People
Nina Wurzburger
Associate Professor
Ph.D. Forest Resources, University of Georgia
M.S. Soil Science, University of California Davis
B.S. Environmental and Resource Science, University of California Davis
Mark Whatley
Lab Manager and Lead Technician
M.S. Horticulture, University of Georgia
B.A. History and B.A. Political Science, University of Georgia
Melanie Taylor
Graduate Student (PhD in Ecology)
M.S. Ecology, University of Georgia
B.S. Biology, Concord University
I am interested in understanding drivers of tree species assemblages in eastern North American forests and how changes in these assemblages impact ecosystem function.
Jordan Argrett
Graduate Student (PhD in Ecology; co-advised with Dr. Anny Chung)
B.S. Environmental Sciences, Emory University
My primary research interests lie in plant-soil-microbe interactions and their potential impact on plant and soil community structure. My current interests lie in understanding how hemiparasitic plants affect nutrient cycling, aboveground plant competition, and belowground microbial community assembly.
Erik Jones
Graduate Student (PhD in Ecology)
B.A. Biology and Environmental Science, University of Minnesota Morris
I am interested in understanding how fungi associated with plant roots shape organic matter in soils. My research focuses on the impact of trees like oaks and pines, and their ectomycorrhizal fungal partners, on the quantity and composition of soil organic matter in woodlands of the southeastern United States.
Angie Romano
Graduate Student (PhD in Plant Biology)
B.S. Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida
M.S. Museum and Field Studies, University of Colorado
I am broadly interested in the functional diversity and distribution of ectomycorrhizal fungi. More specifically, I am interested in how these traits change with ecological regime shifts, such as the reintroduction of fire to the ecosystem.
Rohit Nandakumar
Graduate Student (PhD in Ecology)
B.S. Zoology, Christ College, Irinjalakuda, Kerala, India
M.S. Wildlife Biology and Conservation, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India
Trey Grimsley
Graduate Student (MS in Ecology)
B.S. Environmental Science, Santa Clara University
Zane Rogers
Undergraduate Assistant and Researcher (BS in Ecology)
Isabella Pellicano
Undergraduate Researcher (BS in Ecology & BS in Plant Biology)
Callie Nelson
Undergraduate Researcher (BS in Ecology)
Jake Ferus
Undergraduate Assistant (AB in Ecology)
Nicholas Alexander
Undergraduate Assistant (BS in Ecology)
Aura Avrunin
Undergraduate Assistant (AB in Ecology)
Former Lab Members:
Graduate Students and Postdocs:
Kayla Bonilla (M.S. in Ecology) - Intern, Resource Assistants Program, USDA Forest Service
Jessie Motes (M.S. in Ecology) - PhD student at Columbia University
Sarah Ottinger (M.S. in Ecology) - Environmental Justice Manager, Tennessee Valley Authority
Irenee Payne (visiting graduate student from Oregon State University) - Research Technician, USDA Forest Service
Dana Carpenter (M.S. in Ecology) - Assistant Land Steward, The Nature Conservancy
Carly Phillips (Ph.D. in Ecology) - Research Scientist, Science Hub for Climate Litigation, Union of Concerned Scientists
Jeffrey Minucci (Ph.D. in Ecology) - Physical Scientist, US Environmental Protection Agency
Julie Tierney (M.S. in Ecology) - PhD student at Princeton University
Mike Ament (M.S. in Ecology) - Physical Scientist, US Geological Survey
Aeran Coughlin (M.S. in Ecology) - PhD student at Duke University
Melanie Taylor (M.S. in Ecology) - Ecologist, USDA Forest Service
Courtney Collins (M.S. in Conservation Ecology & Sustainable Development) - Postdoctoral Fellow, University of British Columbia
Megan Machmuller (Honorary Lab Member, Ph.D. in Ecology) - Research Scientist, Colorado State University
Kelly Andersen (Postdoctoral Researcher) - Assistant Professor, Nanyang Technological University
Technicians:
Andres Baron
Austin Martin
Shialoh Wilson
Undergraduate Researchers:
Soumya Vajrala
Isabella Pellicano
Ian Morton
Erik Ramos
Carter Coleman
Hannah Goldberg
Grace Anne Ingham
Evan Barnard
Sumaya El-Khalidi
Kelsey Morton
Jenna Peissig
Meryom Patillo
Undergraduate Assistants:
Arabella Reddish
Madison Caren
Christian Deneka
Lindsay Jason
Preston Harden
Anna Burkhart
Garrett Churchwell
Annabelle Barr
Ramar Allen
Rose Parham
Clarissa Keisling
Tyler Ellison
Megan Kelley
Breanna Walker
David Blount
Amy Johnson
Connor Timpone
Brian McGann
Dina Abdulhadi
Brice Howell
Tierney O'Sullivan
Sheena Zhang