Environmental monitoring specialist, Ron Sjoken recently joined the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS), and we’re excited to welcome Ron to our team at ISWS!
Ron first became interested in science at nine years old when he received a telescope and a model rocket. This interest led him to earn his associate's degree in electronics from Parkland College, his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Illinois, and his master's degree in marine biology from the Florida Institute of Technology.
"Given my background in marine biology, I often get asked about the state of health of the oceans, and of corals, in particular, which are in a poor state." Ron is most proud of his two years spent collecting marine invertebrates for the National Cancer Institute’s natural products research.
Looking ahead to his new role at ISWS, Ron will maintain and calibrate the sensors at the Illinois Climate Network research sites. "The best part about my job at ISWS is the people I work with and the university environment. This work impacts Illinois because good data is necessary to make informed decisions," he said.
