Meghan studies how interactions among plants, microbes, and soil mediate ecosystem-specific responses to environmental changes.
As the head of the Arboretum’s soil ecology lab, Meghan’s research encompasses two overarching themes: relationships between plant traits and ecosystem functions; and the above and below ground consequences of human activities. She investigates these topics using field experiments, field observations, and laboratory and greenhouse studies, with a particular focus on temperate ecosystems.
Meghan has published in leading journals in her field and secured funding through highly competitive fellowships and grants, including a prestigious fellowship from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a National Science Foundation (NSF) “Rules of Life” grant.
She has also presented her work at national and international conferences and workshops, ranging from local Indiana Academy of Science meetings to a Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) course on boreal ecology in Umeå.
In addition, she has mentored undergraduate students in designing and conducting independent research projects.
