Dr. Edward Theriot

Biography

Edward C. Theriot has had a significant career in the study of freshwater marine biology, with a major focus on modern lakes and their paleontology. His particular interest lies in microscopic algae, known as diatoms, which leave a dense fossil record in both lakes and oceans. Theriot’s research encompasses various aspects of diatom taxonomy and their interactions with the environment. He is currently engaged in a detailed study of the diatoms in Yellowstone Lake, which aims to uncover how El Niño events impact precipitation and fires in Yellowstone National Park. His work has taken him across the globe, including countries such as China, Canada, France, Sweden, Finland, Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. Prior to his tenure at the University of Texas at Austin, Theriot served as a curator of diatoms at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia for eight years, along with serving as the vice president of research collections and as Past-President of the Board of Directors of the Association of Systematics Collections based in Washington, D.C. He is also the director of the Texas Natural Science Center and is initiating a survey of diatoms in the lakes of the Highland Lakes, which are a series of man-made reservoirs in the Central Texas area.

Research Interests