Scientific Staff

Nicholas Medina

Postdoctoral Researcher, Tree and Fungal Ecology

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Nicholas Medina researches belowground habitats, focusing on how and why communities of fungi in symbiosis with roots change over time and across host tree species.

At The Morton Arboretum’s Root Biology Research Group, Medina’s research investigates how fungi align with tree and forest phenology, or patterns in the peak timing of tissue growth. Understanding when fungi are most productive helps researchers understand how trees grow, allocate resources, and promote long-term carbon storage in soils.

Medina’s work advances researchers’ understanding of soil fungal community dynamics, which are relatively underexplored. HIs work also advances the broader fields of host-microbe interactions and ecosystem ecology, showing useful implications for improving the survival of tree plantings, such as in restoration efforts in urban areas.

His interest in environmental science was ignited during a study abroad program in the Caribbean exploring biodiversity conservation. Since then, Medina has led diverse research projects across forestry, soil science, agriculture, and microbiology in temperate, tropical, and urban environments.

Accomplishments

University of Michigan Rackham Graduate Merit Fellowship, 2017-2023

USDA-NIFA NCR-SARE Graduate Student Grant (GNC19-282), 2019-2022

University of Michigan Rackham International Research Award, 2019

Posse Foundation Full-Tuition Leadership Scholarship, 2010-2014

DOE IIE Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, 2013

Education

PhD, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

MS, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

BA Biology and Environmental Studies

Brandeis University, Waltham, MA

Affiliations

Ecological Society of America, member

New World Agriculture and Ecology Group, member

University of Michigan Integrated Training in Microbial Systems, member

Science for the People, member

Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), member

Publications

 

Mycorrhizal production and community phenology patterns are seasonal and may be coupled with fine-root phenology

Medina N, Patrick K, Lo M, Romy S, Ramos R, Iversen C, Kennedy PG, McCormack ML. International Conference on Mycorrhizas 12. Manchester, UK. August 2024.

Ectomycorrhizal production phenology follows roots but varies by host species

Medina N, Patrick K, Lo M, Tran N, Romy S, Ramos R, Iversen C, Kennedy PG, McCormack ML. US Dept. of Energy Environmental Systems Science Principal Investigator Meeting. Reston, VA. April 2024.