Sustaining Ecosystems Through Interdisciplinary Soil Science and Root Ecology Research 

I am a Lab Manager at Michigan State University in the lab of Christopher Topp, where we study root genetics and phenomics using cutting edge technologies across field, greenhouse, and laboratory studies.  

As a trained soil scientist and ecosystem ecologist, I have over a decade of hands on experience in agroecological and environmental science. Originally from Michigan, I have grown up with a strong appreciation for the surrounding environment. I earned a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Michigan State University in 2016, along with dual minors in Environmental and Sustainability Studies and Science, Technology, Environment, and Public Policy. An introductory soil science class sparked my fascination with the complexity and importance of the belowground world. After completing my undergraduate degree, I further explored my passion and interest in soil as Lead Soil Technician in the MSU Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory and confirmed my path towards advanced soil science research. 

In 2018, I began my PhD in Soil Science at Washington State University as an ARCS Fellow and later participated as a Distinguished Graduate Researcher in Soil Microbiome Science at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. In 2023, I returned to Michigan for a postdoctoral position in Soil Health and Ecosystem Ecology at MSU W. K. Kellogg Biological Station. My graduate and postdoctoral work largely focused on soil profile health assessments and involved agricultural stakeholders including producers and researchers in the US Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service and Agricultural Research Service and the US Department of Energy. My research contributed to improving soil health evaluation and ecosystem service monitoring under diverse cropping systems, management practices, and climates across time and space. 

My passion for the environment continues outside of my research. I enjoy spending time with family and friends outside in nature, exploring new places, and traveling.