Our lab uses field and laboratory studies to understand disturbance effects on forest carbon, and the biogeochemical factors that regulate carbon and nitrogen dynamics in forest soil. Characterizing the ecological role of pyrogenic carbon is a major focus of our current work.

Ecosystem ecology focuses on the interactions among living and non-living components of an ecosystem. It includes study of the structure and function of an ecosystem, their relationships, and their responses to natural and human-induced change. Ecosystem ecology is inherently an interdisciplinary field of study, and interdisciplinary approaches are essential for accurate understanding of specific ecosystem types, and for designing human land-use strategies that support  ecosystem processes.

We work closely with fire and forest managers and with researchers from diverse disciplines to advance ecological knowledge about fire-prone forest ecosystems. We welcome new collaborations as we seek to understand fire effects and forest recovery across contrasting ecosystem types.