I am interested in the interactions that take place between plants and microorganisms, especially those with applicable benefits to agriculture. My current research is investigating the ability of host-associated microorganisms and microbiomes to alleviate drought stress in maize. By using soils collected across a precipitation gradient in Kansas, we hope to study the soil's legacy affects on maize drought stress and assemble a large (1000 isolate) culture collection for future bioprospecting and comparative genomics. Currently, I am conducting this research as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Kansas (KU) in the Wagner Lab.
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Prior to joining KU, I received my PhD Saint Louis University in the Miller Lab where I explored the microbiome of grafted grapevines. In addition, I spent two years prior to graduate school as a research technician at the Missouri Botanical Garden in the Edwards Lab.
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For more information about my work see my research interests and publications pages!