Principal Investigator
Phone: (315) 787-2337
325 Barton Lab, 15 Castle Creek Drive, Geneva, New York 14456
Technicians
Abigail Allen
Email: aw732@cornell.edu
Phone: (315) 787-2334
B.S. Geology: Environmental Earth Science, State University of New York at Oswego
323 Barton Laboratory
Olivia Morse
Email: obm3@cornell.edu
Phone: (315) 787-2334
323 Barton Laboratory
Graduate Students
Email: hwb44@cornell.edu
BS in Plant Science (Agroecology) with minors in Entomology and Agronomy, The Pennsylvania State University
I am interested in the ecology and biogeochemistry of belowground ecosystems and their impacts by human activities. My research spans a diverse array of environments, including native, urban, and agricultural settings, to understand the interactions at the nexus of plants, soil animals, and microbes, and how these interactions shape ecosystem health and resilience. During my graduate research at Cornell, I studied how urban environmental gradients and management practices influence soil biodiversity and ecosystem functionality, specifically examining soil animal communities within public parks and turfgrass lawns. This research has advanced our understanding of the factors driving soil animal community composition and their contributions to biogeochemical cycles, particularly in urban settings. It has also provided insights into management strategies that may help conserve these communities and the benefits they offer to society.
Post-Doctoral Researcher
Maryam Chelkha
My research interests lie in soil ecology and biodiversity. I specifically focus on the interactions between earthworms and rhizosphere components (Plants, bacteria, nematodes, and fungi).
My Ph.D. research was dedicated to understanding the biological interactions between earthworms and their rhizosphere counterparts, such as entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi, in the context of biocontrol. This study’s findings have practical implications, shedding light on the complex dynamics of multitrophic interactions and offering insights into enhancing biocontrol strategies for insect pests.
As a postdoctoral associate at Cornell University, I am currently exploring various facets of earthworm management. This includes studying earthworms’ influence on turfgrass systems, carbon and nitrogen storage, and responses to anthropogenic noise. These investigations are critical in deepening our comprehension of earthworm populations and their ecological implications, providing crucial insights for informing sustainable land management practices.
My ultimate research goals are to advance our knowledge and promote practices that foster biodiversity, enhance soil fertility, and support long-term sustainable farming systems.
Science Water Calibrator
Former Lab Members
Ashley Jernigan– Graduate Student
Louise Roberts – Post-Doctoral Researcher
Lindsay Fennell – Graduate Student
Natalie Bray – Graduate Student
Dr. Huijie Gan -Post-Doctoral Researcher
Maxwell Helmberger – Graduate Student
Dr. Pengfei Wu – Visiting Scholar
Southwest University for Nationalities, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. of China