Dr. Clayton Williams joins the University of Vermont (UVM) Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources as a Research Assistant Professor in August 2017. His research focuses on the effects of human activities and natural mechanisms on aquatic biogeochemical cycles and microbial ecology.

“We are delighted to have Dr. Clayton Williams join the faculty of the Rubenstein School,” said Dean Nancy Mathews. “The interface between urban and agricultural wetlands is a growing priority not only in the Champlain basin but also world-wide. His expertise in these systems enhances the strong team of aquatic and wetlands scientists in the School.”

"I am excited to join the Rubenstein School and UVM. The School's academic and research programs are impressive, and I am thrilled to grow my teaching and research program here,” said Williams. “I'm especially excited to establish collaborations to investigate how urban and agricultural landscapes of Lake Champlain's watershed influence the type and amount of detritus entering the lake.”

Williams is also interested in looking at how the structure, age, and quality of forests impact the amount and type of detritus exported to downstream waters. “These studies will help us understand how alterations in the terrestrial system have influenced aquatic carbon cycles and the function of aquatic ecosystems,” he said.

Most recently an assistant professor at the State University of New York – The College of Brockport, Williams studied coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes and how human activities and restoration influence lake carbon cycles. Previously, he conducted postdoctoral research in aquatic biogeochemistry at Trent University in Ontario and at Iowa State University. He investigated how land use change and human disturbances impact aquatic carbon and nutrient cycles at ecosystem scales.

Williams earned his Ph.D. in biology from Florida International University in 2008 and a B.S. in both zoology and psychology from Ohio State University in 2000.  For his dissertation research, he examined microbial food webs in marine estuaries.