Ann St. Amand Ph.D., CLP
Founding President / Phycologist
Ann earned her B.S. in Ecology, Evolutionary and Population Biology from Purdue University and her Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame in Aquatic Ecology. She is PhycoTech’s founder and headed research with over 35 years of experience. Ann processed all manual algal and zooplankton samples at PhycoTech, as well as taught our algal taxonomy workshops. In her spare time, she enjoyed native gardening, reading, singing in a praise group, hiking, hunting for algae (and a billion other cool things, yes, a bit ADD) as well as hanging out with her awesome husband and kids, and grandsons Harry and Jace!
Ann spent her volunteer time working with UpStream (a 6th grade hands on stream program), Salmon in the Classroom, Brown Elementary School Science Fair, and Science Olympiad at the Middle/HS level in the St. Joseph Public Schools. She also volunteered with the Fresh Start Children’s Garden, Indian Hills Garden Club, The St. Joseph Public Library, Boy and Girl Scouts and the Boys and Girls Club of Benton Harbor installing native gardens and helping with STEM activities. She was also very active in NALMS, McNalms and other ecological groups emphasizing Algea and especially enjoyed focusing on and encouraging Women in science, and early career students.
View Ann'sCV
Denise Clark
Lab Manager - IFCB Division, IT Manager
Denise has a B.S. Degree in Computer Science and years of experience in computer system support, and has been a part of PhycoTech since 2011. She manages our IFCB department and provides support to the team in a variety of ways including: leading the Imaging FlowCytobot project, running and analyzing data, keeping computers updated and virus free and ensuring systems are running smoothly.
Denise spends her volunteer time working with First Lego League, Boy Scouts and as a Science Olympiad Mentor. She is also an avid bowler.
Kam Truhn
Lab Manager
Kam is a freshwater ecologist/ limnologist with more than 16 years of experience. Since earning his M.A. in Biology/ Freshwater Ecology at Central Michigan University, he has worked on a diverse range of water quality and research projects focusing on nutrient loading and algal, macroinvertebrate, and fish biodiversity from NY to CA. At PhycoTech he oversees lab operations, sample processing, represents us at scientific meetings, and helps with algal identification workshops.
Kam spends his volunteer time working as a Science Olympiad Mentor with the High School and Middle School teams and working with PhycoTech outreach programs.
Sarah Johnson
Office Manager / Contract Coordinator
Sarah has been part of the PhycoTech family since 2018. She has earned her A.A. and handles day to day needs including: billing, overseeing contracts and bids, emails, product processing and shipping, customer service inquiries, workshop organization and other office tasks. Sarah is also our social media coordinator and web site editor. As a local photographer, she enjoys capturing memories for families as well as some of the splendid scenery around her native area, Michigan’s Great Southwest. She also has a daughter who has graduated with a degree in American Sign Language Interpretation, and MBA from a Michigan University.
Sarah is currently serving on the EC Board for Michigan Geocaching Organization, MiGo. She also volunteers as as part of an Admin Team for a large Michigan social group. Sarah previously volunteered for 14 years with a national non-profit youth soccer league for, and enjoys working with the PhycoTech education and outreach programs.
David "Ben" Shotwell
Lab Tech & Operations
Ben Shotwell joined PhycoTech in May of 2023. He attended Western Michigan University where he graduated with a B.S. in biology and minor in chemistry. He oversees and performs the day to day laboratory operations, processing and logging in samples, as well as assisting in other areas. Ben also volunteers at Upton Middle School with the UpStream Club and Science Olympiad.