Lead for three projects: 1. Forest Fungi Project - A citizen science program initiated towards non-professional scientists and students to understand how microbes (specifically, tree root associated fungi) can change due to climate change. Participants go to forested lands, identify trees, collect roots and soils and send to our lab for species profiles. We hypothesize that fungal species and the role of plant-fungal interactions will vary across climate gradients. These data could substantially increase predictions for how forests will respond to changing climates. 2. Local Microbe Project- The goal is to address whether microbial communities adapted/assembled/acclimated to local soil and climate conditions in ways that promote plant growth in these condition. Soil and microbes were collected from several sites across a climatic and soil type gradient from underneath a single tree species. Microbial communities from different abiotic soil types were experimentally exchanged with and a watering treatment imposed. We predicted that tree growth would be maximized when microbial communities match their native soils. Growth in well-watered conditions will be maximized when pots are inoculated with microbes from wetter sites, and vice versa for water-stressed and drought microbes.3. Mycorrhizal Guild Project- The aim is to understand if positive mycorrhizal (arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi or ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi) guilds feedbacks promote seedling performance in response to imposed drought? A field experiment was set up using AM and EM fungal associated tree species at AM and EM dominated sites in a temperate forest in central Illinois. We imposed a drought treatment with a through rainfall manipulation. We hypothesized that the tree seedlings will gain an advantage in survival and/or growth when growing in neighborhoods dominated by their own mycorrhizal guilds (AM vs. EM), and that this positive feedback will be modified for seedlings under stress.

I prepared course curricula, create course materials, deliver lectures and proctor exams. I prepared and assisted students with conducting laboratory experiments and discussions.

Investigating the connection between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal function and it's relationship to overcompensation of scarlet gilia northwest of Flagstaff, Arizona.

Performed random plant surveys in the state of Illinois for forest, prairie, and wetlands.