Directory

Reuben P. Keller, PhD

About

Reuben Keller has been on faculty at Loyola University Chicago since August, 2011. In 2024 he was awarded Faculty Member of the Year at Loyola by the Faculty Council. Prior to Loyola, he held post-doctoral positions at the University of Chicago, the University of Notre Dame, and Cambridge University. Keller completed his PhD in David Lodge’s lab at the University of Notre Dame (2001–2006). He grew up in Australia, and became interested in freshwater ecology and invasive species during his undergraduate degrees at Monash University (Melbourne, Australia), and especially while working in Professor Sam Lake’s lab. 

Degrees

• BA/BSc(Hons) Monash University Australia
• PhD (Ecology) University of Notre Dame

Research Interests

Keller is interested in the ecological, economic and social causes and consequences of species invasions. His research is focused on aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes and Chicago regions, including fish, crayfish, invertebrates, and aquatic plants. Current projects include SCUBA sampling in Lake Michigan to determine the extent and impacts of invasive crayfish and macrophytes and a long-term experimental control program for invasive red swamp crayfish in the Chicago River. Keller and his students are also working on multiple projects that investigate the effectiveness of different technologies for preventing the introduction and spread of invasive species.  

 Keller spends a lot of time meeting and working with policy-makers at the city, state, regional, and national levels to ensure that his research addresses important questions, and that his results are communicated to those who can use them. 

Professional & Community Affiliations

• Associate editor of journal Biological Invasions
• Co-Chair of the Aquatic Life Committee of the Illinois Invasive Species Council 

Courses Taught

• ENVS 203: Environmental Statistics
• ENVS 226: Science & Conservation of Freshwater Ecosystems
• ENVS 322: Invasive Species
• ENVS 390: Integrative Seminar
• ENVS 401: Sustainable Systems – Natural Science Perspectives
• ENVS 422: Invasive Species 

Selected Publications

Edited Volumes:

Keller RP, M Cadotte & G Sandiford (eds.) 2015. Invasive Species in a Globalized World. University of Chicago Press. 

 Keller RP, DM Lodge, M Lewis & J Shogren (eds). 2009. Bioeconomics of Invasive Species: Integrating Ecology, Economics, Policy and Management. Oxford University Press. 

Peer-reviewed Journal Articles:

Cranberg C & RP Keller. 2023. Historical trends of aquatic invasive species distribution and establishment in Illinois, USA. Biological Invasions 25:3361-3368. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-023-03130-3 

Egly RM, RD Polak, ZA Cook, HD Moy, JT Staunton & RP Keller. 2021. Development and first tests of a lab-scale electric field for investigating potential effects of electric barriers on aquatic invasive invertebrates. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, section Biogeography and Macroecology 9:631732. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.631762 

 Cole E, RP Keller & K Garbach. 2019. Risk of invasive species spread by recreational boaters remains high despite widespread adoption of conservation behaviors. Journal of Environmental Management 229: 112-119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.06.078 

 Keller RP, A Masoodi & RT Shackleton. 2018. The impact of invasive aquatic plants on ecosystem services and human well-being in Wular Lake, India. Regional Environmental Change 18: 847-857. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-017-1232-3 

  For a complete list of publications, awards, and affiliations, please see his CV.