He teaches aquaculture-related animal science courses, primarily Fundamentals of Aquaculture, Aquatic Biology, Breeding and Genetics of Aquatic Organisms, as well as Monogastric Nutrition and for the Graduate Environmental Sciences Program Limnology. His research primarily focuses on development of sunfishes for food production. He has been the PD or Co-PD of projects funded by the USDA and Missouri Department of Conservation and published over 25 research articles. Wetzel provides guidance to high schools with aquaculture related projects.