Using a combination of molecular microbiology, biogeochemistry, and soil science, I link microbial identity to metabolic functions, advancing a multidisciplinary understanding of soil ecosystems. My current research projects are investigating how carbon is influenced by cover cropping and ecosystem restoration.
I earned my Ph.D. in soil microbiology from The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH) and completed postdoctoral fellowships in two U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories. At Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN, I studied Arctic permafrost ecosystems with the Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiment-Arctic, elucidating microbial processes that govern carbon loss from thawing permafrost and improving process representations in Earth System Models. At Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, WA, I led research on soil microbial communities, moving beyond surveys to hypothesis testing, using novel statistical approaches.
As research faculty at the University of Maryland, College Park, I led quantitative microbial ecology studies of a restored wetland in a Maryland Delmarva Bay. I began studying agricultural systems as a Research Soil Scientist at the United States Department of Agriculture, Davis, CA, where I developed a lasting interest in regenerative agriculture—practices that preserve soil health while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.
My work is driven by a sense of purpose to address pressing environmental challenges to ecosystem health and to minimize barriers to implement solutions based in science. I hope that advancing our fundamental understanding of soil systems will help secure a more sustainable future.
