, and I have been roasting coffee at home now for 25 years.
Q: What is a fun fact about yourself?
A: I can still speak a little Zulu. “Hambani kahle, bonkhosi!”
Note: Responses from the interviewee were received by email and have been edited for grammar and clarity.
