Dr. Josh Stepanek

Associate Professor of Biology
970-569-2986 | jstepanek@coloradomtn.edu

Education

• Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
• M.S. Ecology and Natural Resources, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN
• B.S. Ecology and Field Biology, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN

Awards/Publications

• Stepanek J.G. & Kociolek J.P. 2019. Molecular phylogeny of the diatom genera Amphora and Halamphora (Bacillariophyta) with a focus on morphological and ecological evolution. Journal of Phycology DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12836.
• Pogoda C.S., Keepers K.G., Hamsher S.E., Stepanek J.G., Kane N.C. & Kociolek J.P. 2019. Comparative analysis of the mitochondrial genomes of six newly sequenced diatoms reveals group II introns in the barcoding region of cox1. Mitochondrial DNA Part A 30: 43–51.
• Stepanek J.G. & Kociolek J.P. 2018. Amphora and Halamphora from inland waters of the United States and Japan, with the description of 33 new species. Bibliotheca Diatomologica 66: 1–260.
• Lowe R., Kociolek J.P., You Q., Wang Q. & Stepanek J.G. 2017. Diversity of the diatom genus Humidophila in karst areas of Guizhou, China. Phytotaxa 305: 269–284.
• Stepanek J.G., Fields F.J. & Kociolek J.P. 2016. A comparison of lipid content metrics using six species from the genus Halamphora (Bacillariophyta). Biofuels 7: 521–528.
• Stepanek J.G. & Kociolek J.P. 2016. Re-examination of Mereschkowsky’s genus Tetramphora (Bacillariophyta) and its separation from Amphora. Diatom Research 31: 123–148.
• Stepanek J.G., Hamsher S.E., Mayama S., Jewson D.H. & Kociolek J.P. 2016. Observations of two marine members of the genus Cymbellonitzschia (Bacillariophyta) from Tokyo Bay, Japan, with the description of the new species Cymbellonitzschia banzuensis. Phycological Research 64: 26–34.
• Thomas E.W., Stepanek J.G. & Kociolek J.P. 2016. Historical and current perspectives on the systematics of the ‘enigmatic’ diatom genus Rhoicosphenia (Bacillariophyta), with single and multi-molecular marker and morphological analysis and discussion of the monophyly of ‘monoraphid’ diatoms. PLoS ONE 11(4): e0152797. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0152797.
• Kociolek J.P., You Q., Stepanek J.G., Lowe R.L. & Wang Q. 2016. A new Eunotia C.G. Ehrenberg (Bacillariophyta: Bacillariophyceae: Eunotiales) species from Karst formations of southern China. Phytotaxa 265: 285–293.
• Kociolek J.P., You Q., Stepanek J.G., Lowe R.L. & Wang Q. 2016. New freshwater diatom genus, Edtheriotia gen. nov. of the Stephanodiscaceae (Bacillariophyta) from south-central China. Phycological Research 64: 274–280.
• Stepanek J.G., Mayama S. & Kociolek J.P. 2015. Description and phylogenetic position of Amphora aliformis (Bacillariophyta), a new species from Tokyo Bay. Phycologia 54: 78–86.
• Stepanek J.G. & Kociolek J.P. 2015. Three new species of the diatom genus Halamphora (Bacillariophyta) from the prairie pothole lakes region of North Dakota, USA. Phytotaxa 197: 27–36.
• Stepanek J.G. & Kociolek J.P. 2014. Molecular phylogeny of Amphora sensu lato (Bacillariophyta): an investigation into the monophyly and classification of the amphoroid diatoms. Protist 165: 177–195.
• Hamsher S.E., Graeff C.L., Stepanek J.G. & Kociolek J.P. 2014. Frustular morphology and polyphyly in freshwater Denticula (Bacillariophyceae) species, and the description of Tetralunata gen. nov. (Epithemiaceae, Rhopalodiales). Plant Ecology and Evolution 147: 346–365.
• Stepanek J.G. & Kociolek J.P. 2013. Several new species of Amphora and Halamphora from the western USA. Diatom Research 28: 61–76.
• Kociolek J.P., Stepanek J.G., Lowe R.L., Johansen J.R. & Sherwood A.R. 2013. Molecular data show enigmatic cave dwelling diatom Diprora (Bacillariophyceae) to be a raphid diatom. The European Journal of Phycology 48: 474–488.
• Julius M.L., Stepanek J.G., Tedrow O., Gamble C., & Schoenfuss H.L. 2007. Estrogen-receptor independent effects of two ubiquitous environmental estrogens on Melosira varians Agardh, a common component of the aquatic primary production community. Aquatic Toxicology 85: 19-27.

Professional Interests/Associations

Josh was introduced to aquatic and evolutionary biology while earning his B.S. and M.S. in Ecology and Field Biology from St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN. From there he earned his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology where he utilized molecular and comparative phylogenetic techniques to examine evolutionary patterns in oil accumulation within an important group of microscopic algae.

After graduate school, Josh joined the research faculty at St. Cloud State University where he oversaw operation of the campus Bioenergy and Biomass Sustainable Energy Facility, which included an anaerobic digestion system and 16,000 liter capacity algal growth system.

His current research interests continue to lie at the intersection of evolution, ecology and applied phycology. These include studies in algal taxonomy and systematics, the pattern and timing of ecological shifts within algal lineages and the phylogenetic, physical and biochemical characterization of commercially important algal groups.

Josh is currently an Associate Professor of Biology at Colorado Mountain College Vail Valley where, outside of teaching and research, he spends his time fully taking advantage of the beautiful Colorado mountain landscape in all its forms.