Jake was one of my favorite professors this semester. He is extremely funny, making his lectures very fun. We took many small field trips, which allowed us to learn in the real world. Overall, great experience, would retake his classes!Rate My Professors ↗
Current instructor
Jake Vander Zanden
What students say
Original student reviews · all captured dates
Jake is a great guy with immense knowledge and passion for his craft. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in his class and would recommend him to anyone.Rate My Professors ↗
I really enjoyed Prof. VZ and his lectures. He made class loads of fun, along with Prof. Lyons, and you can tell he is passionate about his area of study. Highly recommend taking his class!Rate My Professors ↗
Probably one of the best professors that I have ever had at UW-Madison. He is so smart and really loves exactly what he is teaching. If you love animals, especially fish, this is definitely the class for you! He really loves when you engage with lectures, so if you are curious about something feel free to ask questions. A pretty awesome guy overallRate My Professors ↗
Loved him. Made me really like fish ecology. Doesn't post his lecture slides so go to lecture.Rate My Professors ↗
Excellent professor, had him for limnology but he was even better for ecology of fishes. Kept lecture interesting and fair grading. Few easy papers and projects, and reasonable tests. Excellent zoology course.Rate My Professors ↗
Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.
Classes with Jake Vander Zanden
A seminar for graduate students covering various fields of zoological research, including limnology and marine science.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=17 letter grades); Fall 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=19 letter grades); Spring 2026: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=14 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ZOOLOGY 115 explores contemporary threats to freshwater ecosystems and integrates biological insights with other disciplines to understand impacts on human well-being.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2025: 3.76 GPA, 94.1% A/AB (n=17 letter grades).
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2025–Fall 2025 · limited sampleDirected Studies in Zoology
1–3 creditsZOOLOGY 299 is a directed study course where students conduct independent research and develop hypotheses under faculty mentorship.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2022: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=4 letter grades).
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sampleSenior Honors Thesis
1–6 creditsZOOLOGY 681 is a mentored individual research and study course for students completing a thesis in an Honors program.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
Senior Honors Thesis
1–4 creditsZOOLOGY 682 is a mentored individual research and study course for students completing a thesis in an Honors program.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sampleSenior Thesis
1–6 creditsZOOLOGY 691 is a mentored individual research and study course for students completing a senior thesis.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
Senior Thesis
1–4 creditsZOOLOGY 692 is a mentored individual research and study course for students completing a senior thesis.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sampleDirected Studies in Zoology
1–6 creditsZOOLOGY 699 offers selected research projects for junior and senior students.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2022: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=5 letter grades); Spring 2024: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=7 letter grades); Spring 2026: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=7 letter grades).
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Research
1–9 creditsZOOLOGY 990 is a graduate research course where students conduct advanced biological research under faculty mentorship to fulfill program requirements.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
Recorded teaching history
Explore courses taught by this instructor →Browse recorded courses
| Term | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | ATMOCN/BOTANY/CIVENGR/ENVIRST/GEOSCI/ZOOLOGY 911 | Limnology and Marine Science Seminar |
| Fall 2026 | ZOOLOGY 115 | Freshwater: Past, Present, and Future |
| Fall 2026 | ZOOLOGY 299 | Directed Studies in Zoology |
| Fall 2026 | ZOOLOGY 681 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | ZOOLOGY 682 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | ZOOLOGY 691 | Senior Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | ZOOLOGY 692 | Senior Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | ZOOLOGY 699 | Directed Studies in Zoology |
| Fall 2026 | ZOOLOGY 990 | Research |
Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.
Instructor identity & provenance
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