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Soil Biology and Genomics
All terrestrial life on earth depends upon soil, making it one of our most important resources. Our research focuses on how environmental change influences the amazing diversity of life in soils, including its fungi, bacteria and animals. It seeks to link above- and below-ground research by understanding how changes in soil biodiversity may impact soil processes that are important for plant and ecosystem health. We utilise a range of technologies in our research program and aim to generate research outcomes that enable us to build a holistic picture of how soil organisms influence the ecology, growth and diversity of plants and animals. The outcomes from our research will be used to improve future strategies for ecosystem management, increased plant production, carbon sequestration, and remediation of contaminated soils.
Our mission is to innovate, integrate and extend knowledge of soil biodiversity and its linkages with ecosystem services in order to gain a holistic view of belowground responses to environmental and global change.
Research staff include:
| Position | Name | Key Words |
| Director of Research & Acting Theme Leader | Prof Ian Anderson | Microbial ecology, molecular ecology, mycorrhizal fungi, plant microbe interactions |
| Deputy Theme Leader | A/Prof Brajesh Singh | Microbial ecology, functional microbial ecology, global processes |
| Professor | Prof John Cairney | Soil fungal ecology, plant fungal interactions |
| Researcher | Dr Jeff Powell | Microbial ecology, community assembly, ecological informatics |
| Research Lecturer | Dr Uffe Nielsen | Soil biodiversity, global change, ecosystem processes |
|
Research Fellow |
Dr Susan Chambers | Soil fungal ecology, plant fungal interactions |
| Research Fellow | Dr Barbara Drigo | Soil microbial communities, rhizosphere, c flow |
| Postdoctoral Fellow | Dr Catriona Macdonald | Microbial ecology, plant-soil interactions, nutrient cycling |
| Postdoctoral Fellow | Dr Loic Nazaries | Greenhouse gases, microbial control and modelling, climate change |
