Research Interests:
Use of stable isotopes to investigate soil microbial processes
My research has predominantly involved soil nitrogen and carbon cycling, including emissions of radiatively active trace gases from soil, and stable isotope probing of soil microorganisms. These investigations have been conducted in tropical and temperate rain and fog forests, temperate annual and perennial grasslands and oak woodlands, temperate chaparral and deserts, temperate and boreal conifer and hardwood forests, and arctic tundra. One of the most stimulating aspects of working in a university research environment is the opportunity to advise top-tier graduate students on concepts, design, implementation, and analysis of their dissertation projects. Other exciting work includes designing and building novel research equipment and facilities, such as the EPIC carbon isotope labeling facility at U.C. Berkeley. Future research will build on past work to further elaborate our knowledge of the role that microorganisms play in plant and microbial litter decomposition.
