Mike Schuster is a plant ecologist and an assistant professor in the biology department. After graduating from Hamline in 2010 with degrees in biology and economics, Mike completed his PhD at Purdue University in 2015, studying the impacts of climate change and plant invasions on ecosystem processes. Since then, he's served as community faculty at Metropolitan State University and as a researcher in the Department of Forest Resources at the University of Minnesota. Mike started teaching at Hamline in 2023 as an adjunct before joining the faculty permanently in 2025.
Mike’s research focuses on the ecology and management of invasive plant species. Since 2016, Mike has led the Cover It Up! project, wherein he and his students explore novel forest management strategies in collaboration with more than a dozen partner organizations throughout Minnesota and beyond. These collaborations have shown how densely establishing native plant cover can fortify forests against invasions of buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and other exotic plants, simultaneously restoring biodiversity and reducing needs for additional chemical or mechanical interventions.
Mike’s teaching emphasizes critical thinking through a student-centered approach to learning that focuses on practical applications of course content. Students can expect clear expectations and an open door from Mike. His courses are designed to build students’ core competencies and lead them to be more effective science communicators. Students in his courses work collaboratively to discover the mechanisms underlying the diversity and function of life on Earth and share that knowledge with others. Mike also leverages his connections throughout Minnesota to bring diverse experts into the classroom and share the challenges and triumphs that make their work both exciting and impactful.