A. Peyton Smith

Professional Summary

Specialty: Soil Carbon Dynamics

Research: My research focuses on how physical, biological and chemical processes interact at fine scales (soil aggregate or pore scale) to alter the flow of carbon and nutrients at larger scales (field or landscape scale). I am especially interested in how global change (land use- and climate change) and extreme weather (droughts, floods) alters the soil microbiome and their role in fundamental biogeochemical processes, such as nutrient and soil carbon cycling in both natural and agro-ecosystems. Microorganisms largely determine the fate of organic carbon in soils, as they are the agents controlling the majority of decomposition processes and organic matter transformations. Equally as important, the soil matrix (i.e. the 3D arrangement of particles and pores), ultimately governs those processes and interactions. As such, research in my lab couples organic matter and microbiome characterization with soil physical properties to better understand how molecular, microbial and moisture properties interact with their physical environment to control the stabilization and destabilization of soil carbon. I am currently looking for graduate students and postdocs to join the lab.

Students and Support Staff:
Razieh Abdollahi | Harrison Coker | Ayush Joshi Gyawali | Annalee Fearing | Andrea Fonseca | Heng-An Lin | Matthew Peterson | Katherine Quinonez‑Gonzalez | Nicole Shigley