Soil Biogeochemistry
My current research focuses on taking fundamental knowledge of biogeochemical cycling in soils and using it to better manage agricultural lands. My interests have always led to me to ask questions at the molecular scale, but I think it is imperative that scientific work builds towards action at the human-scale. I am currently leading a project at a small organic farm (Oxford Organic Farm) to better understand how soil amendments alter greenhouse gas emissions and impact soil health. To achieve our aims, we have built a mobile lab to operate autochambers and collect gas flux data at high resolution throughout the growing season. We hope to use this large dataset to better pinpoint N2O emissions and understand if and how amendments such as compost and biochar can alter these dynamics. Our end goal is to provide better information to organic growers on ways to increase nitrogen retention and availability to the crop, improve soil health, and reduce losses via greenhouse gases.
As a Research Scientist at Emory University, I also provide intellectual and physical support to numerous projects centered around biogeochemical cycling and greenhouse gas emissions from soil. I have had the opportunity to build out a soils lab with the analytical instrumentation to measure soil health parameters of interest, write out standardized protocols for lab members to use, and mentor graduate and undergraduate students with the lab skills they need to lead their own projects. Fundamentally, I believe that sound science comes from transparency and a nurturing environment to ask new questions and collect solid empirical data to test hypotheses.
As a Research Scientist at Emory University, I also provide intellectual and physical support to numerous projects centered around biogeochemical cycling and greenhouse gas emissions from soil. I have had the opportunity to build out a soils lab with the analytical instrumentation to measure soil health parameters of interest, write out standardized protocols for lab members to use, and mentor graduate and undergraduate students with the lab skills they need to lead their own projects. Fundamentally, I believe that sound science comes from transparency and a nurturing environment to ask new questions and collect solid empirical data to test hypotheses.
Areas of Interest |
Techniques |
Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics in Soil
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Soil Organic Matter Characterization Dissolved Organic Matter Characterization Litter Decomposition Kinetics Microbial Physiology Microbial Carbon Use Efficiency |
Stable Isotope Probing (SIP)
Metabolomics (1H NMR + LC-HRMS) Gas sampling + Analysis (GCMS/CRDS/IRGA) TOC Solution Measurements (combustion - IRGA) Microbial Culturing/Isolation 16S/ITS rRNA PCR + Sequencing ATR-FTIR XRD SEM/TEM |