Rate My Professor Bill McDowell

William H. McDowell serves as Research Professor at Florida International University and Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of New Hampshire. He earned his B.A. in Biology from Amherst College, where he began his research career studying stream ecosystems with Dr. Stuart Fisher. He received his Ph.D. in Aquatic Ecology from Cornell University, investigating dissolved organic matter dynamics in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest under Dr. Gene Likens. Early in his career, he worked as a researcher at the Center for Energy and Environment Research, University of Puerto Rico (1982-1985), and at the State University of New York at Oswego (1985-1989). At UNH, he advanced to full professor, served as Department Chairperson, Director of the New Hampshire Water Resources Research Center, and held a Presidential Chair until retiring from teaching in 2023.

McDowell's academic interests lie in watershed-scale biogeochemistry, stream nutrient cycles across environmental gradients, ecosystem ecology, aquatic ecology, and environmental chemistry. His work elucidates land-water interactions, including controls on stream chemistry and watershed solute and sediment export, as well as interactions between nutrients and dissolved organic matter influenced by land use, soils, hydrology, and extreme events. He initiated long-term research at the Luquillo Mountains in Puerto Rico and the Lamprey River watershed in New Hampshire, contributing to large-scale collaborations such as the LINX projects highlighting inland waters' biogeochemical roles. With over 200 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters garnering more than 50,000 citations, standout publications are "Plumbing the global carbon cycle: integrating inland waters into the terrestrial carbon budget" (Ecosystems, 2007), "Biogeochemical hot spots and hot moments at the interface of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems" (Ecosystems, 2003), "Nitrogen saturation in temperate forest ecosystems" (BioScience, 1998), "The global abundance and size distribution of lakes, ponds, and impoundments" (Limnology and Oceanography, 2006), and "Control of nitrogen export from watersheds by headwater streams" (Science, 2001). McDowell has mentored dozens of graduate students and postdocs into prominent careers and held key roles like President of the Society for Freshwater Science (2012-2013) and LTER Network Coordinating Committee member. Major awards include the University of New Hampshire Distinguished Professor Award (2017), Fellowship of the Society for Freshwater Science (2024), and election as Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Geophysical Union.