Eric Leis teaching Lucas Purnell how to take virology samples from common carp. (Photo by: Sarah Bauer, 6/2007)

Lucas Purnell recently started as a biological aid with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service La Crosse Fish Health Center (FHC) in LaCrosse, Wis. Purnell worked for the health center last summer and was a great asset.  This summer, after he graduated from Holmen High School in Holmen, Wis., he began working for LaCrosse FHC.  Purnell has been an enormous help around the health center working up fish for wild fish health surveys, making media, performing parasite necropsies and sterilizing glassware.  He is under going training in the virology lab as well.  Lucas has already proven to be a wonderful addition to LaCrosse FHC staff and he will remain working for us as he attends the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse for a degree in Biology.