Following her postdoctoral studies, Susan Kilham, PhD was on the faculty at the University of Michigan 1972-1990. She came to Drexel University in January, 1991. Kilham does research and teaching in many areas of ecology and the environment. She has extensive international experience in aquatic ecosystems and is the author of over 75 scientific publications. In the past decade, she has researched areas related to the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, including studies on diatom species in the large lakes of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the ecosystem consequences of the extinction of frogs in Panama. She has trained 17 PhD students, 14 MS students and has had over 50 undergraduates work in her laboratory. She has been active in service to her professional organizations and in community outreach throughout her career

Aquatic ecology, Physiological ecology of phytoplankton, Consumer/algal interactions, Food quality, Stable isotopes and ecological stoichiometry in food webs, Tropical lakes and streams, Yellowstone Ecosystem, Climate change.