Our research program centers on soil organic matter dynamics in managed and natural ecosystems. Our group broadly asks how environmental change and land use shape soil microbial communities and organic matter pools, with consequences for carbon and nutrient cycles.
A number of our current projects examine how variable soil moisture, particularly intermittent flooding due to altered precipitation regimes or permafrost thaw, affects critical soil processes regulating soil organic matter-microbial community interactions. We are also interested in whether and how ecosystem properties, like crop diversity, biological legacies, and soil structure, mitigate these effects of variable moisture on microbial function and the fate of soil carbon. Our research integrates field studies with controlled greenhouse and laboratory experiments, using a variety of tools to probe microbial-biogeochemical interactions, including isotopes, microbial functional assays, and biological and chemical molecular techniques.
The Soil Biogeochemistry and Ecology Lab is committed to increasing the recruitment, retention, and success of underrepresented groups in STEM. We are dedicated to creating and providing a safe and supportive environment that celebrates a culture of inclusivity and equality. Intentional efforts in diversity and inclusion allow us to: share and value multiple ways of thinking; promote creativity and innovation; exercise dialogue and respect among distinct groups; and foster and advance leadership.