As a plant-microbial ecologist, I'm interested in how two very different communities - plants & microbes - interact and affect each other's fitness, composition, and function. Specifically, my dissertation research investigates the mechanisms by which plant interactions affect belowground microbial communities. By isolating the mechanisms that determine functionally beneficial plant-plant or plant-microbial interactions, I hope that we can inch closer to being able to manage these relationships in our agricultural systems.
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Recent Happenings
Check out this video to learn more about our rhizobox study!
I worked with an amazing team to study how plant neighbor interactions affect soil carbon storage (I'm focusing on the microbes & root exudates)! Thanks to the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research communications team for their video editing skills! December: Setup a giant plant-soil-feedback experiment (672 pots, 2,000 lbs of sterile soil in a Uhaul, > 10,000 seeds, now to count germinates!)
November: Harvested massive rhizobox experiment in collaboration with the Kravchenko Lab! How do plant interactions affect rhizosphere dynamics (root exudates & microbes) and soil carbon storage?
September: Received a USDA SARE grant to study how farmers understand soil health and soil microbial communities! Excited to interview farmers (virtually - thanks covid!) and host a workshop with agricultural stakeholders!
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