RESEARCH PORTFOLIO
We integrate laboratory, field, and modeling approaches to advance mechanistic understanding of biogeochemical cycles across carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, energy, and water.
Grasslands cover 70% of global agricultural land and are vital for ecosystem services. Human activities have shifted many grasslands from a cooling effect to a warming effect, creating an urgent need for sustainable management.
This project evaluates Adaptive Multi-Paddock (AMP) grazing, a rotational approach inspired by ancient herds, to affect forage production, gas regulation, and water use efficiency.
Active · FFAR · $3.1M · 2023–2027
Microalgae-based soil amendments can reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers. This project quantifies the environmental and agronomic benefits of microalgae-based fertilizer applications across cropland systems in Texas in collaboration with industry partners. Our goal is to evaluate the response of CO₂ and water fluxes to these amendments to better understand their impacts in semi-arid cropping systems under different management practices.
Active · TX A&M · $1.9M · 2023–2027
Woody encroachment is a growing socio-ecological challenge requiring innovative, long-term management solutions. Through an integrative approach, we evaluate how soil carbon dynamics respond to existing and emerging strategies — leading to informed, optimized land management.
Active · TX A&M · $1.5M · 2023–2026
The Southern US could produce over 10 billion gallons of advanced biofuels annually — nearly a third of the national target. This project evaluates the environmental sustainability of sugarcane and energy cane by measuring carbon accumulation, nutrient retention, and water use efficiency.
Active · DOE · $134M · 2022–2027
Large-scale solar arrays compete with agricultural land — agrivoltaics combines solar panels with crops and grazing to reduce that tension. This projects evaluates how solar arrays affect ecosystem C dynamics and microenvironment as well as productivity of grazinglands.
Active · USDA, Luminant & Texas A&M · $12M+ · 2023–2026
In this project, we are designing solar array layouts that support crop production and grazing in urban environments.
Active · Harris County · $134,855 · 2025–2026
