Postdoctoral Research Scientist

Kenneth W. Zillig

Fish physiology at the intersection of
ecology and conservation,
from the organisms to the watershed.

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Ken Zillig
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Current Position Postdoctoral Researcher
Institution University of Minnesota Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology
Advisor Dr. Gretchen Hansen

About Me

I am a fish ecophysiologist currently conducting postdoctoral research at the University of Minnesota in Dr. Gretchen Hansen's lab. My work investigates how temperature shapes the physiology, ecology, and conservation of aquatic species.

My research spans a broad range of taxa and systems, from Chinook salmon in California rivers to Antarctic notothenioids beneath the Ross Ice Shelf, Great Lakes coregonids, green and white sturgeon, and threespine stickleback."A common thread runs through all of it: rigorous measurement of organismal physiology, the challenge of scaling that physiology from the individual to the landscape, and the urgent question of what it means for species facing a rapidly changing world.

Outside the lab I enjoy sci-fi, mountain biking, watercolor painting, and escaping into the wilderness for camping, biking, hiking, and birding.

20+ Publications
$3.52M Grants Secured
4+ Available Datasets
Google Scholar → ResearchGate →

Research Areas

Integrating physiology, ecology, and conservation across aquatic systems

Recent Publications

2025

Zillig, K. W., Fukumoto, J. A.*, McInturf, A. G., Burman, S. G., Steel A. E., Cocherell D. E., and Fangue N. A.

A laser-equipped tunnel for the assessment of multiple burst swimming traits in fishes.

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2025

Zillig, K. W., Bell, H. N., FitzGerald A.M., Fangue, N.A.

Patterns of Interpopulation Variation and Physiological Trade-offs in the Acute Thermal Tolerance of Juvenile Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha).

Frontiers in Fish Biology

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2024

Zillig, K. W., Hannan, K.D., Baird, S.E., Cocherell, D. E., Poletto, J.B., and Fangue, N. A.

Effects of acclimation temperature and feed restriction on the metabolic performance of Green Sturgeon.

Conservation Physiology

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