Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Raleigh, NC 2018-2021
Ph.D. in Soil Science
Advisors: Joshua L. Heitman and Richard A. McLaughlin
Dissertation: Optimizing Compost Incorporation for Stormwater Infiltration, Runoff Quality, and Vegetation Establishment in Post-Construction Soils
Department of Soil Science, Madison, WI
M.S. in Soil Science
Advisor: Thea Whitman
Thesis: Prescribed Burning Effects on Jack Pine Seeds from High and Low Serotiny Regions, Microbial Interactions, and Soil Properties
B.S. in Environmental Science, Magna Cum Laude
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
Collaborated with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to evaluate the influence of compost and wildflowers on soil physical properties and soil organic carbon cycling
Partner with a private company to develop an engineered soil media to help with nutrient and water retention
Help facilitate workshops and field days at the Sediment and Erosion Control Educational Facility and create educational materials
Evaluate five years of water quality data to determine how stormwater control measures work on active construction sites and effects on nearby streams
Conduct a meta-analysis on compost use to improve soil physical properties
Managed two undergraduate students and one lab technician, and assisted one masters and one PhD student
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
Collaborated with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to improve the soil best management practices post-construction
Conducted an in-depth review on the effects of compost on soil physical properties
Analyzed soil samples for hydraulic properties due to differences in soil texture, compost rate, and density
Evaluated how water quality and pollutant export patterns are altered by compost rate
Investigated the effects of compost rate and source on vegetation establishment
Examined stormwater infiltration, runoff quality, and vegetation establishment on roadsides with compost application
Present finding to stakeholders and write reports
Managed two undergraduate students and one lab technician
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Department of Soil Science
Evaluated the effects of forest fire burn severity on soil chemical and biological properties
Analyzed soil samples for microbial communities (DNA, 16S rRNA) and essential plant nutrients
Examined total organic carbon in soil pre and post fire based on burn severity
Growth of serotinous plants in greenhouse and analysis above and belowground biomass
Collaborated with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to participate in prescribed fires and collect soil samples.
Managed one undergraduate student who assisted with lab work
Ecovative Design, Green Island, NY
Develop biodegradable, soiless materials from agricultural byproducts and mycelium to replace petroleum and plastic based products
Design a standing operating procedure to extract fungal growth hormones
Research in chitin and chitosan deacylation as it pertains to product quality
Plan and design experiments
Analyze data and write company reports
Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences
Collaborated with Ithaca College Natural Lands to estimate soil organic carbon accumulation in undeveloped land
Design a soil sampling scheme, collect soil samples, and analyze for total organic carbon
SSC 201- Soil Science Laboratory (1 section) Spring 2022
SSC 461- Soil Physical Properties and Plant Growth (2 sections) Fall 2021
SSC 201- Soil Science Laboratory (2 sections) Spring 2020
Agronomy 377- Cropping Systems of the Tropics Spring 2018
F&W 501- Forest Fire Behavior and Management Spring 2017
Research Mentor Training 2017
Teaching with Technology 2017
Delta Internship Seminar 2018
Delta Internship in Evidence Based Teaching 2018
ENVS 12100- Introduction to Environmental Science and Technology Spring 2013
[ORCID: 0000-0002-4090-2557, Google Scholar citations: 83, h-index: 3]
Kranz, C.N., McLaughlin, R.A., Heitman, J.L. 2022. Characterizing compost rate effects on stormwater runoff and vegetation establishment. Water 14(5), 696. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/5/696/htm
Kranz, C.N., Heitman, J.L., McLaughlin, R.A. 2020. The effects of compost incorporation on soil physical properties in urban soils- a concise review. Journal of Environmental Management 261, 110209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110209
Kranz, C.N., Whitman, T. 2019. High-severity burning increases jack pine seedling biomass relative to low-severity prescribed fires. Soil Science Society of America Journal 83, S141-S152. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2018.09.0342
Kranz, C.N., Whitman, T. 2019. Short communication: Surface charring from prescribed burning has minimal effects on soil bacterial community composition two weeks post-fire in jack pine barrens. Applied Soil Ecology 144, 134-138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2019.07.004
Kranz, C.N., McLaughlin, R.A., Amoozegar, A., Heitman, J.L. (submitted). Impacts of compost amendment rate on soil hydraulic properties of three soils. Journal of the American Water Resources Association.
Kranz, C.N., Rivers, E.N., McLaughlin, R.A., Heitman, J.L. (submitted). Contributions of compost-soil mixtures to nutrient and heavy metal leaching: Implications for stormwater management on highways. Journal of Environmental Quality.
Amoozegar, A., Heitman, J.L., Kranz, C.N. (submitted). Comparison of soil particle density determined by a gas pycnometer using helium, nitrogen and air. Soil Science Society of America Journal.
Kranz, C.N., Heitman, J.L., McLaughlin, R.A. 2022. Incorporated compost effects on infiltration, water quality, and vegetation establishment. IECA Environmental Connections Magazine. January/February.
Kranz, C.N., Heitman, J.L., McLaughlin, R.A. 2019. The effects of compost on soil physical properties, heavy metals, and turf establishment as means for erosion control and stormwater infiltration. Literature review in accordance with RP-2019-06.
Quigley, K interview on “Christina Kranz and Thea Whitman. (2019) Effects of seed source and burn severity on jack pine seedling establishment”. On behalf of Lake States Fire Science Consortium, Research Briefs for Resources Managers, RB-19-2.
Kranz, C.N., Islam, M., Heitman, J.L., McLaughlin, R.A. 2022. Sediment and Erosion Control in Urban Soils: Low Cost Alternatives with Additional Benefits. Municipal Wet Weather Stormwater Conference, Asheville, NC.
Kranz, C.N., Heitman, J.L., McLaughlin, R.A. 2022. Using Compost in Post Construction Soils: Compost Sources and Rate Alter Soil Improvements. International Erosion Control Association Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
Kranz, C.N., Heitman, J.L., McLaughlin, R.A. 2022. Runoff Quality and Quantity, and Vegetation Establishment with Compost Incorporation in Simulated Roadside Soils. Soil Science Society of North Carolina Annual Meeting. Virtual conference.
Kranz, C.N., Heitman, J.L., McLaughlin, R.A. 2021. Amending Roadside Soils with Compost: Effects on Runoff Quality and Quantity, and Vegetation Establishment. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual meeting, Salt Lake City, UT.
Kranz, C.N., Heitman, J.L., McLaughlin, R.A. 2021. Managing Stormwater Quantity and Quality with Compost Incorporation. North Carolina Department of Transportation Summit, Virtual conference.
Kranz, C.N., Heitman, J.L., McLaughlin, R.A. 2021. Compost Incorporation on Roadsides for Soil Improvements and as a Stormwater Control Measure. International Conference on Ecology and Transportation, Virtual conference.
Kranz, C.N., Heitman, J.L., McLaughlin, R.A. 2021. Review of Incorporating Compost into North Carolina Roadsides. International Erosion Control Association Annual Conference, Virtual conference.
Kranz, C.N., Heitman, J.L., McLaughlin, R.A. 2021. Organic amendments for soil restoration on North Carolina Roadsides: A review. Soil Science Society of North Carolina Annual Meeting, Virtual conference.
Kranz, C.N., Rivers, E., Heitman, J.L., McLaughlin, R.A. 2020. Nutrient and metal leaching losses verses retention in compost-soil blends. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual meeting, Virtual conference.
Kranz, C.N., Rivers, E., Heitman, J.L., McLaughlin, R.A. 2020. Using compost post-construction to improve soil hydraulic properties and manage nutrient export. North Carolina Department of Transportation Summit, Virtual conference.
Kranz, C.N., Heitman, J.L., McLaughlin, R.A. 2020. Compost and Compaction Effects on Soil Hydraulic Properties. International Erosion Control Association Annual Conference, Raleigh, NC.
Kranz, C.N., Heitman, J.L., McLaughlin, R.A. 2020. Compost amendment rate and level of compaction alter pore size distribution and soil hydraulic properties in three different textured soils. Soil Science Society of North Carolina Annual Meeting, Raleigh, NC.
Kranz, C.N., Heitman, J.L., McLaughlin, R.A. 2019. Level of compaction and compost amendment rate alter soil hydraulic properties in three urban soils. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX.
Kranz, C.N., Heitman, J.L., McLaughlin, R.A. 2019. Level of soil compaction is more important than compost volume for determining soil hydraulic properties in a sandy loam soil. American Ecological Engineering Society Meeting, Ashville, NC.
Kranz, C.N., Whitman, T. 2018. Prescribed burning effects on jack pine seeds from high and low serotiny regions: Microbial interactions and soil properties. North American Forest Soil Conference, Quebec City, QC.
Kranz, C.N., Whitman, T. 2017. High and low serotiny jack pine seeds with prescribed fire: Implications for seedling success and microbial communities. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting, Tamps, FL
Kranz, C.N., Sinton, C. 2013. An initial study of soil organic carbon and post-agricultural forest succession age on the Ithaca College natural Lands. Geological Society of America, Northeast Regional Meeting, Bretton Woods, NH.
Kranz, C.N., Sinton, C. 2013. An initial study of soil organic carbon and post-agricultural forest succession age on the Ithaca College natural Lands. James J. Whalen Academic Symposium, Ithaca, NY.
Kranz, C.N., Angione, A. 2013. Biochar at Ithaca College: Two greenhouse studies testing the effects of biochar and earthworms on plant mass. James J. Whalen Academic Symposium, Ithaca, NY.
Kranz, C.N. 2020. Amending roadside with compost post-construction to improve soil hydraulic properties. Department of Crop and Soil Sciences Seminar, Virtual.
Kranz, C.N., Rivers, E., Heitman, J.L., McLaughlin, R.A. 2020. Tying nutrient and metal leaching losses to infiltration rates in compost-soil blends. Graduate Student Research Symposium, Raleigh, NC.
Kranz, C.N. 2019. Optimizing compost application rates for vegetation health, stormwater infiltration, and runoff quality. Department of Crop and Soil Sciences Advisory Panel Meeting, Raleigh, NC.
Kranz, C.N. 2019. Applying compost to roadsides to increase infiltration of water. SSC 511: Soil Physics, Raleigh, NC.
Kranz, C.N. 2017. Effects of fire on soils: Is fire a soil forming factor? Soil Science Department Seminar, Madison, WI
Kranz, C.N. 2013. What is biochar: Principals and practices for local gardeners. The Environmental Crisis: Causes and Solution, Ithaca, NY.
Kranz, C.N., Vander Hill, M., Zadrizny, A. 2012. Biochar soil application depth on plant mass of radishes. The Sustainability Café: Global Climate Change, Ithaca, NY.
Project title: Managing Mud and DGS during Highway Construction and Maintenance. Award: $311,400.
Project title: Moisture Retention and Curst Mitigation. Award: $20,000.
North American Forest Soil Conference, Québec City, QC, $1500 2018
The ASA/CSSA/SSSA conference in Tamps, FL, $1500 2017
Project title: Farming the Forest: Producing Maple Syrup from Ithaca College Natural Lands. Award: $500.
Soil Science Society of North Carolina Poster Competition, 2nd place 2021
Hugh Hammond Bennett Award, Soil and Water Conservation Society 2020
American Ecological Engineering Society Student Travel Grant 2019
American Ecological Engineering Society Student Design Competition, 1st place 2019
John Harcout Scholar, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY 2009-2013
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Society for Agronomy
Crop Science Society of America
International Erosion Control Association
Soil Science Society of America
Municipal Wet Weather Stormwater Conference, Asheville, NC May 2022
International Erosion Control Association Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN February 2022
Soil Science Society of North Carolina Annual Meeting, Virtual conference January 2022
ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual meeting, Salt lake City, UT November 2021
North Carolina Department of Transportation Summit, Virtual conference October 2021
International Conference on Ecology and Transpiration, Virtual conference September 2021
Erosion, Sediment, and Turbidity Control Workshop and Field Day June 2021
International Erosion Control Association Annual Conference, Virtual conference February 2021
Soil Science Society of North Carolina Annual Meeting, Virtual conference January 2021
ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual meeting, Virtual conference November 2020
North Carolina Department of Transportation Summit, Virtual conference October 2020
International Erosion Control Association Annual Conference, Raleigh, NC February 2020
Soil Science Society of North Carolina Annual Meeting, Raleigh, NC January 2020
ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX November 2019
American Ecological Engineering Society Meeting, Ashville, NC June 2019
North American Forest Soil Conference, Quebec City, QC July 2018
ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting, Tamps, FL November 2017
James J. Whalen Academic Symposium April 2013
Northeast Regional Meeting of Geological Society of America, Bretton Woods, NH March 2013
IECA Standards and Practices Committee, member 2021-Present
Diversity Poster Contest, Judge
SASES Undergraduate Research Poster Contest, Judge
SASES Undergraduate Research Oral Contest, Judge
Level II Certification for Erosion and Sediment Control/Stormwater Installation 2021
Level I Certification for Erosion and Sediment Control/Stormwater Installation 2021
S-130 Basic Firefighter 2017
S-190 Intro to Wildland Fire Behavior 2017
L-180 Human Factors on the Fireline 2017
I-100 Incident Command Structure 2017
ArcGIS, ArcGIS Pro
ChemEQL
R and SAS statistical tools
Python programming language
Microsoft Office
HYDRUS-1D model
Regression models
Ithaca College NCAA Division III Swim Team 2009-2013